10th Armored Division (United States)

10th Armored Division (United States) was an armored division of the United States Army during World War II. Nicknamed the "Tiger Division," it was activated in 1942 and saw extensive combat in the European Theater from late 1944 until the end of the war. The division played significant roles in several major campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge and the final push into Germany.

History

The 10th Armored Division was activated on 15 July 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Its initial cadre was drawn from personnel of the 2nd Armored Division and other established units. Following a lengthy training period at various posts across the Southern United States, including Camp Gordon and Camp Polk, the division was declared ready for overseas deployment. It staged at the New York Port of Embarkation before sailing for the European Theater in September 1944, arriving in France that same month under the command of Major General William H. H. Morris Jr..

Composition

The division was organized under the standard "heavy" armored division structure of the era, comprising three primary combat commands: Combat Command A, Combat Command B, and a Reserve Command. Its core armored component was the 21st Tank Battalion, 11th Tank Battalion, and 12th Tank Battalion. The primary infantry component was provided by the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, 54th Armored Infantry Battalion, and 61st Armored Infantry Battalion. Supporting units included the 419th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 420th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 421st Armored Field Artillery Battalion, and the 90th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized). Division headquarters was located at Fort Benning.

World War II service

The division entered combat in early November 1944, assigned to Lieutenant General Lucian Truscott's Sixth Army Group. It first saw action with the Seventh Army during the Saar Campaign, fighting through the Moselle region and capturing the city of Metz after heavy fighting. In December, it was hastily transferred north to reinforce the First Army during the Battle of the Bulge. The division's Combat Command B played a crucial role in the defense of Bastogne, holding critical positions alongside the 101st Airborne Division and elements of the 9th Armored Division. Following the Ardennes counteroffensive, the division resumed the offensive, crossing the Saar River and penetrating the Siegfried Line. In 1945, it drove into southern Germany, capturing Trier and participating in the reduction of the Ruhr Pocket. The division ended the war near Füssen, having advanced into the Austrian Alps.

Post-war and inactivation

After Victory in Europe Day, the 10th Armored Division performed occupation duties in the American occupation zone around Kaufbeuren. It was inactivated in Germany on 13 October 1945. The division was briefly reactivated as a training unit at Fort Benning in 1954, but was inactivated for the final time on 1 July 1963, as part of a broader reorganization of the United States Army Reserve.

Legacy and honors

The 10th Armored Division received significant recognition for its World War II service, including four campaign streamers for the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, and American Theater. Several unit members were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star for gallantry. The division's tenacious defense during the Battle of the Bulge is commemorated at the Bastogne War Museum and the Mardasson Memorial. Its lineage and honors are perpetuated in the modern era by elements within the United States Army Reserve and the Georgia Army National Guard.

Category:Armored divisions of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1942