U.S. 8th Armored Division

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The 8th Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army that served in World War II.

History

The 8th Armored Division was activated on 1 April 1942. It arrived in the United Kingdom in November 1944.

After training at Tidworth, England, the 8th Armored Division landed in France, 5 January 1945, and assembled in the Bacqueville area of upper Normandy. In mid-January the Division raced 350 miles across France to Pont-aMousson to help stem the German drive for Strasbourg, but, finding the enemy already halted, went into training. One element, Combat Command A, took part in the Third Army drive against the MoselleSaar salient, supporting the 94th Division attack on Nennig, Berg,and Sinz, 19-28 January 1945. The Division moved to Simpelveld, the Netherlands, and continued training during the first half of February 1945. On 19 February the Division moved to Roermond, the Netherlands, and launched a diversionary attack, pushing the enemy north of the Heide woods and east of the Roer River. The 8th crossed the Roer, 27 February, and began its drive to the Rhine, taking Tetelrath, Oberkruchten, and Lintfort in hard fighting. After a period of rest and training in mid-March, the Division crossed the Rhine, 26 March, and attacked Dorsten, which was cleared in the face of stubborn resistance. It crossed the Lippe River and entered the battle for the Ruhr Pocket, taking Neuhaus and cleaning out the Soest sector. The Division then shifted south to Wolfenbuttel, mopping up resistance in the area, continued south to Blankenberg, clearing the Harz Mountain region. This was its last combat activity in the war. On 23 April the Division went on occupation duty in the Harz Mountain area.