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8th Armored Division
"Thundering Herd"
The mixture of insignia and distinctive colors of several arms incorporated
in the Armored Force symbolize integrity and esprit. It is an interlocked ornament,
found in Nordic monuments, composed of three torques: red for Artillery; blue
for Infantry; and yellow for Cavalry. The symbols represent the characteristics
of Armored Divisions: the tank track, mobility and armor protection; the cannon,
fire power; and the red bolt of lightning, shock action.
[page 490]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
21 Nov 44 |
Brig. Gen. John M. Devine |
3 May 45 |
Maj. Gen. John M. Devine |
Artillery Commander
21 Nov 44 |
Col. Henry W. Holt |
Chief of Staff
21 Nov 44 |
Col. Charles G. Dodge |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
21 Nov 44 |
Lt. Col. Lawrence L. Boyd |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
21 Nov 44 |
Lt. Col. Emmet R. White |
3 May 45 |
Maj. Henry C. Schraeder |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
21 Nov 44 |
Lt. Col. William S. Crittendon |
4 Mar 45 |
Lt. Col. Edwin H. Burba |
11 Apr 45 |
Lt. Col. Edward Y. Podufaly |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
21 Nov 44 |
Lt. Col. Harold N. Lang |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
16 Jan 45 |
Maj. Robert C. Polsgrove |
Adjutant General
21 Nov 44 |
Lt. Col. David L. Hairston |
Commanding Officer, Combat Command A
21 Nov 44 |
Brig. Gen. Charles P. Colson |
Commanding Officer, Combat Command B
21 Nov 44 |
Col. Edward Kimball |
11 Apr 45 |
Lt. Col. Edwin H. Burba |
Commanding Officer, Reserve Command
21 Nov 44 |
Col. Robert J. Wallace |
6 Apr 45 |
Col. Yarrow D. Vesely |
[page 491]
STATISTICS
Chronology
Activated |
1 April 1942 |
Arrived ETO |
21 November 1944 |
Arrived Continent (D+213) |
6 January 1945 |
Entered Combat--First Elements |
19 January 1945 |
Entered Combat--Entire Division |
23 February 45 |
Days in Combat |
63 |
Casualties (Tentative)
Killed |
260 |
Wounded |
1,015 |
Missing |
38 |
Captured |
|
Battle Casualties |
1,313 |
Non-Battle Casualties |
1,141 |
Total Casualties |
2,454 |
Percent of T/O Strength |
23.0 |
Campaigns
- Ardennes
- Rhineland
- Central Europe
Individual Awards
Legion of Merit |
3 |
Silver Star |
149 |
Bronze Star |
560 |
Air Medal |
27 |
Prisoners of War Taken 35,494
COMPOSITION
- Headquarters Company
- Combat Command A
- Combat Command B
- Reserve Command
- 18th Tank Battalion
- 36th Tank Battalion
- 80th Tank Battalion
- 7th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 49th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 58th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 88th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized)
- 53d Armored Engineer Battalion
- 148th Armored Signal Company
- 8th Armored Division Artillery
- 398th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 399th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 405th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 8th Armored Division Trains
- 130th Ordnance Maintenance Battalion
- 78th Armored Medical Battalion
- Military Police Platoon
- Band
[page 492]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
467th AAA AW Bn (SP) |
15 Jan 45-1 Feb 45 |
473d AAA AW Bn (SP) |
6 Feb 45-6 May 45 |
Armored
10th Armd Gp |
6 Feb 45-7 Feb 45 |
691st Tk Bn |
21 Feb 45-28 Feb 45 |
10th Armd Gp |
28 Feb 45-5 Mar 45 |
Chemical
Co C, 92d Cml Mort Bn |
2 Apr 45-8 Apr 45 |
Engineer
999th Engr Treadway Br Co |
27 Feb 45-29 Mar 45 |
989th Engr Treadway Br Co |
10 Mar 45-15 Mar 45 |
Field Artillery
691st FA Bn (105mm How) |
21 Feb 45-27 Feb 45 |
407th FA Bn |
28 Feb 45-5 Mar 45 |
275th Armd FA Bn |
27 Mar 45-31 Mar 45 |
695th FA Bn |
27 Mar 45-31 Mar 45 |
215th FA Bn (155mm How) |
27 Mar 45-31 Mar 45 |
681st FA Bn |
4 Apr 45-10 Apr 45 |
959th FA Bn (4.5" Gun) |
5 Apr 45-10 Apr 45 |
Infantry
290th CT (- 1st Bn) (75th Div) |
27 Mar 45-30 Mar 45 |
1st Bn, 290th Inf (75th Div) |
27 Mar 45-31 Mar 45 |
Tank Destroyer
809th TD Bn (SP) |
9 Feb 45-14 Mar 45 |
[page 493]
DETACHMENTS
(Attached to)
Armored
CC A |
94th Div |
18 Jan 45-27 Jan 45 |
CC B |
35th Div |
4 Mar 45-11 Mar 45 |
Co C, 18th Tk Bn |
35th Div |
9 Mar 45-10 Mar 45 |
Co D, 18th Tk Bn |
30th Div |
17 Mar 45-26 Mar 45 |
CC B |
XIX Corps |
14 Apr 45-18 Apr 45 |
CC A |
XIX Corps |
16 Apr 45-18 Apr 45 |
Cavalry
88th Cav Rcn Sq |
35th Div |
5 Mar 45-8 Mar 45 |
Co D, 88th Cav Rcn Sq |
79th Div |
17 Mar 45-26 Mar 45 |
Field Artillery
8th Armd Div Arty |
XVI Corps |
8 Feb 45-18 Feb 45 |
8th Armd Div Arty |
79th Div |
20 Mar 45-26 Mar 45 |
[pages 493-494]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
DATE |
CORPS |
ARMY |
ARMY GROUP |
Assigned |
Attached |
Assigned |
Attached |
7 Nov 44 |
|
|
UK Base |
ETOUSA |
|
2 Jan 45 |
|
|
|
12th |
|
5 Jan 45 |
|
|
Oise Sec Com Z (Sup) |
12th |
|
8 Jan 45 |
|
Fifteenth |
|
12th |
|
12 Jan 45 |
|
Fifteenth |
Third |
12th |
|
23 Jan 45 |
|
(-) |
Third |
12th |
|
1 Feb 45 |
XVI |
Ninth |
(-) |
12th |
Br 21st |
3 Feb 45 |
XVI |
Ninth |
|
12th |
Br 21st |
1 Apr 45 |
XIX |
Ninth |
|
12th |
Br 21st |
4 Apr 45 |
XIX |
Ninth |
|
12th |
(-) |
9 Apr 45 |
XVI |
Ninth |
|
12th |
|
12 Apr 45 |
(-) |
Ninth |
|
12th |
|
15 Apr 45 |
XIX |
Ninth |
|
12th |
|
(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.
[page 495]
COMMAND POSTS
DATE |
TOWN |
REGION |
COUNTRY |
1 Dec 44 |
Tidworth |
Wiltshire |
England |
4 Jan 45 |
Crossing Channel |
|
|
11 Jan 45 |
Bacqueville |
Manche |
France |
14 Jan 45 |
Pont-a-Mousson |
Meurthe-et-Moselle |
France |
3 Feb 45 |
Heerlen |
Limburg |
Netherlands |
4 Feb 45 |
Simpelveld |
Limburg |
Netherlands |
21 Feb 45 |
Echt |
Limburg |
Netherlands |
28 Feb 45 |
Huckelhoven |
Rhineland |
Germany |
2 Mar 45 |
Klinkum |
Rhineland |
Germany |
3 Mar 45 |
Hinsbeck |
Rhineland |
Germany |
6 Mar 45 |
Grefrath |
Rhineland |
Germany |
23 Mar 45 |
Bruckenhausen |
Rhineland |
Germany |
26 Mar 45 |
Friedrichsfeld |
Rhineland |
Germany |
27 Mar 45 |
Kirchellen |
Westphalia |
Germany |
30 Mar 45 |
Zweickel |
Westphalia |
Germany |
2 Apr 45 |
Selm |
Westphalia |
Germany |
4 Apr 45 |
Delbruck |
Westphalia |
Germany |
6 Apr 45 |
Monninghausen |
Westphalia |
Germany |
7 Apr 45 |
Erwitte |
Westphalia |
Germany |
8 Apr 45 |
Soest |
Westphalia |
Germany |
10 Apr 45 |
Werl |
Westphalia |
Germany |
14 Apr 45 |
Wolfenbuttel |
Westphalia |
Germany |
20 Apr 45 |
Halberstadt |
Westphalia |
Germany |
23 Apr 45 |
Osterode |
Westphalia |
Germany |
26 Apr 45 |
Gottingen |
Westphalia |
Germany |
[pages 496 (through 14 Apr 45)-497]
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