The 8th Armored Division was activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky, on April 1 1943 then was sent to Camp Polk, Louisiana on March 5 1943 then to the Fourth Army #6 Louisiana Maneuvres on February 2 1944.
The 8-AD returned to Camp Polk, Louisiana on April 26 1944, staged at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on November 2 1944 until it departed the New York POE on November 6 and arrived in England on November 19 1944.
The 8th Armored Division landed in France on January 5 1945, crossed into Holland on February 5 1945 and entered in Germany on March 2 1945.
Wen the job was over, the 8-AD was sent back to Hampton Roads POE on November 13 1945 and was inactivated at the same date at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia.
8th Armored Division – Casualties
Killed in Action : 393
Wounded in Action : 1572
Died of Wounds : 73
8th Armored Division – Commanders
- Maj Gen William M. Grimes : April 1942 – October 1944
- Maj Gen John M. Devine : October 1944 – August 1945
- Brig Gen Charles F. Colson : August 1945 – Deactivation
8th Armored Division – Order of Battle 1944-1945
Headquarters & Headquarters Company 8th Armored Division
Headquarters & Headquarters Battery Division Artillery
Headquarters & Headquarters Company CCA
Headquarters & Headquarters Company CCB
Headquarters & Headquarters Company CCR
Headquarters & Headquarters Company Division Trains
Military Police Platoon
7th Armored Infantry Battalion
18th Tank Battalion
36th Tank Battalion
49th Armored Infantry Battalion
53rd Armored Engineer Battalion
58th Armored Infantry Battalion
78th Medical Battalion
80th Tank Battalion
88th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Mecz
130th Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion
148th Armored Signal Company
398th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
399th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
405th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
467th AAA-AW Battalion (at : Jan 15 1945 – 1Feb 1945)
473rd AAA-AW Battalion (at : Feb 6 1945 – May 6 1945)
508th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment
691st Tank Battalion (at : Feb 6 1945 – Mar 5 1945)
809th Tank Destroyer Battalion (at : Feb 9 1945 – May 14 1945)
8th Armored Division Combat Narrative
The 8th Armored Division landed in France on January 5 1945 and assembled near Bacqueville. It moved then to Pont-a-Mousson for
further training, and CCA was detached to Koenigsmacker on January 19 1945 to participate in the drive against the Moselle – Saar salient with the 94th Infantry Division.
CCA recaptured Nennig January 23 1945 and took Berg on January 25. The division moved to Simpelveld, Holland, and then to Roermond, Holland on February 19 1945 where it launched a diversionary attack pushing German forces north of the Heide Woods and east of the Roer River. The division crossed the Roer River at Hilfarthe on February 27 and attacked toward Wegberg with CCA. As CCA overran Tetelrath CCB and CCR crossed the Roer the next day.
The division sped north’ as CCA took Wachtendonk on March 2 and the next day CCB captured Aldekerk as CCR crossed the Niers River at Muelhausen.
The division was withdrawn, except for CCB which assisted the 35th Infantry Division in the drive on Lintfort on March 4 which it captured along with Rheinberg a day later and after hard fighting.
Task Force Murray (CCB) fought the Battle for Ossenberg March 7 to March 9. The division crossed the Rhine River on March 26 and attacked Dorsten, which was captured after heavy fighting on March 29 1945, and continued east against scattered resistance.
The division began the attack against the Ruhr Pocket on April 3 as CCA moved up the Paderborn – Soest Highway and CCR approached Elsen.
The following day CCA reached the Mohne River and cleared Erwitte while CCR took Overhagen. On April 6, CCB reached Ost Dennen, southwest of Soest. The division overran then Werl on April 8 and took Unna on April 11, then, the 8th Armored mopped up.
It was relieved by the 95th Infantry Division on April 13 and passed into reserve in the Wolfenbuettel area where it mopped up resistance.
On April 18 1945, CCB attacked in the woods south of Derenburg. The division attacked to clear the Blankenburg area at the east edge of the
Harz Mountains on April 20 and completed its operations there the following day as both Michaelstein and Cattenstedt were reached.
The division was assigned security and occupation duty in the Harz Mountain region on April 23 and was in that status when hostilities were declared ended on May 7 1945.
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