500:
beyond the Danube River to the outskirts of Munich, destroying a supply train, capturing almost 800 prisoners, and securing four bridges over the Amper River intact. Continuing the attack on 29–30 April against an enemy entrenched in elaborately prepared dugouts and behind the thick walls of the SS Training Center and an Anti-tank School which were defended by small arms, machine guns, hundreds of panzerfausts and twelve 88 mm guns, our troops killed 700 SS Troops, who fought stubbornly and fanatically. This victory destroyed the defenses of Munich, Germany, removing resistance to the entry of troops into the City.
84:
31:
58:
1642:
373:
470:
on the 25th to secure the crossing of the Danube. The river was crossed on 28 April, the 20th meeting sporadic resistance. The success of the operation prompted Lt. Col. Donald E. Downard, commanding officer of the 2nd
Battalion, 222nd Infantry (42nd Infantry Division) who had witnessed more than 25
280:
The division had no official name although it did associate itself with the nickname "Armoraiders" while in training at Camp
Campbell. After certification as a liberating division by the US Army Center of Military History on 28 October 1988, and the awarding of a Liberation Certificate by the United
530:
Following V-E Day, the
Division performed Occupation duties, returning to the U.S. in August 1945, slated for participation in the then-planned invasion of Japan. The Division reported to Camp Cooke, CA, for amphibious assault training, but after the atomic bombs were dropped and Japan surrendered,
490:
on 29 April 1945. While anecdotal reports indicate varied 20th AD troops took part in the unfolding process of discovery and liberation of the camp, ultimately it was the above attachment of elements of the 27th Tank
Battalion to those of the 42nd Infantry Division on which the 20th Armored would be
439:
The actual arrival of the 20th
Armored Division into combat occurred 4–9 April 1945. The division's armored field artillery battalions (the 412th, 413th, and 414th), with elements of the 33rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, moved up to the west bank of the Rhine River to support the 101st Airborne
430:
The condition of the
Division when it arrived overseas was affected by a recent change in its primary mission. Until October 1944, the 20th Armored Division's mission was to train soldiers and qualify them for overseas shipment as combat replacements for armored units. To perform this mission, the
499:
These units, which constituted Task Force 20, are cited for outstanding performance of duty in action during the period 28–30 April 1945, in the vicinity of
Neuherberg, Germany. With soldierly courage and irrepressible determination members of Task Force 20 pushed an armored spearhead 45 miles
494:
Meanwhile, in support of units of the 45th
Infantry Division (primarily belonging to the 180th and 157th Infantry Regiments), elements of the 20th Armored Division's Combat Command B (including certain forces of the 20th Tank Battalion, 65th Armored Infantry Battalion, and 413th Armored Field
491:
jointly recognized by the US Army Center for
Military History (CMH) and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) as an official Liberating unit. The Division and its flag were subsequently added to USHMM displays and were cited online there and elsewhere.
495:
Artillery
Battalion), operating together as Task Force 20, were awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for their collective action in the Central European (Southern Germany) Campaign. The Recommendation for Unit Citation, dated 3 October 1945, states:
508:, 29–30 April. Despite its recent efficacy in the combat zone, the rest of the 20th was ordered off the roads leading into Munich on 28 April, allowing the veteran 42nd (Rainbow) and 45th (Thunderbird) Infantry Divisions to capture Munich proper.
550:, rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant (and Light Machine Gun Squad Leader) while a member of the Division's 8th Armored Infantry Battalion. While Schulz's unit was nearby, it did not actually enter Dachau.
511:
In pursuit of retreating German troops and prevention of a feared German National Redoubt in the Austrian Alps, elements of the 20th Armored (primarily of Combat Command A) crossed the
431:
Division included in its strength an unusually large number of intelligent and highly trained men, including students from several of the Army's advanced college training programs.
486:
Elements of the 20th Armored Division, along with those of the U.S. Seventh Army's 45th (Thunderbird) and 42nd (Rainbow) Infantry Divisions, participated in the liberation of
1679:
1674:
403:, Germany, 10 April. After considering breaking up the new division to provide replacements for the veteran armored divisions under his 12th U.S. Army Group, General
1669:
440:
Division near Delhoven, Germany, and the 82nd Airborne Division across the river from Hitdorf, Germany. It was the 412th that supported the 82nd in their attack on
857:
447:
Overlooking the above, incomplete official records minimize the Division's perceived combat activity, i.e., citing: Elements of the division first saw action as
558:, attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant while with the 20th Armored Division's 480th Armored Infantry Regiment (prior to reorganization to light armored division
448:
1664:
1599:
920:
471:
months of combat, to state: "I have never seen a more aggressive armored unit." Subsequently, elements of the 20th seized the bridge over the
1645:
850:
441:
538:
Officially, the Division is erroneously credited with only eight days in combat (overlooking the previously described Rhine action)
1593:
1587:
1581:
1575:
1568:
843:
1630:
1562:
1556:
1550:
1544:
1537:
1530:
1524:
1519:
1507:
1502:
1497:
1492:
1486:
1480:
1468:
1463:
1451:
1445:
1433:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1349:
1343:
1337:
1331:
1325:
1319:
1313:
1306:
1299:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1272:
1265:
1259:
1254:
1248:
1242:
1227:
1212:
896:
891:
463:
1380:
1207:
1202:
1196:
1190:
1185:
1179:
1172:
1165:
1158:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1058:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
983:
233:
223:
1086:
1081:
1075:
978:
973:
968:
963:
958:
953:
948:
943:
937:
800:
Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953
791:
Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953
782:
Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953
773:
Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953
764:
Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953
1615:
559:
827:
462:
River. The 20th Armored Division's 27th Tank Battalion (a component of Combat Command R) was attached to the veteran
683:
413th Armored Field Artillery Battalion Unit History for 1945, declassified NARA records dated 9/26/00, #NND735017
1513:
1474:
1457:
1232:
1222:
1217:
901:
692:
27th Tank Battalion After Action Report, 23–30 April '45, declassified NARA records dated 4/18/95, #NND735017
755:
Special Order 39, Headquarters, 480th Armored Infantry Regiment, Camp Campbell, Kentucky, dated 15 May 1943
487:
377:
722:
Order of Battle, ETO, 1945; Seventh U.S. Army: Report of Operations in France and Germany, 1944–1945
1439:
35:
1426:
914:
150:
704:
20th Armored Division Combat Command B newsletter, Volume 1 Number 3, dated Friday, 15 June 1945
907:
885:
399:
for a month's assembly, preparation, and additional training. It then moved through Belgium to
1610:
1053:
1023:
504:
The 27th Tank Battalion remained attached to the 42nd Infantry Division during its attack on
8:
866:
713:
AG Record #AGPD-B 370.24 (12 Jan 46), declassified NARA records dated 9/25/00, #NND735017
660:
638:
258:
117:
451:
when a false surrender by the enemy resulted in fighting in the town of Dorf, 25 April.
870:
628:
20th Armored Division in World War II, 1993 Edition, Walsworth Publishing Company, Inc.
262:
89:
835:
1605:
1237:
823:
816:
516:
420:
173:
615:
Nickname information taken from 18 March 1944 issue of the Camp Campbell Newspaper,
255:
99:
404:
547:
476:
412:
400:
396:
30:
1658:
551:
480:
416:
281:
States Holocaust Memorial Council, veterans of the division adopted the name
270:
63:
467:
380:
honoring the 20th Armored Division and displaying the moniker 'Liberators'.
266:
169:
145:
555:
512:
424:
520:
408:
639:"Order of Battle of the US Army - WWII - ETO - 20th Armored Division"
532:
455:
415:; 20 April. Three days later, it was detached and reassigned to the
372:
524:
392:
274:
542:
444:
that resulted in the awarding of a Distinguished Unit Citation.
505:
459:
388:
527:
when it received word that hostilities would cease in Europe.
472:
466:
on 23 April 1945 and led the attack to capture the town of
865:
661:
https://history.army.mil/documents/ETO-OB/20AD-ETO.htm
395:, France, 19 February 1945. On arrival it was sent to
16:
Armored unit of the United States army in World War II
1680:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
815:
1675:Military units and formations established in 1943
326:33rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized)
1670:United States Army divisions during World War II
1656:
851:
672:Major General Orlando Ward, Life of a Leader
531:the unit was inactivated on 2 April 1946 at
352:138th Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion
292:The division comprised the following units:
1665:Armored divisions of the United States Army
858:
844:
454:At that time, the Division assembled near
813:
743:
731:
674:, Russel A. Gugler, Red Anvil Press, 2009
411:, where the Division was attached to the
371:
344:414th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
341:413th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
338:412th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
269:. It was activated on 15 March 1943 at
1657:
659:U.S. Army Center of Military History,
839:
725:
737:
641:. US Army Center of Military History
458:and reconnoitered for routes to the
434:
13:
14:
1691:
479:, and secured crossings over the
1641:
1640:
335:20th Armored Division Artillery
329:220th Armored Engineer Battalion
82:
56:
29:
818:Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography
794:
785:
776:
767:
758:
749:
716:
355:220th Armored Medical Battalion
323:70th Armored Infantry Battalion
320:65th Armored Infantry Battalion
707:
695:
686:
677:
665:
653:
631:
622:
609:
317:8th Armored Infantry Battalion
287:
1:
807:
565:
391:on 6 February and arrived at
349:20th Armored Division Trains
38:of the 20th Armored Division.
332:160th Armored Signal Company
7:
10:
1696:
554:'s future Vice President,
523:on 4 May, and had entered
367:
109:Armor and Infantry tactics
1638:
1624:
1150:
1067:
929:
877:
814:Michaelis, David (2007),
488:Dachau concentration camp
385:The 20th Armored Division
378:Dachau concentration camp
217:
214:
184:
179:
163:
158:
141:
133:
123:
113:
105:
95:
77:
69:
51:
43:
28:
23:
602:
572:Total battle casualties:
128:Beware the Ides of March
73:United States Of America
36:Shoulder sleeve insignia
358:Military Police Platoon
464:42nd Infantry Division
381:
206:U.S. Armored Divisions
375:
252:20th Armored Division
234:25th Armored Division
224:16th Armored Division
24:20th Armored Division
822:, New York: Harper,
296:Headquarters Company
449:Task Force Campbell
407:, sent the unit to
314:27th Tank Battalion
311:20th Tank Battalion
871:United States Army
746:, pp. 146–147
590:Missing in action:
584:Wounded in action:
519:on 3 May, entered
382:
308:9th Tank Battalion
263:United States Army
90:United States Army
1652:
1651:
596:Prisoners of war:
578:Killed in action:
248:
247:
244:
243:
198:
197:
174:Roderick R. Allen
1687:
1644:
1643:
860:
853:
846:
837:
836:
832:
821:
801:
798:
792:
789:
783:
780:
774:
771:
765:
762:
756:
753:
747:
741:
735:
729:
723:
720:
714:
711:
705:
699:
693:
690:
684:
681:
675:
669:
663:
657:
651:
650:
648:
646:
635:
629:
626:
620:
613:
435:Combat chronicle
302:Combat Command B
299:Combat Command A
212:
211:
203:
202:
88:
86:
85:
62:
60:
59:
33:
21:
20:
1695:
1694:
1690:
1689:
1688:
1686:
1685:
1684:
1655:
1654:
1653:
1648:
1634:
1620:
1238:23rd (Americal)
1146:
1063:
925:
873:
864:
830:
810:
805:
804:
799:
795:
790:
786:
781:
777:
772:
768:
763:
759:
754:
750:
742:
738:
730:
726:
721:
717:
712:
708:
700:
696:
691:
687:
682:
678:
670:
666:
658:
654:
644:
642:
637:
636:
632:
627:
623:
617:Retreat to Taps
614:
610:
605:
568:
437:
405:Omar N. Bradley
370:
305:Reserve Command
290:
265:that fought in
201:
191:
172:
165:
137:Red Yellow Blue
83:
81:
57:
55:
39:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1693:
1683:
1682:
1677:
1672:
1667:
1650:
1649:
1639:
1636:
1635:
1628:
1626:
1622:
1621:
1619:
1618:
1613:
1608:
1603:
1596:
1591:
1584:
1579:
1572:
1565:
1560:
1553:
1548:
1541:
1534:
1527:
1522:
1517:
1510:
1505:
1500:
1495:
1490:
1483:
1478:
1471:
1466:
1461:
1454:
1449:
1442:
1437:
1430:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1368:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1346:
1341:
1334:
1329:
1322:
1317:
1310:
1303:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1269:
1262:
1257:
1252:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1176:
1169:
1162:
1154:
1152:
1148:
1147:
1145:
1144:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1071:
1069:
1065:
1064:
1062:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1036:
1031:
1026:
1021:
1016:
1011:
1006:
1001:
996:
991:
986:
981:
976:
971:
966:
961:
956:
951:
946:
941:
933:
931:
927:
926:
924:
923:
918:
911:
904:
899:
894:
889:
881:
879:
875:
874:
863:
862:
855:
848:
840:
834:
833:
828:
809:
806:
803:
802:
793:
784:
775:
766:
757:
748:
744:Michaelis 2007
736:
732:Michaelis 2007
724:
715:
706:
694:
685:
676:
664:
652:
630:
621:
607:
606:
604:
601:
600:
599:
593:
587:
581:
575:
567:
564:
548:Charles Schulz
477:Schrobenhausen
436:
433:
401:Langendernbach
369:
366:
365:
364:
363:
362:
359:
356:
353:
347:
346:
345:
342:
339:
333:
330:
327:
324:
321:
318:
315:
312:
309:
306:
303:
300:
297:
289:
286:
246:
245:
242:
241:
231:
220:
219:
216:
208:
207:
199:
196:
195:
186:
182:
181:
177:
176:
167:
161:
160:
156:
155:
154:
153:
151:Central Europe
143:
139:
138:
135:
131:
130:
125:
121:
120:
115:
111:
110:
107:
103:
102:
97:
93:
92:
79:
75:
74:
71:
67:
66:
53:
49:
48:
45:
41:
40:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1692:
1681:
1678:
1676:
1673:
1671:
1668:
1666:
1663:
1662:
1660:
1647:
1637:
1633:
1632:
1627:
1623:
1617:
1614:
1612:
1609:
1607:
1604:
1602:
1601:
1597:
1595:
1592:
1590:
1589:
1585:
1583:
1580:
1578:
1577:
1573:
1571:
1570:
1566:
1564:
1561:
1559:
1558:
1554:
1552:
1549:
1547:
1546:
1542:
1540:
1539:
1535:
1533:
1532:
1528:
1526:
1523:
1521:
1518:
1516:
1515:
1511:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1496:
1494:
1491:
1489:
1488:
1484:
1482:
1479:
1477:
1476:
1472:
1470:
1467:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1459:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1447:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1435:
1431:
1429:
1428:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1351:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1339:
1335:
1333:
1330:
1328:
1327:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1315:
1311:
1309:
1308:
1304:
1302:
1301:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1274:
1270:
1268:
1267:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1250:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1198:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1181:
1177:
1175:
1174:
1170:
1168:
1167:
1163:
1161:
1160:
1156:
1155:
1153:
1149:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1077:
1073:
1072:
1070:
1066:
1060:
1057:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1035:
1032:
1030:
1027:
1025:
1022:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1012:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
955:
952:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
939:
935:
934:
932:
928:
922:
919:
917:
916:
912:
910:
909:
905:
903:
900:
898:
895:
893:
890:
888:
887:
883:
882:
880:
876:
872:
868:
861:
856:
854:
849:
847:
842:
841:
838:
831:
829:0-06-621393-2
825:
820:
819:
812:
811:
797:
788:
779:
770:
761:
752:
745:
740:
734:, p. 150
733:
728:
719:
710:
703:
698:
689:
680:
673:
668:
662:
656:
640:
634:
625:
618:
612:
608:
597:
594:
591:
588:
585:
582:
579:
576:
573:
570:
569:
563:
561:
557:
553:
552:Richard Nixon
549:
545:
544:
539:
536:
534:
528:
526:
522:
518:
514:
509:
507:
502:
501:
496:
492:
489:
484:
482:
478:
474:
469:
465:
461:
457:
452:
450:
445:
443:
432:
428:
426:
422:
418:
414:
410:
406:
402:
398:
394:
390:
386:
379:
374:
360:
357:
354:
351:
350:
348:
343:
340:
337:
336:
334:
331:
328:
325:
322:
319:
316:
313:
310:
307:
304:
301:
298:
295:
294:
293:
285:
284:
278:
276:
272:
271:Camp Campbell
268:
264:
260:
257:
253:
239:
235:
232:
229:
225:
222:
221:
213:
210:
209:
205:
204:
200:Military unit
194:
190:
187:
183:
178:
175:
171:
168:
162:
157:
152:
149:
148:
147:
144:
140:
136:
132:
129:
126:
122:
119:
116:
112:
108:
104:
101:
98:
94:
91:
80:
76:
72:
68:
65:
64:United States
54:
50:
46:
42:
37:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1629:
1611:Panama Canal
1598:
1586:
1574:
1567:
1555:
1543:
1536:
1529:
1512:
1485:
1473:
1456:
1444:
1432:
1425:
1348:
1336:
1324:
1312:
1305:
1298:
1271:
1264:
1247:
1195:
1178:
1171:
1164:
1157:
1074:
1018:
936:
913:
906:
884:
817:
796:
787:
778:
769:
760:
751:
739:
727:
718:
709:
701:
697:
688:
679:
671:
667:
655:
643:. Retrieved
633:
624:
616:
611:
595:
589:
583:
577:
571:
541:
540:
537:
529:
510:
503:
498:
497:
493:
485:
453:
446:
438:
429:
421:Seventh Army
384:
383:
291:
283:Liberators."
282:
279:
267:World War II
251:
249:
237:
227:
192:
188:
170:Orlando Ward
146:World War II
127:
18:
556:Spiro Agnew
427:, Germany.
288:Composition
189:Armoraiders
142:Engagements
1659:Categories
1616:Philippine
808:References
702:The CC BEE
566:Casualties
535:in Texas.
521:Traunstein
517:Wasserburg
468:Donauwörth
409:Marktbreit
376:Plaque at
193:Liberators
166:commanders
159:Commanders
70:Allegiance
867:Divisions
546:creator,
533:Camp Hood
515:River at
475:River at
456:Deiningen
413:III Corps
387:departed
185:Nicknames
47:1943–1946
1646:Category
1625:Mountain
1606:Hawaiian
1151:Infantry
878:Airborne
560:TO&E
525:Salzburg
425:Würzburg
417:XV Corps
393:Le Havre
275:Kentucky
259:division
228:Inactive
215:Previous
180:Insignia
124:Motto(s)
118:Division
1068:Cavalry
930:Armored
869:of the
543:Peanuts
483:River.
442:Hitdorf
368:History
261:of the
256:armored
254:was an
238:Phantom
164:Notable
100:Armored
52:Country
826:
645:22 May
506:Munich
460:Danube
389:Boston
134:Colors
87:
78:Branch
61:
44:Active
1600:108th
1594:106th
1588:104th
1582:103rd
1576:102nd
1569:100th
921:108th
915:101st
603:Notes
423:, at
397:Buchy
1631:10th
1563:99th
1557:98th
1551:97th
1545:96th
1538:95th
1531:94th
1525:93rd
1520:92nd
1514:91st
1508:90th
1503:89th
1498:88th
1493:87th
1487:86th
1481:85th
1475:84th
1469:83rd
1464:81st
1458:80th
1452:79th
1446:78th
1440:77th
1434:76th
1427:75th
1421:71st
1416:70th
1411:69th
1406:66th
1401:65th
1396:63rd
1391:51st
1386:49th
1381:48th
1376:47th
1371:46th
1366:45th
1361:44th
1356:43rd
1350:42nd
1344:41st
1338:40th
1332:39th
1326:38th
1320:37th
1314:36th
1307:35th
1300:34th
1294:33rd
1289:32nd
1284:31st
1279:30th
1273:29th
1266:28th
1260:27th
1255:26th
1249:25th
1243:24th
1233:19th
1228:17th
1223:13th
1218:12th
1213:11th
1142:66th
1137:65th
1132:64th
1127:63rd
1122:62nd
1117:61st
1112:24th
1107:23rd
1102:22nd
1097:21st
1092:15th
1059:50th
1054:49th
1049:48th
1044:40th
1039:30th
1034:27th
1029:25th
1024:22nd
1019:20th
1014:19th
1009:16th
1004:14th
999:13th
994:12th
989:11th
984:10th
908:82nd
902:80th
897:17th
892:13th
886:11th
824:ISBN
647:2020
473:Paar
361:Band
250:The
218:Next
114:Size
106:Role
96:Type
1208:9th
1203:8th
1197:7th
1191:6th
1186:5th
1180:4th
1173:3rd
1166:2nd
1159:1st
1087:3rd
1082:2nd
1076:1st
979:9th
974:8th
969:7th
964:6th
959:5th
954:4th
949:3rd
944:2nd
938:1st
586:134
574:186
562:).
513:Inn
481:Ilm
277:.
273:in
1661::
619:.)
580:46
419:,
859:e
852:t
845:v
649:.
598:5
592:1
240:)
236:(
230:)
226:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
