Fifth Army (United States)

Fifth Army (United States). The Fifth Army was a field army of the United States Army that played a significant role in World War II, particularly in the North African Campaign and the Italian Campaign. It was activated on January 5, 1943, at Oujda, Morocco, under the command of Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark, who had previously served as the Deputy Commander of the Allied Forces Headquarters under General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Fifth Army was composed of troops from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other Allied nations, including the French Expeditionary Corps led by General Alphonse Juin.

● History

The Fifth Army was formed in response to the Allied invasion of North Africa, also known as Operation Torch, which was launched on November 8, 1942, with the goal of defeating the Axis powers in North Africa. The army's first major operation was the Battle of Kasserine Pass, which took place in February 1943, and was fought against the German-Italian Panzer Army led by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. The Fifth Army also participated in the Battle of El Guettar, the Battle of Hill 609, and the Battle of Mignano Gap, among other battles, alongside the British Eighth Army led by General Bernard Montgomery. The army's successes in North Africa were followed by its participation in the Allied invasion of Italy, which began on September 3, 1943, with the Battle of Salerno, and continued with the Battle of Anzio and the Battle of Monte Cassino, where it fought alongside the British X Corps and the New Zealand Corps.

● Organization

The Fifth Army was organized into several corps, including the II Corps (United States), the VI Corps (United States), and the X Corps (United States), which were composed of various divisions, such as the 1st Armored Division (United States), the 3rd Infantry Division (United States), and the 45th Infantry Division (United States). The army also included several brigades, including the 1st Special Service Force, a special forces unit that was trained to conduct unconventional warfare and amphibious warfare operations, similar to the British Commandos and the French Chasseurs Alpins. The Fifth Army was supported by the United States Army Air Forces, including the Twelfth Air Force and the Fifteenth Air Force, which provided air support and logistical support to the army's operations, in coordination with the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force.

● Commanders

The Fifth Army was commanded by several notable generals, including Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark, who led the army during its early operations in North Africa and Italy, and Lieutenant General Lucian K. Truscott, who took command of the army in December 1944, and led it during the final stages of the Italian Campaign, including the Battle of the Po Valley and the Battle of Collecchio. Other notable commanders of the Fifth Army included Major General Geoffrey Keyes, who served as the army's Deputy Commander, and Major General John P. Lucas, who commanded the VI Corps (United States), and later became the Commanding General of the United States Army Forces in the European Theater.

● Operations

The Fifth Army conducted several major operations during its existence, including the Battle of Kasserine Pass, the Battle of El Guettar, and the Battle of Salerno, as well as the Battle of Anzio and the Battle of Monte Cassino, which were fought in conjunction with the British Eighth Army and the French Expeditionary Corps. The army also participated in the Allied invasion of southern France, also known as Operation Dragoon, which was launched on August 15, 1944, and was supported by the United States Navy and the Royal Navy. The Fifth Army's operations were often conducted in conjunction with other Allied forces, including the British Army, the Canadian Army, and the French Army, as well as partisan forces, such as the Italian Resistance and the French Resistance.

● Insignia

The Fifth Army's insignia features a red and white shield with a blue chief, which represents the army's combat service in North Africa and Italy, and is similar to the insignia of other United States Army units, such as the First Army (United States) and the Seventh Army (United States). The insignia was designed by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry, which is responsible for designing and approving the insignia of all United States Army units, including the Special Forces, the Rangers, and the Military Police Corps. The Fifth Army's insignia is worn by veterans of the army and is displayed at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, alongside the insignia of other Allied forces, including the British Army and the Soviet Army.

Category:Field armies of the United States