10th Armored Division (United States)
The 10th Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army activated on July 15, 1942, at Fort Benning, Georgia. Its nickname was the "Tiger Division".
World War II Service
The 10th Armored Division landed in France at Cherbourg in late September 1944 and entered combat in November 1944. It participated in the Lorraine Campaign, seeing action in the vicinity of Metz. The division played a critical role in the Battle of the Bulge, rushing north to help contain the German offensive and defending key positions around Bastogne. Elements of the 10th Armored Division were heavily involved in the siege and eventual relief of the city. Following the Bulge, the division pushed eastward into Germany, participating in the Rhineland Campaign and the drive into Bavaria. They played a role in capturing Munich and also liberated the Landsberg concentration camp subcamps. The division remained in Europe on occupation duty until inactivated on October 13, 1945, in Germany.
Organization
The division's primary combat elements during World War II typically included:
- 3rd Tank Battalion
- 20th Tank Battalion
- 61st Tank Battalion
- 11th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 54th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 60th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 20th Armored Engineer Battalion
- 80th Armored Medical Battalion
- 419th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 420th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 491st Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 10th Armored Division Trains
- 80th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized)
- 10th Tank Destroyer Battalion (Towed)
- 150th Armored Signal Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Ordnance Maintenance Company
Casualties
The 10th Armored Division suffered significant casualties during World War II. These included killed in action, wounded in action, and missing in action. Specific casualty figures are well documented in official military records.
Commanding Generals
Notable commanding generals of the 10th Armored Division included:
- Major General William H. H. Morris, Jr.
Notable Unit Decorations
The 10th Armored Division and its subordinate units earned numerous decorations for their service during World War II. These included the Distinguished Unit Citation for actions during the Battle of the Bulge.
Post-War
The 10th Armored Division was not reactivated after World War II and remains inactive in the U.S. Army's historical record.