17th Infantry Division (United States)

The 17th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army active during World War II and later as a training division.

World War II Service:

Activated on April 15, 1943, at Camp Carson, Colorado, the division was known as the "Golden Cross" Division, a reference to its shoulder sleeve insignia depicting a Lorraine cross of gold. The division trained extensively in the United States before being deployed to the European Theater of Operations in January 1945.

The 17th Infantry Division entered combat in the Ardennes Forest during the Battle of the Bulge in late January 1945, relieving elements of the 82nd Airborne Division. It played a key role in blunting the German offensive and subsequently participated in the Allied counter-offensive.

Following the Battle of the Bulge, the division continued to advance into Germany, participating in the Rhineland campaign. It crossed the Rhine River as part of Operation Plunder in late March 1945. The 17th Infantry Division continued its advance through Germany, encountering varying degrees of resistance until the end of the war in May 1945.

During its combat service, the 17th Infantry Division suffered significant casualties. It was credited with capturing numerous German soldiers and equipment.

Post-War:

Following the surrender of Germany, the 17th Infantry Division served briefly on occupation duty. It was inactivated on September 5, 1945, in Germany.

Reactivation and Training Division:

The 17th Infantry Division was later reactivated as a training division. Its role was to train new recruits and prepare them for service in other units. Its specific periods of reactivation and training focus are not widely documented in publicly available sources.

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia:

The division's shoulder sleeve insignia was a gold Lorraine cross on a blue shield. The gold symbolized the value of the division's contributions, and the Lorraine cross was a historical symbol of Lorraine, a region fought over during both World Wars.