106th Infantry Division (United States)

The 106th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army activated on 15 March 1943 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Its motto was "Nil Sine Labore" (Nothing Without Labor). The division is best known for its disastrous performance during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.

The 106th was comprised of the 422nd, 423rd, and 424th Infantry Regiments. It also included supporting artillery battalions and other divisional units. After training in the United States, the 106th arrived in England in October 1944 and then moved to France in early December 1944.

The division was assigned to a quiet sector of the Ardennes forest, holding a lengthy and relatively inactive front line. This area was considered a "rest area" for battle-weary troops. However, the 106th had little combat experience, and its inexperience proved fatal when the German offensive began on December 16, 1944.

The 422nd and 423rd Infantry Regiments were quickly surrounded by the German advance and, after several days of fighting in harsh winter conditions, were forced to surrender on December 19, 1944. This resulted in the largest mass surrender of U.S. troops to the Germans during World War II. The 424th Infantry Regiment, along with supporting units, managed to avoid encirclement and continued fighting.

After the Battle of the Bulge, the 106th Infantry Division was rebuilt. It participated in further combat operations, including the advance into Germany. The division was credited with capturing several towns and villages.

The 106th Infantry Division was deactivated on 2 October 1945. While its reputation was initially marred by the events of the Battle of the Bulge, the division later demonstrated resilience and contributed to the Allied victory.