The 2nd Armored Division was activated on July 15th 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia. It participated in the VII Corps Tennessee Maneuvers from June 2nd to June 28th 1941 and moved to Ragley, Louisiana, on August 12th 1941 to participate in the 2nd/3rd Army Louisiana Maneuvers. The Division returned to Fort Benning Georgia on September 29th 1941 and participated (November 2nd 1941), in the 1st Army Carolina Maneuvers then returned to Fort Benning on December 2 1941. Relocated to Monroe, North Carolina on July 10th 1942 for the II Armored Corps Carolina Maneuvers the 2-AD was transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina on August 15 1942; staged at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on November 3rd 1942 until departed tje New York Port of Embarkation December 11th 1942; arrived North Africa December 25th 1942 (less elements which invaded November 8th 1942).
The 2-AD assaulted Sicily on July 10th 1943 and departed November 12th 1943, arrived in England on November 25th 1943 and landed in France on June 7th, 8th and 9th. It crossed to Belgium on September 2nd 1944 and Holland on September 11th 1944, initially entered Germany on September 18th, returned to Holland then to Belgium on December 22nd. The 2nd Armored Division re-entered Germany on February 4th 1945, returned to the New York POE on January 19th 1946 then arrived at Camp Hood, Texas on February 4th 1946. The 2-AD was deactivated later in 1946.
2nd Armored Division – Casualties
Killed in Action : 1194
Wounded in Action : 5168
Died of Wounds : 234
2nd Armored Division – Commanders
Maj Gen Bruce Magruder : Jul 1940 – Mar 1942
Maj Gen Orlando Ward : Mar 1942 – Apr 1943
Maj Gen Ernest N. Harmon : Apr 1943 – Deactivation
2nd Armored Division – Order of Battle 1944-1945
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 2nd Armored Division
- Headquarters & Headquarters Battery, 2nd Armored Division
- Headquarters & Headquarters Combat Command A
- Headquarters & Headquarters Combat Command B
- Headquarters & Headquarters Combat Command R
- Service Company, 2nd Armored Division
- Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Armored Division
- Supply Battalion, 2nd Armored Division
- 14th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 17th Armored Engineer Battalion
- 41st Armored Infantry Battalion
- 48th Armored Medical Battalion
- 66th Armored Regiment
- 67th Armored Regiment
- 78th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
- 92nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 99th Infantry Battalion – (15 Aug 1944 – 18 Sep 1944)
- 142nd Armored Signal Company
- 195th AAA A-W Battalion – (11 Jun 1944 – May 9 1945)
- 502nd Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment
- 702nd Tank Destroyer Bn – (11 Jun 1944 – 21 Sep 1944)
- 702nd Tank Destroyer Bn – (1 Oct 1944 – 7 Feb 1945)
- 702nd Tank Destroyer Bn – (27 Feb 1945 – 9 May 1945)
- 738th Tank Bn (Mine Clearing) (12 Jan 1945 – 17 Jan 1945)
2nd Armored Division Combat Narrative
Elements of the 66th and 67th Armored Infantry landed at Mehdia, Fedala and Safi respectively on Nov 8 1942 in North Africa. CCB received the surrender of Mazagan on Nov 11 1942 and later some elements fought at Beja, Tunisia. The division entered combat as a whole during the invasion of Sicily Jul 10 1943. CCA assaulted Licata while the rest of the division landed east of Gela. CCB mopped up the Niscemi area while CCA advanced, and on Jul 15 1943 the division assembled at Campobello and then followed the army advance to exploit breakthroughs. It was committed into action Jul 22 1943 and
rapidly drove to the outskirts of Palermo. The division was then sent to England and trained for the invasion in Normandy.
The division landed in France on Jun 9 1944 and initially employed to strengthen the Auville-sur-le-Vey Bridgehead. It attacked Jul 26 1944 through 30th Infantry Division and took St Denis le Gast on Jul 28 1944, being relieved in the Percy area on Jul 29 1944.
Tessy fell to CCA on Aug 1 1944 and on Aug 7, the division was committed to stop the German drive on Avranches. On Aug 14, CCA overran Domfort. On Aug 19 1944 the division attacked west of Dreux to cut German forces off from the Seine between Paris and Elbeuf. It reached Le Neubourg Aug 23 1944 and resumed the advance on Aug 30 1944, reaching positions northwest of Cambrai by Sep 1 1944. CCA crossed the Albert Canal on Sep 13 1944 and reached the Mass River the next day as the German defenders withdrew, CCB crossed the Albert Canal at Meerseen Sep 15 1944, but its bridgehead was subjected to heavy fire the following day and CCA crossed at Valkenburg. The Germans were forced back to Sittard which was taken Sep 18 1944 as the division effected a breakthrough and drove to Gangelt, but a strong German counterattack restored their lines Sep 19 1944. The division then took up defensive positions near
Geilenkirchen.
The division attacked Oct 3 1944 as it crossed the Wurm River at Marienburg to expand the 30th Infantry Division Bridgehead. CCB attacked from Ubach the next day, suffering heavy tank losses, and CCA reinforced. CCB was stopped short of Geilenkirchen Oct 6 1944.
The division fought through heavy combat at and Oidtweiler to attack Aachen Gap at Wurselen starting Oct 13 Oct 44. The division attacked Nov 16 Nov 44 and took Puffendorf on the outer ring of the Jülich defenses with CCB, which was counterattacked the next day and CCA committed. Against strong opposition, CCB took Apweiler and held it against counterattack Nov 18 – 19 1944. The division renewed its attacks in heavy rain on Nov 20 1944 and CCA fought the Battle for Merzenhausen Nov 22 – 27 1944. CCA then took Barmen and reached the Roer River on Nov 28 1944. The division then assumed defensive positions along the Roer until released as a result of the German Ardennes Counteroffensive, moving to the Durbuy – Marche area in Belgium Dec 20 to 24 1944.
CCA reached Buissonville Dec 24 1944 and CCB took Gelles the next day and held it against counterattack. The division cleared Humain against strong opposition and then was relieved in the Havelange area by 83rd Infantry Division, regrouping on Dec 28 1944. The division attacked toward Houffalize on Jan 3 1945 and fought the Battle for Odeigne on Jan 4 – 6 1945, reached the Ourthe River Jan 15 1945, and occupied Houffalize Jan 16 1945. The division then was relieved by the 4th Cav Group on Jan 19 and withdrew for rehabilitation.
The division assembled across the Roer River on Feb 27 1945 and attacked on Mar 1 across the Cologne Plain as it assaulted over the Nord Canal. It concluded the offensive on Mar 4 as CCB took Verdingen on the Rhine. It crossed the Rhine River Mar 27 and relieved the 17th A/B Div Mar 29. CCB then drove to Lippstadt where it made contact with the advancing 3rd Armored Division on Apr 1 1945.
The division commenced the Battle for the Teutoburger Wald Passes on Apr 2 and by Apr 5 CCA had reached and crossed the Weser River at Ohr and CCB at Grohnde. CCA advanced to take the bridge at Schulenberg over the Leine River intact the next day.
After regrouping Apr 7, the division renewed its offensive on Apr 10 as CCB took the Oker River bridge at Schladen. CCB then drove 57 miles to reach the Elbe River south of Magdeburg on 11 Apr 45. CCA assaulted Magdeburg with the 30th Infantry Division Apr 17-18.
The division was moved to an occupation zone south of Braunschweig Apr 20 1945 and mopped up stragglers in Forst Konigslutter Apr 21 – 22 Apr 1945. Hostilities ended officially on May 7 1945.
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