[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 Portions of the information may be out of date.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 June 1943.
Overseas: 8 January 1945.
Campaigns: Rhineland, Central Europe.
Days of combat: 83.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 1.
Awards: DSC-13; SS-228; LM-11; SM-16; BSM-1,469; AM-36.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. John E. Dahlquist (June 1943-July 1944),
Maj. Gen. Allison J. Barnett (July 1944-July 1945),
Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Herren (July 1945 to inactivation).
Returned to U.S.: 10 October 1945.
Inactivated: 11 October 1945.
Combat Chronicle
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The three infantry regiments of the 70th Infantry Division landed at Marseille,
France, 10-15 December 1944, and were formed into Task Force Herren before the
arrival of the remainder of the Division on 18 January 1945. Task Force Herren
took over defensive positions along the west bank of the Rhine, 28 December 1944,
in the vicinity of Bischweiler, south of Haguenau Forest. Elements took part in
the fight to stop the German winter offensive, and struck at the enemy at
Phillipsbourg and at Wingen. In mid-January 1945, the Task Force moved to an
area directly south of Saarbrucken, where it carried out reconnaissance and
combat patrols, and improved defensive positions. Upon the arrival of the
remainder of the Division, Task Force Herren was dissolved. Patrolling and
combat raids continued as preparations were made for an offensive drive in
mid-February. On 17 February 1945, the attack jumped off just below the
Saar River. The 70th drove onto high ground overlooking Saarbrucken, smashed
into Forbach, took Stiring-Wendel, and continued across the Saar to take
Saarbrucken, 20 March 1945. Pushing through Siegfried Line defenses along
the north bank of the Saar, the Division took Volklingen and other Saarland
cities and towns. In April it took part in the reduction of the Saar Basin,
and after VE-day was engaged in occupational duties, with CP's at Otterberg,
Bad Kreuznach, Frankfurt, and Oranienstein.
Assignments in the ETO
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20 December 1944: Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. // 28 December 1944: VI Corps. //
3 February 1945: XV Corps. // 25 February 1945: XXI Corps. //
22 March 1945: Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. // 31 March 1945: 12th Army
Group. // 8 April 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group.
General
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Nickname: Trailblazers.
Shoulder patch: Red, in shape of axe-blade with white axe-head superimposed on red
background; below the axe, in white is a replica of Mount Hood, beside
which is a green fir tree.
Publication:
Trailblazers; by unit members; TI&E, ETOUSA; distributor,
secretary, 70th Division Association; 1945.
• 70th Infantry Division Links
• 70th Infantry Division Components
• 70th Infantry Division Medal of Honor Recipients
• 70th Infantry Division Commanders
• 70th Infantry Division Videos
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