[Webmaster Note: The following division information is reproduced
from the public domain publication, The Army Almanac: A Book of
Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office,
1950. Portions of the information may be out of date. Only minor formatting changes and
typographical corrections have been made.]
World War II
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Activated: 15 November 1942.
Overseas: 30 September 1944.
Campaigns: Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.
Days of combat: 151.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 2.
Awards: MH-1; DSC-16; DSM-1; SS-252; LM-6; DFC-7; SM-8; BSM-2,127; AM-48.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Thompson Lawrence (November 1942-July 1943),
Maj. Gen. Walter E. Lauer (July 1943-18 August 1945),
Brig. Gen. Frederick H. Black (August 1945 to inactivation).
Returned to U.S.: 17 September 1945.
Inactivated: 15 October 1945.
Combat Chronicle
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The 99th Infantry Division arrived in England, 10 October 1944, moved to
Le Havre, France, 3 November, and proceeded to Aubel, Belgium, to prepare
for combat. The Division first saw action on the 9th, taking over the defense
of the sector north of the Roer River between Schmidt and Monschau. After
defensive patrolling, the 99th probed the Siegfried Line against heavy
resistance, 13 December. The Von Rundstedt attack caught the Division
on the 16th. Although cut up and surrounded in part, the 99th held as
a whole until reinforcements came. Then it drew back gradually to form
defensive positions east of Elsenborn on the 19th. Here it held firmly
against violent enemy attacks. From 21 December 1944 to 30 January 1945,
the unit was engaged in aggressive patrolling and reequipping. It attacked
toward the Monschau Forest, 1 February, mopping up and patrolling until it
was relieved for training and rehabilitation, 13 February. On 2 March, 1945,
the Division took the offensive, moving toward Keln and crossing the
Erft Canal near Glesch. After clearing towns west of the Rhine, it crossed
the river at Remagen on the 11th and continued to Linz and to the
Wied. Crossing on the 23rd, it pushed east on the Koln-Frankfurt
highway to Giessen. Against light resistance it crossed the
Dill River and pushed on to Krofdorf-Gleiberg, taking Giessen
29 March. The 99th then moved to Schwarzenau, 3 April, and attacked
the southeast sector of the Ruhr pocket on the 5th. Although the enemy
resisted fiercely, the Ruhr pocket collapsed with the fall of Iserlohn,
16 April. The last drive began on 23 April. The 99th crossed the
Ludwig Canal against stiff resistance and established a bridgehead
over the Altmuhl River, 25 April. The Danube was crossed near Eining
on the 27th and the Isar at Landshut, 1 May, after a stubborn fight. The
attack continued without opposition to the Inn River and
Giesenhausen when VE-day came.
Assignments in the ETO
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4 November 1944: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. // 18 December 1944: Attached to
2nd Infantry Division
of the V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. // 20 December 1944: Attached, with
the entire First Army, to the British 21st Army Group. // 7 January 1944: Relieved
from attachment to the
2nd Infantry Division
and assigned to V Corps, First Army (attached to the British 21st Army
Group), 12th Army Group. // 18 January 1945: V Corps, First Army, 12th
Army Group. // 20 February 1945: VII Corps. // 9 March 1945: III Corps. //
19 April 1945: III Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
General
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Nickname: Battle Babies; formerly Checkerboard Division.
Shoulder patch: A five-sided shield of black on which is superimposed a
horizontal band of white and blue squares.
Publications: Battle Babies, Story of the 99th Infantry Division; by
unit members; TI&E, ETOUSA; distributor, 99th Infantry Division
Association; 1945. Pictorial History; by unit members; Albert
Love Enterprises, Atlanta, Ga.; 1944.
• 99th Infantry Division Links
• 99th Infantry Division Components
• 99th Infantry Division Medal of Honor Recipients
• 99th Infantry Division Commanders
• 99th Infantry Division Videos
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