South African 6th Armoured Division

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The South African 6th Armoured Division was an armoured division of the South African Army during World War II.

[edit] History

This division - the first armoured division in South African military history - was formed in South Africa on 1 February 1943 out of the remnants of the earlier South African 1st and 2nd Infantry Divisions. After completing its training in Egypt, the division landed at Taranto, Italy on 20 April 1944; the division was destined to fight exclusively in Italy during its existence.

Despite leading the advance on Rome, the division was denied the honour of "taking" the city (i.e. entering the city first) by the United States Army. However, the division was one of the first allied units to enter Florence two months later.

The division's active role in the war ended when the German forces in Italy surrendered on 2 May 1945.

Major General WHE Poole was the sole divisional commander during its existence.

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