U.S. II Corps
Encyclopedia
The II Corps was a corps
of the United States Army
and the first US formation of any size to see combat in Europe or Africa during World War II
.
. The initial secondary attack to begin that battle became known as the Third Battle of Albert
, launched by the New Zealand Division
. The attacks developed into an advance, which pushed the German 2nd Army back along a 50 miles (80.5 km) front line
. On 22 August, the New Zealand Division took Albert, with the British and Americans advancing on Arras
. On 29 August, Bapaume
fell into British and American hands, which resulted in an advance by the Australian Corps
, who crossed the Somme River
on 31 August and broke the German lines during the Battle of Mont St. Quentin
. Ultimately, the overall battle resulted in the German Army being pushed back to the Hindenburg Line
, from which they would launch their spring offensive.
the II Corps landed in Oran
as part of Operation Torch
. After initially making good headway against German forces during the Tunisian Campaign, II Corps was defeated by German forces under Colonel-General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
at the Battle of Sidi Bou Zid
. II Corps was again decisively defeated during the Battle of the Kasserine Pass
by troops under Field Marshal
Erwin Rommel
. The defeats were compounded by American inexperience, poor senior leadership, and lack of armor comparable to that in the German panzer forces, as well as the highly effective German high-velocity 88 mm anti-tank guns, which were used in screening tactics to destroy American tanks lured into pursuit of German armored forces.
In March 1943, after a change of command to General George Patton, the II Corps recovered its cohesion and fought well for the rest of the Tunisia Campaign, winning the Battle of El Guettar
. The corps held the southern flank of British 1st Army during the destruction of the remaining Axis forces in North Africa.
In July 1943, the II Corps landed in Sicily
as part of Operation Husky under command of the U.S. 7th Army. It played a key part in the liberation of the western part of the island. The corps consisted of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. 9th Infantry Division
, and 45th Infantry Division (United States), all under the command of Lieutenant-General Omar Nelson Bradley.
The II Corps participated in a further amphibious operation at Salerno
during the Allied invasion of Italy
(Operation Avalanche
). This operation included the U.S. 36th Infantry Division
and 45th Infantry Division.
During the Spring offense in May 1944, the II Corps consisted of the US 85th and 88th Infantry Divisions. For the assault of the German Gothic Line
, the II Corps consisted of the 34th Infantry Division, 88th Infantry Divisions, and 91st Infantry Division.
After the Anzio landings
(Operation Shingle
), Major-General Geoffrey Keyes
was assigned commander of the II Corps. The corps fought from Monte Cassino
, moved up the western side of Italy
, and ended up on the right flank of US Fifth Army in May 1945.
The II Corps inactivated in Austria on 10 October 1945 following Germany's surrender.
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
of the United States Army
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...
and the first US formation of any size to see combat in Europe or Africa during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
World War I
The II Corps first saw significant action in Europe as a part of the main assault beginning the 1918 Second Battle of the Somme, while attached to the British Third ArmyBritish Third Army
-First World War :The Third Army was part of the British Army during World War I and was formed in France on 13 July 1915. The battles it took part in on the Western Front included:*Battle of the Somme*Battle of Cambrai*Second Battle of Arras...
. The initial secondary attack to begin that battle became known as the Third Battle of Albert
Battle of Albert (1918)
Battle of Albert was the third battle by that name fought during World War I, following the First Battle of Albert, and the Second Battle of Albert, with each of the series of three being fought roughly two years apart...
, launched by the New Zealand Division
New Zealand Division
The New Zealand Division was a World War I infantry division formed in Egypt in January 1916 following the evacuation of Gallipoli. At the outbreak of war the New Zealand Expeditionary Force contained a single infantry brigade which was combined with the unattached Australian 4th Infantry Brigade...
. The attacks developed into an advance, which pushed the German 2nd Army back along a 50 miles (80.5 km) front line
Front line
A front line is the farthest-most forward position of an armed force's personnel and equipment - generally in respect of maritime or land forces. Forward Line of Own Troops , or Forward Edge of Battle Area are technical terms used by all branches of the armed services...
. On 22 August, the New Zealand Division took Albert, with the British and Americans advancing on Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
. On 29 August, Bapaume
Bapaume
Bapaume is a commune and the seat of a canton in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming and light industrial town located 10 miles south of Arras at the junction of the A1 autoroute and the N17 and N30 national roads its location is...
fell into British and American hands, which resulted in an advance by the Australian Corps
Australian Corps
The Australian Corps was a World War I army corps that contained all five Australian infantry divisions serving on the Western Front. It was the largest corps fielded by the British Empire army in France...
, who crossed the Somme River
Somme River
The Somme is a river in Picardy, northern France. The name Somme comes from a Celtic word meaning tranquility. The department Somme was named after this river....
on 31 August and broke the German lines during the Battle of Mont St. Quentin
Battle of Mont St. Quentin
The Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin was a battle on the Western Front during World War I. As part of the Allied counteroffensives on the Western Front in the late summer of 1918, the Australian Corps crossed the Somme River on the night of August 31, and broke the German lines at Mont Saint-Quentin...
. Ultimately, the overall battle resulted in the German Army being pushed back to the Hindenburg Line
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in northeastern France during World War I. It was constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916–17. The line stretched from Lens to beyond Verdun...
, from which they would launch their spring offensive.
World War II
In late 1942, under the command of Major-General Lloyd FredendallLloyd Fredendall
Lloyd Fredendall was an American General during World War II. Major General Fredendall is best known for his command of the Central Task Force landings during Operation Torch, and his command of the US II Corps during the early stages of the Tunisia Campaign...
the II Corps landed in Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
as part of Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
. After initially making good headway against German forces during the Tunisian Campaign, II Corps was defeated by German forces under Colonel-General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Hans-Jürgen Bernhard Theodor von Arnim was a German Generaloberst who served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
at the Battle of Sidi Bou Zid
Battle of Sidi Bou Zid
The Battle of Sidi Bou Zid was a World War II battle that took place during the Tunisia Campaign. The battle was fought between forces of Nazi Germany and forces of the United States. The German forces included the 10th Panzer Division and the 21st Panzer Division of the Fifth Panzer Army...
. II Corps was again decisively defeated during the Battle of the Kasserine Pass
Battle of the Kasserine Pass
The Battle of the Kasserine Pass was a battle that took place during the Tunisia Campaign of World War II in February 1943. It was a series of battles fought around Kasserine Pass, a wide gap in the Grand Dorsal chain of the Atlas Mountains in west central Tunisia...
by troops under Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
. The defeats were compounded by American inexperience, poor senior leadership, and lack of armor comparable to that in the German panzer forces, as well as the highly effective German high-velocity 88 mm anti-tank guns, which were used in screening tactics to destroy American tanks lured into pursuit of German armored forces.
In March 1943, after a change of command to General George Patton, the II Corps recovered its cohesion and fought well for the rest of the Tunisia Campaign, winning the Battle of El Guettar
Battle of El Guettar
The Battle of El Guettar was a World War II battle that took place during the Tunisia Campaign, fought between elements of the Army Group Afrika under Jürgen von Arnim and U.S. II Corps under Lieutenant General George Patton in south-central Tunisia. It was the first battle in which U.S...
. The corps held the southern flank of British 1st Army during the destruction of the remaining Axis forces in North Africa.
In July 1943, the II Corps landed in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
as part of Operation Husky under command of the U.S. 7th Army. It played a key part in the liberation of the western part of the island. The corps consisted of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. 9th Infantry Division
U.S. 9th Infantry Division
The 9th Infantry Division was created as the 9th Division during World War I, but never deployed overseas. Later, the division was an important unit of the United States Army in World War II and the Vietnam War...
, and 45th Infantry Division (United States), all under the command of Lieutenant-General Omar Nelson Bradley.
The II Corps participated in a further amphibious operation at Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
during the Allied invasion of Italy
Allied invasion of Italy
The Allied invasion of Italy was the Allied landing on mainland Italy on September 3, 1943, by General Harold Alexander's 15th Army Group during the Second World War. The operation followed the successful invasion of Sicily during the Italian Campaign...
(Operation Avalanche
Allied invasion of Italy
The Allied invasion of Italy was the Allied landing on mainland Italy on September 3, 1943, by General Harold Alexander's 15th Army Group during the Second World War. The operation followed the successful invasion of Sicily during the Italian Campaign...
). This operation included the U.S. 36th Infantry Division
U.S. 36th Infantry Division
-Pre 2 October 1941 Square Organization:*HHC, 36th Infantry Division, TXARNG**36th Military Police Platoon**36th Signal Company**111th Ordnance Company**111th Engineer Regiment , TXARNG**111th Medical Regiment**111th Quartermaster Regiment...
and 45th Infantry Division.
During the Spring offense in May 1944, the II Corps consisted of the US 85th and 88th Infantry Divisions. For the assault of the German Gothic Line
Gothic Line
The Gothic Line formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennines during the fighting retreat of German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.Adolf Hitler...
, the II Corps consisted of the 34th Infantry Division, 88th Infantry Divisions, and 91st Infantry Division.
After the Anzio landings
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
(Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
), Major-General Geoffrey Keyes
Geoffrey Keyes
-External links:...
was assigned commander of the II Corps. The corps fought from Monte Cassino
Battle of Monte Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four battles during World War II, fought by the Allies against Germans and Italians with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.In the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Winter Line was being anchored by Germans...
, moved up the western side of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and ended up on the right flank of US Fifth Army in May 1945.
The II Corps inactivated in Austria on 10 October 1945 following Germany's surrender.