U.S. 104th Infantry Division
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The 104th Infantry Division —nicknamed the Timberwolf Division— was a division of the United States Army that fought for 195 consecutive days during World War II. The Division's nickname came from its timberwolf shoulder insignia. Some 34,000 men served with the division under the leadership of General Terry Allen, who was much admired despite his nickname, "Terrible Terry". The division was particularly renowed for its night fighting prowess.
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History
The 104th Infantry Division landed in France on September 7, 1944. It moved into defensive positions in the vicinity of Wuestwezel, Belgium, on October 23, 1944, and went over to the offensive on the 26th, taking Zundert, gaining control of the Breda-Roosendaal Road and overrunning Vaart Canal defenses. Leur and Etten fell as the division advanced to the Mark River on October 31. A coordinated attack over the Mark River at Standaarduiten, on November 2, 1944, established a bridgehead. Zevenbergen was captured and the Maas River reached on November 5. While the bulk of the division moved near Aachen, Germany, elements remained to secure Moerdijk before being relieved on November 7.
The 104th attacked on November 16, taking Stolberg and pushing on against heavy resistance. Eschweiler fell on the 21st and the enemy was cleared from the area west of the Inde River including Inden by December. Lucherberg was held against enemy counterattacks on December 3, and all strongholds west of the Roer River were captured by the 23d. The 104th actively defended its sector near Duren and Merken from December 15, 1944 to February 22, 1945. Then it moved across the Roer taking Huchem-Stammeln, Birkesdorf, and North Duren. On March 5, after heavy fighting, it entered Koln. After defending the west bank of the Rhine, the division crossed the river at Honnef on March 22, 1945, and attacked to the east of the Remagen bridgehead. After a period of mopping up and consolidation, it participated in the trap of enemy troops in the Ruhr pocket. The 104th repulsed heavy attacks near Medebach and captured Paderborn on April 1, 1945. After regrouping, it advanced to the east and crossed the Weser River on the 8th, blocking enemy exits from the Harz Mountains. The division then crossed the Saale River and took Halle in a bitter 5-day struggle from April 15 to 19. The sector to the Mulde River was cleared by the 21st, and after vigorous patrolling, the division contacted the Red Army at Pretzsch on April 26. The 104th left for home and inactivation on June 27.
Units
- 555th AAA Battalion
- 750th Tank Battalion
- 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
- 817th Tank Destroyer Battalion
- 87th Chemical Battalion
External links
- 104th Infantry Division Association (http://www.104infdiv.org)
- Timberwolves: The Story of the 104th Infantry Division (http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/104thinfantry/index.html)
References
- The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States. Combat Chronicle: 104th Infantry Division (http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/cc/104id.htm). U.S. Government Printing Office. 1950.