U.S. 69th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 69th Infantry Division was a formation of the United States Army
formed during World War II. It should not be confused with the much older and still existing 69th Infantry Regiment (United States)
which is the famed Fighting 69th
. The US Army Historical Center only allows the Special Designation
"The Fighting 69th" to be applied to 69th Infantry Regiment (United States)
).
The shoulder sleeve insignia of the division was designed by its then commander Maj. Gen. Charles L. Bolte with the red, white and blue being the colours of the United States forming a "6" and a "9".
, France, 24 January 1945, and moved to Belgium to relieve the 99th Division, 12 February, and hold defensive positions in the Siegfried Line
. The Division went over to the attack, 27 February, capturing the high ridge east of Prether to facilitate use of the Hellenthal-Hollerath highway. In a rapid advance to the east, the 69th took Schmidtheim and Dahlem, 7 March. The period from 9 to 21 March was spent in mopping up activities and training. The Division resumed its forward movement to the west bank of the Rhine, crossing the river and capturing the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein
, 27 March. It relieved the 80th Division
in Kassel
, 5 April, seized Hannoversch Münden
on the 8th and Weissenfels on the 14th against sharp opposition, and captured Leipzig
, 19 April, following a fierce struggle within the city. Eilenburg
fell, 23 April, and the east bank of the Mulde River was secured. Two days later, Division patrols in the area between the Elbe and the Mulde Rivers contacted elements of the Soviet 5th Guards Army
in the vicinity of Riesa
and again at Torgau
on Elbe Day
. Until VE-day, the 69th patrolled and policed its area. Occupation duties were given to the Division until it left for home and inactivation 7 September.
.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
formed during World War II. It should not be confused with the much older and still existing 69th Infantry Regiment (United States)
69th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 69th Infantry Regiment was a Regular Army infantry regiment in the United States Army.-History:There have been three different lineages started under this number: The Famous 69th Infantry Regiment , and two under the Federal designation....
which is the famed Fighting 69th
Fighting 69th
The Fighting 69th is an American war film starring James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, and George Brent. The plot is based upon the actual exploits of New York City's 69th Infantry Regiment during the First World War. The regiment was first given that nickname by opposing General Robert E...
. The US Army Historical Center only allows the Special Designation
Special designation
A special designation in the United States Army is a "nickname granted to a military organization" which has been authorized by the Center of Military History and recognized through a certificate signed by the Chief of Military History...
"The Fighting 69th" to be applied to 69th Infantry Regiment (United States)
69th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 69th Infantry Regiment was a Regular Army infantry regiment in the United States Army.-History:There have been three different lineages started under this number: The Famous 69th Infantry Regiment , and two under the Federal designation....
).
The shoulder sleeve insignia of the division was designed by its then commander Maj. Gen. Charles L. Bolte with the red, white and blue being the colours of the United States forming a "6" and a "9".
World War II
- Activated: 15 May 1943.
- Overseas: December 1944.
- Campaigns: Rhineland, Central EuropeCentral Europe CampaignAfter crossing the Rhine the Western Allies fanned out overrunning all of western Germany from the Baltic in the north to Austria in the south before the Germans surrendered on 8 May 1945. This is known as the "Central Europe Campaign" in United States military histories.By the early spring of...
- Days of combat: 86.
- Awards:
- Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
-1 - Distinguished Service Medal (Army)Distinguished Service Medal (Army)The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
-1 - SS-105
- LM-3
- Soldier's MedalSoldier's MedalThe Soldier's Medal is a military award of the United States Army. It was introduced as Section 11 of the Air Corps Act, passed by the Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926...
-12 - BSM-2,253
- AM-33.
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Commanders:
- Maj. Gen. Charles L. BolteCharles L. BolteGeneral Charles Lawrence Bolte was a U.S. Army general and World War I and World War II veteran.-Military career:...
(May 1943 – September 1944), - Maj. Gen. Emil F. ReinhardtEmil F. ReinhardtEmil F. Reinhardt , U.S. Army officer, was born in Michigan. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1910 and held a number of command and staff positions in the army, eventually rising to the rank of Major General...
(September 1944 – August 1945), - Brig. Gen. Robert V. Maraist (August 1945 to inactivation).
- Maj. Gen. Charles L. Bolte
- Returned to U.S.: 13 September 1945.
- Inactivated: 16 September 1945.
Combat chronicle
The 69th Infantry Division arrived in England, 12 December 1944, where it continued its training. It landed in Le HavreLe Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, France, 24 January 1945, and moved to Belgium to relieve the 99th Division, 12 February, and hold defensive positions in the Siegfried Line
Siegfried Line
The original Siegfried line was a line of defensive forts and tank defences built by Germany as a section of the Hindenburg Line 1916–1917 in northern France during World War I...
. The Division went over to the attack, 27 February, capturing the high ridge east of Prether to facilitate use of the Hellenthal-Hollerath highway. In a rapid advance to the east, the 69th took Schmidtheim and Dahlem, 7 March. The period from 9 to 21 March was spent in mopping up activities and training. The Division resumed its forward movement to the west bank of the Rhine, crossing the river and capturing the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein
Ehrenbreitstein
Ehrenbreitstein may refer to:, a district of Koblenz* Ehrenbreitstein Fortress * Ehrenbreitstein , the hill on which the fortress stands on the east bank of the Rhine...
, 27 March. It relieved the 80th Division
U.S. 80th Division
The 80th Division was a formation of the United States Army. During World War I and World War II, the unit was designated the 80th Infantry Division. Nicknamed the "Blue Ridge Division", it was initially composed of draftees from the mid-atlantic states of Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania...
in Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
, 5 April, seized Hannoversch Münden
Hann. Münden
Hann. Münden is the German official name of a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. The city is located in the district of Göttingen at the confluence of the Fulda and Werra rivers, which join to form the river Weser. It has 28,000 inhabitants...
on the 8th and Weissenfels on the 14th against sharp opposition, and captured Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, 19 April, following a fierce struggle within the city. Eilenburg
Eilenburg
Eilenburg is a town in Germany. It lies in the district of Nordsachsen in the Free State of Saxony, approximately 20 km northeast of the city of Leipzig.- Geography :...
fell, 23 April, and the east bank of the Mulde River was secured. Two days later, Division patrols in the area between the Elbe and the Mulde Rivers contacted elements of the Soviet 5th Guards Army
5th Guards Army (Soviet Union)
The 5th Guards Army was a Soviet Guards formation which fought in many critical actions during World War II under the command of General Aleksei Semenovich Zhadov....
in the vicinity of Riesa
Riesa
Riesa is a town in the district of Meißen in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is located at the river Elbe, approx. 40 km northwest of Dresden.The world's first 110 kV power line was inaugurated between Riesa and Lauchhammer in 1912....
and again at Torgau
Torgau
Torgau is a town on the banks of the Elbe in northwestern Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district Nordsachsen.Outside Germany, the town is most well known as the place where during the Second World War, United States Army forces coming from the west met with forces of the Soviet Union...
on Elbe Day
Elbe Day
Elbe Day, April 25, 1945, was the date Soviet and American troops met at the River Elbe, near Torgau in Germany, marking an important step toward the end of the World War II in Europe. The first contact was made between patrols near Strehla, when First Lieutenant Albert Kotzebue crossed the River...
. Until VE-day, the 69th patrolled and policed its area. Occupation duties were given to the Division until it left for home and inactivation 7 September.
Training Division
In 1954 the 69th Division was recreated as a training division at Fort Dix, New Jersey replacing the 9th Infantry Division that was sent to Europe. the 69th was disbanded in March 1956. The shoulder patch of the 69th was worn by the actors playing soldiers on The Phil Silvers ShowThe Phil Silvers Show
The Phil Silvers Show is a comedy television series which ran on CBS from 1955 to 1959 for 142 episodes, plus a 1959 special. The series starred Phil Silvers as Master Sergeant Ernest G...
.