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Researching
World War II
UnitHistories, Documents
Monographs, Books and Reports on CD
PDF Remastered and Keyword Searchable
This grouping of informationis for the World War 2 Researcher or FamilyMember
and is designed to be suitable both asa Research Tool and as a Family Heirloomkeepsake.
Top- Orderof Battle - ChronologyMap -Files - History- Campaigns - Battle
Headquartersand Headquarters Company325th Glider Infantry Regiment
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment307th Airborne Engineer Battalion
82nd Airborne Division Artillery
Headquarters and HeadquartersBattery
319th Glider Field ArtilleryBattalion (75mm Pack Howitzer)
320th Glider Field ArtilleryBattalion (75mm Pack Howitzer)
80th Airborne AntiaircraftBattalion307th Airborne Medical Battalion
782nd Airborne Ordnance MaintenanceCompany
407th Airborne QuartermasterCompany
82nd Airborne Signal Company
Military Police PlatoonAttachedUnits1st Ranger Battalion
3rd Ranger Battalion
4th Ranger Battalion
1st Battalion, 143rd InfantryRegiment
Detachment, 813th Tank DestroyerBattalion
A Battery, 133rd Field ArtilleryBattalion (105mm Howitzer)
A Battery, 155th Field ArtilleryBattalion (155mm Howitzer)
C Battery, 155th Field ArtilleryBattalion (155mm Howitzer)
F Company, 540th EngineerShore Regiment
C Company, 83rd Chemical Battalion(Motorized)
D Company, 83rd Chemical Battalion(Motorized)
405th Medical Collecting Company
2nd Platoon, 602nd MedicalClearing Company
1st Platoon, 90th QuartermasterCompany (Railhead)
H Company, 36th Engineer CombatRegiment
Detachment, 63rd Signal Battalion
C Detachment, 72nd SignalCompany (Special)
Detachment, 180th Signal RepairCompany
Detachment, 286th Signal Company
Casualties1,619 - Killed in action
6,560 - Wounded in action
332 - Died of woundsCommanders
MGOmar N. Bradley
23 Mar - 25 Jun 42MG MatthewB. Ridgeway
26 Jun 42 - 27 Aug 44 Campaigns
Sicily9Jul - 17 Aug 43
Naples-Foggia
9Sep 43 - 21 Jan 44Normandy
6Jun - 24 Jul 44Rhineland15Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45Ardennes-Alsace
16Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45
Central Europe22Mar - 11 May 45Operations
OperationHusky
GardenBattleof the Bulge Medals
Medal of Honor- 3
Distinguished Service Cross- 41
Legion of Merit - 24
Silver Star - 759
Soldiers Medal - 41
Bronze Star - 1,873
Air Medal - 15
Top- Orderof Battle - ChronologyMap -Files - History- Campaigns - Bottom
1942Mar25- Reorganizedat Camp Claiborne, Louisiana.Aug15- The82nd Infantry Division became thefirst airborne division in the U.S.Army and was redesignated the 82ndAirborne Division. At the same time,82nd personnel also were used in theformation of a second airborne unit- the \"Screaming Eagles\"of the 101st Airborne Division.Oct-The82nd was dispatched to Fort Bragg,North Carolina, to pursue its newairborne training. Oct14- The82nd absorbed the 504th ParachuteInfantry Regiment, which had formedon May 1 at Fort Benning, Georgia.By the time that they went overseas,the 82nd would consist of the 325thGlider Infantry Regiment and the 504thand 505th Parachute Infantry Regiments.1943 Apr-Paratroopersof the 82nd Airborne Division leftvia troop ships from New England toNorth Africa to participate in thecampaign to invade Italy and becamethe first airborne division sent overseas.May10- Divisionlanded in Casablanca, North Africaon May 10, 1943 they moved by railto Oujda and then by truck to Kairouan,Tunisia. Jul9- The505th Parachute Infantry Regimentand the 3rd Battalion of the 504thparachuted to take the high groundnear Ponte Olivo airfield northeastof Gela, Sicily on July 9, 1943. Jul11- Theremaining Battalions of the 504thPIR were dropped in the vicinity ofGela with heavy losses.Jul12- TheDivision was moved up to the frontby motor and reinforced by the 39thInfantry Regiment of the 9th InfantryDivision on July 12, 1943.Jul18- Thecrossings of Fiume delle Canno weresecured on July 18, 1943.Jul23- TheDivision pushed along the coastalhighway, seizing the Marsala-Trapaniarea of Sicily\'s western coast byJuly 23rd.Sep13- TheDivision\'s second combat operationwas a night parachute drop onto theSalerno beachhead on September 13,1943 in support of General Mark Clark\'s5th Army which was in danger of beingpushed back into the sea.Sep13- The504th PIR was parachuted south ofthe Sele River near Salerno on September13, 1943. Sep15- The325th Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR)was brought into the beachhead amphibiouslyto join the rest of the Division.Sep16- The504th PIR & the 376th PFAB beganan attack to recover Altavilla onSeptember 16, 1943.Oct1- Thedivision fought towards Naples whichit reached on October 1, 1943. The504th PIR & the 376th PFAB weredetached from the 82nd Airborne temporarilyand fought in southern Italy as partof the 36th Infantry Division. Oct29- Gallocaptured.Nov-The82nd was pulled out of Italy and movedto the United Kingdom to prepare forthe liberation of Europe. 1944Jan-The504th Parachute Infantry Regiment,which was temporarily detached fromthe Division to fight at Anzio, adoptedthe nickname \"Devils in BaggyPants.EarlyUnitsof the Division were moved to Englandas the allies were preparing for theD-Day assault on Western Europe. Twonew parachute infantry regiments,the 507th and the 508th, joined theDivision. However, due to its depletedstate following the fighting in Italy,the 504th Parachute Infantry Regimentdid not take part in the invasion.Jun5-Theparatroopers of the 82nd\'s three parachuteinfantry regiments and reinforcedglider infantryregiment boarded hundredsof transport planes and gliders and,began the largest airborne assaultin history. They were among the firstsoldiers to fight in Normandy, France.Jun6- TheDivision dropped behind Utah Beach,Normandy, France between Ste Mere-Egliseand Carentan on June 6th, 1944. Jun12- The505th PIR captured Montebourg Stationand on June 12th.Jun19- Theyestablished a bridgehead at Pont l\'Abbeon June 19th. Jul3- TheDivision attacked down the west coastof the Cotentin Peninsula and capturedHill 131 on July 3rd. Jul3- The82nd seized Hill 95 overlooking LaHaye-du-Puits.Jul13- Divisionwas pulled back to England on July13, 1944.Sep-The82nd began planning for OperationMarket Garden in Holland. The operationcalled for three-plus airborne divisionsto seize and hold key bridges androads deep behind German lines. The504th now back at full strength rejoinedthe 82nd, while the 507th went tothe 17th Airborne Division.Sep11- The82nd conducted its fourth combat assaultof World War II into the Netherlandsand captured the Maas Bridge at Grave,the Maas-Waal Canal Bridge at Heumenand the Nijmegen-Groesbeek Ridge.The next day attempts to take NijmegenHighway Bridge failed.Sep12- The82nd was ordered back to France.Sep20- The504th crossed the Waal. Dec16- TheGermans launched a surprise offensivethrough the Ardennes Forest whichcaught the Allies completely by surprise.Dec17- Inreponse to the German\'s Ardennes Counteroffensiveand blunted General Von Runstedt\'snorthern penetration in the Americanlines the 82nd moved into action.Dec20- The82nd attacked in the Vielsalm-St.Vith region and the 504th PIR tookMonceau. This fierce attac forcedthe German units back across the AmbleveRiver the next day.Dec22- FurtherGerman assaults along the Salm hitthe 505th PIR in the Trois PontsDec24- TheDivision lost Manhay.Dec25- TheDivision withdrew from the VielsalmSalient.Dec27- Attackednortheast of Bra.1945Jan4- Thedivision reached Salm. Jan7- The508th PIR Red Devil\'s launched anattack with the 504th in the vicinityof Thier-du-Mont where it sufferedheavy casualties. Jan21- The508th was then withdrawn from theline and placed in reserve until January21st when it replaced elements ofthe 2d Infantry Division.Feb7- Thedivision attacked Bergstein, a townon the Roer River. Feb17- The82nd crossed the Roer River on February17th. Apr-DuringApril, 1945 the Division performedsecurity duty in Cologne until theyattacked in the Bleckede area andpushed toward the Elbe River. May2- Asthe 504th PIR drove toward Forst Carrenzien,the German 21st Army surrendered tothe division on May 2, 1945.
Top- Orderof Battle - ChronologyMap -Files - History- Campaigns - Bottom
82ndAirborne Division
CD1
Open all files fromthe folders on the CDs
Install AdobeAcrobat PDF Reader from CD 1
Thefiles below are found on CD 182nd AirborneIn Sicily and Italy
CD 1
143 Pages - PDF82nd AirborneMaps
CD 1
15 Pages - PDF9 Jul - 19 Aug 4382nd Airborne
504th ParachuteSicilyCD 1
37 Pages - PDFSep 4382nd AirborneHistory
CD 1
2 Pages - PDF13-19 Sep 4382nd Airborne
504th ParachuteNaplesCD 1
40 Pages - PDF6 Jun 4482nd Airborne
507th ParachuteNormandyCD 1
26 Pages - PDF6-8 Jun 4482nd Airborne
ArtillaryNormandyCD 1
41 Pages - PDF15-19 Sep 4482nd Airborne
508th ParachuteArnheimCD 1
43 Pages - PDF19-20 Sep 4482nd Airborne
504th ParachuteRhinelandCD 1
22 Pages - PDF18 Dec 44 - 10 Jan 4582nd Airborne
504th ParachuteOperationsCD 1
35 Pages - PDF22-25 Dec 4482nd Airborne
508th ParachuteArdennesCD 1
20 Pages - PDFDec 44 - Jan 4582nd Airborne
NarrativeCD 1
18 Pages - PDF2-7 Jan 4582nd Airborne
501st ParachuteArdennesCD 1
41 Pages - PDF Apr - May 4582nd AirborneAfter Action Reports
CD 1
30 Pages - PDF
Breakout and Pursuit
CD 1
771 Pages - PDFCross-Channel
AttackCD 1
538 Pages - PDF 22 Jan - 24 May 44Anzio
CampaignCD 1
28 Pages - PDF16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45 Ardennes-Alsace
CampaignCD 1
56 Pages - PDF9 Sep 43 - 21 Jan 44 Naples-Foggia
CampaignCD 1
32 Pages - PDF6 Jun - 24 Jul 44 Normandy
CampaignCD 1
51 Pages - PDF15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45 Rhineland
CampaignCD 1
36 Pages - PDFSiegfried Line
CD 1
697 Pages - PDFWWII
Strategic MapsEuropeCD 1
82 Pages - PDF Ardennes
Battle of the BulgeCD 1
747 Pages - PDF
Readers Guide US Army
in World War IICD 1
185 Pages - PDF
Form SF180
Records RequestRequest for
Personnel Records
CD 1
3 Pages - PDF
Research GuideNational Archives
Finding Information of
Personal Participation
in World War II GuideCD 1
5 Pages - PDFGuide to
World War II
Research Resources
CD 1
20 Pages - PDFThefiles below are found on CD 2VE Day
Eisenhower FlyerCD 2
1 Page - PDFRank
Insignia of GradeCD 2
1 Page - PDFChartEnlisted Men\'s
Uniform InsigniasCD 2
1 Page - 2
19 Pages - PDFMines - Booby Traps
Identification GuideCD 2
80 Pages - PDFAircraft
Nose ArtCD 2
34 Pages - PDF
Aircraft
Recognition GuideCD 2
17 Pages - PDF
Aircraft
Insignia PosterCD 2
1 Page - PDF
US
World War II
PostersCD 2
249 Pages - PDF
German
World War II
PostersCD 2
75 Pages - PDF
Comic Book
Covers
CD 2
8 Pages - PDFSong LyricsArmy
HIT KIT
of Popular SongsCD 2
6 Pages - PDF Troopships
of World War IICD 2
391 Pages - PDFBritish
Grenadier Guards
1939 - 1945CampaignsBEF - 1939 - 1940
Tunisia 1942 - 1943
Italy - 1943 - 1945
Europe 1944 - 1945CD 2
93 Pages - PDF FilmThe
BIG PICTURE
Documentary Film \"Combat Infantryman\"An Official
Television Report
to the Nation
From the
United States ArmyCD 2
Film Info - PDF
Film: 27m14s - MP4Newsreels\"Allied Vise Tightens
On Rhineland\"
Universal Newsreel
7 Dec 44
Film: 7m17s\"Nazis Surrender\"
Universal Newsreel
14 May 45
Film: 7m24s\"The Year 1945\"
United Newsreel
Film: 8m34sCD 2
Newsreels - Folder1 Sep 39 - 10 May 42 Graphic History
Of The WarCD 2
76 Pages - PDF1985Veterans
Remerbrances
of World War II40th Anniversary
of VE Day CD 2
141 Pages - PDFBrief History
of World War IICD 2
55 Pages - PDFAPOsArmy
Postal Service
Addresses
CD 2
149 Pages - PDF
Top- Orderof Battle - ChronologyMap -Files - History- Campaigns - Bottom
82ndAirborne
Division
82nd Airborne DivisionHistoryThe82nd Division was redesignated on13 February 1942 as Division Headquarters,82nd Division. It was recalled toactive service on 25 March 1942,and reorganized at Camp Claiborne,Louisiana, under the command ofMajor General Omar N. Bradley.
During this training period, the division brought together fourofficers who would ultimatelysteer the US Army during the followingtwo decades: Matthew B. Ridgway,Matthew D. Query, James M. Gavin,and Maxwell D. Taylor who becamethe commander of the 101st airbornedivision in 1944. This was followingBill Lee\'s heart attack. UnderGeneral Bradley, the 82nd Division\'sChief of Staff was George VanPope. The Allied invasion of Sicilywas originally to be kept a secret.
On 15 August 1942,the 82nd Infantry Division becamethe Army\'s first airborne division,and was redesignated the 82ndAirborne Division. In April 1943,its paratroopers deployed to NorthAfrica under the command of MajorGeneral Matthew B. Ridgway toparticipate in the campaign toinvade Italy. The division\'s firsttwo combat operations were parachuteassaults into Sicily on 9 Julyand Salerno on 13 September. Theinitial assault on Sicily, bythe 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment,was the first regimental-sizedcombat parachute assault conductedby the United States Army. Thefirst glider assault did not occuruntil Operation Neptune as partof D-Day. Glider troopers of the319th and 320th Glider Field Artilleryand the 325th Glider Infantryinstead arrived in Italy by landingcraft at Maiori (319th) and Salerno(320th, 325th).
In January 1944,the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment,which was temporarily detachedto fight at Anzio, adopted thenickname \"Devils in BaggyPants\", taken from an entryin a German officer\'s diary. Whilethe 504th was detached, the remainderof the 82nd moved to the UnitedKingdom in November 1943 to preparefor the liberation of Europe.See RAF North Witham and RAF Folkingham.
Normandy
With two combatassaults under its belt, the 82ndAirborne Division was now readyfor the most ambitious airborneoperation of the war so far, aspart of Operation Neptune, theinvasion of Normandy. The divisionconducted Operation Boston, partof the airborne assault phaseof the Operation Overlord plan.
In preparationfor the operation, the divisionwas reorganized. To ease the integrationof replacement troops, rest, andrefitting following the fightingin Italy, the 504th did not rejointhe division for the invasion.Two new parachute infantry regiments(PIRs), the 507th and the 508th,provided it, along with the 505th,a three-parachute infantry regimentpunch. On 5 and 6 June, theseparatroopers, parachute artilleryelements, and the 319th and 320th,boarded hundreds of transportplanes and gliders to begin history\'slargest airborne assault at thetime (only Operation Market Gardenlater that year would be larger).During the June 6th assault, a508th platoon leader, Lt. RobertP. Mathias, would be the firstAmerican officer killed by Germanfire on D-Day.[citation needed]On June 7, after this first waveof attack, the 325th Glider InfantryRegiment would arrive by gliderto provide a division reserve.
By the time theAll-American Division was pulledback to England, it had seen 33days of bloody combat and suffered5,245 troopers killed, wounded,or missing. Ridgway\'s post-battlereport stated in part, \"...33days of action without relief,without replacements. Every missionaccomplished. No ground gainedwas ever relinquished.\"
Following Normandy,the 82nd became part of the newlyorganized XVIII Airborne Corps,which consisted of the U.S. 17th,82nd, and 101st Airborne Divisions.Ridgway was given command, butwas not promoted to lieutenantgeneral until 1945. His recommendationfor succession as commander wasBrigadier General James M. Gavin.Ridgway\'s recommendation met withapproval, and upon promotion Gavinbecame the youngest general sincethe Civil War to command a USArmy division.
Market Garden
On 2 August 1944the division became part of theFirst Allied Airborne Army. InSeptember, the 82nd began planningfor Operation Market Garden inthe Netherlands. The operationcalled for three-plus airbornedivisions to seize and hold keybridges and roads deep behindGerman lines. The 504th, now backat full strength, was reassignedto the 82nd, while the 507th wasassigned to the 17th Airborne.On 17 September, the 82nd conductedits fourth World War II combatassault. Fighting off German counterattacks,the 82nd captured its objectivesbetween Grave, and Nijmegen. Itssuccess, however, was short-livedbecause the defeat of other Alliedunits at the Battle of Arnhem.After a period of duty on theArnhem front, the 82nd was relievedby Canadian troops, and sent toFrance.
TheBulge
On 16 December,the Germans launched a surpriseoffensive through the ArdennesForest which became known as theBattle of the Bulge. Two dayslater the 82nd joined the fightingand blunted General Gerd von Rundstedt\'snorthern penetration of Americanlines. During this campaign, PFCMartin, 325th Glider InfantryRegiment, told a sergeant in aretreating tank destroyer to,\"...pull your vehicle behindme—I\'m the 82nd Airborne,and this is as far as the bastardsare going!\"
After helpingto secure the Ruhr, the divisionended the war at Ludwigslust pastthe Elbe River, accepting thesurrender of over 150,000 of LieutenantGeneral Kurt von Tippelskirch\'s21st Army. General Bradley statedin a 1975 interview with Gavinthat Montgomery told him Germanopposition was too great to crossthe Elbe. When Gavin\'s divisioncrossed the river, the divisionmoved 36 miles in one day andcaptured over 100,000 troops,causing great laughter in Bradley\'s12th Army Group headquarters.
Following Germany\'ssurrender, the 82nd entered Berlinfor occupation duty, lasting fromApril until December 1945. InBerlin General George Patton wasso impressed with the 82nd\'s honorguard he said, \"In all myyears in the Army and all thehonor guards I have ever seen,the 82nd\'s honor guard is undoubtedlythe best.\" Hence the \"All-American\"became also known as \"America\'sGuard of Honor\".[14] Thewar ended before their scheduledparticipation in the invasionof Japan. During the invasionof Italy in World War II, Ridgwayconsidered Will Lang Jr. of TIMEmagazine an honorary member ofthe division.
Top- Orderof Battle - ChronologyMap -Files - History- Campaigns - Bottom
82ndAirborne
Division
Medal of HonorRecepients
John R. Towle
21 September 1944
Near Oosterhout, Holland
Rankand Organization: Private,Company C, 504th Parachute Infantry,82d Airborne Division.
Place and Date: NearOosterhout, Holland, 21 September1944.
Entered Service at:Cleveland, Ohio.
Birth: Cleveland,Ohio.
Citation:For conspicuous gallantry andintrepidity at the risk of lifeabove and beyond the call ofduty on 21 September 1944, nearOosterhout, Holland. The riflecompany in which Pvt. Towleserved as rocket launcher gunnerwas occupying a defensive positionin the west sector of the recentlyestablished Nijmegen bridgeheadwhen a strong enemy force ofapproximately 100 infantry supportedby 2 tanks and a half-trackformed for a counterattack.With full knowledge of the disastrousconsequences resulting not onlyto his company but to the entirebridgehead by an enemy breakthrough,Pvt. Towle immediately and withoutorders left his foxhole andmoved 200 yards in the faceof Intense small-arms fire toa position on an exposed dikeroadbed. From this precariousposition Pvt. Towle fired hisrocket launcher at and hit bothtanks to his immediate front.Armored skirting on both tanksprevented penetration by theprojectiles, but both vehicleswithdrew slightly damaged. Stillunder intense fire and fullyexposed to the enemy, Pvt. Towlethen engaged a nearby housewhich 9 Germans had enteredand were using as a strongpointand with 1 round killed all9. Hurriedly replenishing hissupply of ammunition, Pvt. Towle,motivated only by his high conceptionof duty which called for thedestruction of the enemy atany cost, then rushed approximately125 yards through grazing enemyfire to an exposed positionfrom which he could engage theenemy half-track with his rocketlauncher. While in a kneelingposition preparatory to firingon the enemy vehicle, Pvt. Towlewas mortally wounded by a mortarshell. By his heroic tenacity,at the price of his life, Pvt.Towle saved the lives of manyof his comrades and was directlyinstrumental in breaking upthe enemy counterattack.
Charles N. Deglopper
9June 1944
Merderet River at la Fiere,France
Rankand organization: PrivateFirst Class, Co. C, 325th GliderInfantry, 82d Airborne Division.
Place and date: MerderetRiver at la Fiere, France, 9June 1944.
Entered service at: GrandIsland, N.Y.
Birth: Grand Island,N.Y.
Citation:He was a member of Company C,325th Glider Infantry, on 9June 1944 advancing with theforward platoon to secure abridgehead across the MerderetRiver at La Fiere, France. Atdawn the platoon had penetratedan outer line of machinegunsand riflemen, but in so doinghad become cut off from therest of the company. Vastlysuperior forces began a decimationof the stricken unit and putin motion a flanking maneuverwhich would have completelyexposed the American platoonin a shallow roadside ditchwhere it had taken cover. Detectingthis danger, Pfc. DeGloppervolunteered to support his comradesby fire from his automatic riflewhile they attempted a withdrawalthrough a break in a hedgerow40 yards to the rear. Scorninga concentration of enemy automaticweapons and rifle fire, he walkedfrom the ditch onto the roadin full view of the Germans,and sprayed the hostile positionswith assault fire. He was wounded,but he continued firing. Struckagain, he started to fall; andyet his grim determination andvaliant fighting spirit couldnot be broken. Kneeling in theroadway, weakened by his grievouswounds, he leveled his heavyweapon against the enemy andfired burst after burst untilkilled outright. He was successfulin drawing the enemy actionaway from his fellow soldiers,who continued the fight froma more advantageous positionand established the first bridgeheadover the Merderet. In the areawhere he made his intrepid standhis comrades later found theground strewn with dead Germansand many machineguns and automaticweapons which he had knockedout of action. Pfc. DeGlopper\'sgallant sacrifice and unflinchingheroism while facing unsurmountableodds were in great measure responsiblefor a highly important tacticalvictory in the Normandy Campaign.
LeonardA. Funk, Jr.
29 January 1945
Holzheim, Belgium
Rankand organization: FirstSergeant, Company C, 508th ParachuteInfantry, 82d Airborne Division.
Place and date: Holzheim,Belgium, 29 January 1945.
Entered service at:Wilkinsburg, Pa.
Birth: BraddockTownship, Pa.
Citation:He distinguished himself bygallant, intrepid actions againstthe enemy. After advancing 15miles in a driving snowstorm,the American force preparedto attack through waist-deepdrifts. The company executiveofficer became a casualty, and1st Sgt. Funk immediately assumedhis duties, forming headquarterssoldiers into a combat unitfor an assault in the face ofdirect artillery shelling andharassing fire from the rightflank. Under his skillful andcourageous leadership, thismiscellaneous group and the3d Platoon attacked 15 houses,cleared them, and took 30 prisonerswithout suffering a casualty.The fierce drive of CompanyC quickly overran Holzheim,netting some 80 prisoners, whowere placed under a 4-man guard,all that could be spared, whilethe rest of the understrengthunit went about mopping up isolatedpoints of resistance. An enemypatrol, by means of a ruse,succeeded in capturing the guardsand freeing the prisoners, andhad begun preparations to attackCompany C from the rear when1st Sgt. Funk walked aroundthe building and into theirmidst. He was ordered to surrenderby a German officer who pusheda machine pistol into his stomach.Although overwhelmingly outnumberedand facing almost certain death,1st Sgt. Funk, pretending tocomply with the order, beganslowly to unsling his submachinegun from his shoulder and then,with lightning motion, broughtthe muzzle into line and riddledthe German officer. He turnedupon the other Germans, firingand shouting to the other Americansto seize the enemy\'s weapons.In the ensuing fight 21 Germanswere killed, many wounded, andthe remainder captured. 1stSgt. Funk\'s bold action andheroic disregard for his ownsafety were directly responsiblefor the recapture of a vastlysuperior enemy force, which,if allowed to remain free, couldhave taken the widespread unitsof Company C by surprise andendangered the entire attackplan.
Top- Orderof Battle - ChronologyMap -Files - History- Campaigns - Bottom
82ndAirborne
DivisionCampaignsof World War II
Sicily9Jul - 17 Aug 43
Naples-Foggia
9Sep 43 - 21 Jan 44Normandy
6Jun - 24 Jul 44Rhineland15Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45Ardennes-Alsace
16Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45
CentralEurope22Mar - 11 May 45
SicilyCampaign
9 Jul - 17 Aug 43
On the night of9–10 July 1943, an Alliedarmada of 2,590 vessels launchedone of the largest combined operationsof World War II—the invasionof Sicily. Over the next thirty-eightdays, half a million Allied soldiers,sailors, and airmen grappled withtheir German and Italian counterpartsfor control of this rocky outworkof Hitler’s “FortressEurope.” When the strugglewas over, Sicily became the firstpiece of the Axis homeland tofall to Allied forces during WorldWar II. More important, it servedas both a base for the invasionof Italy and as a training groundfor many of the officers and enlistedmen who eleven months later landedon the beaches of Normandy.
After Allied bombardmentof communications and airfieldsin Italy, Montgomery crossed theStrait of Messina on 3 September1943 and started northward. Fivedays later Eisenhower announcedthat the Italian Government hadsurrendered. Fifth Army, underClark, landed at Salerno on gSeptember and managed to staydespite furious counterattacks.By 18 September the Germans werewithdrawing northward. On 27 SeptemberEighth Army occupied the importantairfields of Foggia, and on IOctober Fifth Army took Naples.As the Allies pushed up the peninsula,the enemy slowed the advance andbrought it to a halt at the GustavLine.
Normandy
6 Jun - 24 Jul 44
A great invasionforce stood off the Normandy coastof France as dawn broke on 6 June1944: 9 battleships, 23 cruisers,104 destroyers, and 71 large landingcraft of various descriptionsas well as troop transports, minesweepers, and merchantmen—inall, nearly 5,000 ships of everytype, the largest armada everassembled. The naval bombardmentthat began at 0550 that morningdetonated large minefields alongthe shoreline and destroyed anumber of the enemy’s defensivepositions. To one correspondent,reporting from the deck of thecruiser HMS Hillary, it soundedlike “the rhythmic beatingof a gigantic drum” allalong the coast. In the hoursfollowing the bombardment, morethan 100,000 fighting men sweptashore to begin one of the epicassaults of history, a “mightyendeavor,” as PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt describedit to the American people, “topreserve. . . our civilizationand to set free a suffering humanity.”
Rhineland
15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45
The RhinelandCampaign, although costly forthe Allies, had clearly been ruinousfor the Germans. The Germans sufferedsome 300,000 casualties and lostvast amounts of irreplaceableequipment. Hitler, having demandedthe defense of all of the Germanhomeland, enabled the Allies todestroy the Wehrmacht in the Westbetween the Siegfried Line andthe Rhine River. Now, the ThirdReich lay virtually prostratebefore Eisenhower’s massedarmies.
Ardennes-Alsace
16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45
In August 1944,while his armies were being destroyedin Normandy, Hitler secretly putin motion actions to build a largereserve force, forofferding itsuse to bolster Germany’sbeleaguered defenses. To providethe needed manpower, he trimmedexisting military forces and conscriptedyouths, the unfit, and old menpreviously untouched for militaryservice during World War II.
In September Hitlernamed the port of Antwerp, Belgium,as the objective. Selecting theEifel region as a staging area,Hitler intended to mass twenty-fivedivisions for an attack throughthe thinly held Ardennes Forestarea of southern Belgium and Luxembourg.Once the Meuse River was reachedand crossed, these forces wouldswing northwest some 60 milesto envelop the port of Antwerp.The maneuver was designed to severthe already stretched Allied supplylines in the north and to encircleand destroy a third of the Allies’ground forces. If successful,Hitler believed that the offensivecould smash the Allied coalition,or at least greatly cripple itsground combat capabilities, leavinghim free to focus on the Russiansat his back door.
CentralEurope
22 Mar - 11 May 45
By the beginningof the Central Europe Campaignof World War II, Allied victoryin Europe was inevitable. Havinggambled his future ability todefend Germany on the Ardennesoffensive and lost, Hitler hadno real strength left to stopthe powerful Allied armies. YetHitler forced the Allies to fight,often bitterly, for final victory.Even when the hopelessness ofthe German situation became obviousto his most loyal subordinates,Hitler refused to admit defeat.Only when Soviet artillery wasfalling around his Berlin headquartersbunker did the German Fuehrerbegin to perceive the final outcomeof his megalomaniacal crusade.
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