World War II

Activated: 15 July 1942.

Overseas: 13 September 1944.

Campaigns: Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.

Distinguished Unit Citations: 5.

Awards: DSC-19 ; DSM-1 ; SS-412; LM-20; DFC-2 ; SM-25 ; BSM-2,578 ; AM-29.

Commanders:

Maj. Gen. Paul W. Newgarden (July 1942-July 1944)
Maj. Gen. William H. H. Morris, Jr. (July 1944-May 1945)
Maj. Gen. Fay B. Prickett (May 1945 until inactivation).

Returned to U.S.: 13 October 1945.

Inactivated: 13 October 1945.

Combat Chronicle

The 10th Armored Division entered France through the port of Cherbourg, 23 September 1944, and put in a month of training at Teurtheville, France, before entering combat. Leaving Teurtheville, 25 October, the Division moved to Mars-la-Tour, where it entered combat, 1 November, in support of the XX Corps, containing enemy troops in the area. In mid-November it went on the offensive, crossed the Moselle at Mailing, and drove to the Saar River, north of Metz. The Division was making preparations for the Third Army drive to the Rhine when it was ordered north to stop the German winter offensive, 17 December. The 10th held defensive positions against heavy opposition near Bastogne, Noville, and Bras. Resting briefly in early January, the 10th moved out again to defensive positions east of the Saar, south of the Maginot Line. On 20 February 1945 the Division returned to the attack, and took part in the clearing of the Saar-Moselle triangle. The Division then attacked north and captured. Trier, 15 March. Driving through Kaiserlautern, it advanced to the Rhine, crossed the river at Mannheim, 28 March, turned south, captured Oehringen and Heilbronn, crossed the Rems and Fils Rivers, and reached Kirchheim, meeting waning resistance. The Division crossed the Danube, 23-25 April, and took Oberammergau. In May, the 10th drove into the famed “Redoubt,” and had reached Innsbruck when the war in Europe ended.

Assignments in the ETO

5 September 1944: III Corps, Ninth Army, 12th Army Group.
10 October 1944: Third Army, 12th Army Group.
23 October 1944: XX Corps. 16 December 1944: XX Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to First Army, 12th Army Group.
17 December 1944: Third Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to VIII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
20 December 1944: III Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
21 December 1944: XII Corps.
26 December 1944: XX Corps.
17 January 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to the XXI Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
25 January 1945: XV Corps.
10 February 1945: XX Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
23 March 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to the XXI Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
1 April 1945: VI Corps.
8 April 1945: VI Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.

General

Nickname: Tiger Division. Slogan: Terrify and destroy. Shoulder patch: Same as the 1st but with a number “10” in the upper portion of the triangle. Association: 10th Armored Division Association, Fort Knox, c/o General Delivery. Publications: Terrify and Destroy, The Story of the 10th. Armored Division; by unit members; TI&E, ETOUSA; distributor, 10th Armored Division Association; Fort Knox, Ky.; 1945. Tiger Tracks; by Maj. L. M. Nichols, Director of Publication; Albert Love Enterprises, Atlanta 2, Ga. ; 1947. Tiger Tracks, Pictorial Review; by unit members ; Albert Love Enterprises, Atlanta 2, Ga. ; 1944.