103rd Infantry Division (United States)

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103rd Infantry Division
Active	1942-1945
Country	United States
Branch	U.S. Army
Nickname	Cactus Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Anthony C. McAuliffe

The 103d Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War II.

1 World War II
- 1.1 Combat Chronicle
- 1.2 Assignments in the European Theater of Operations
2 General
3 References

[edit] World War II

Activated: 15 November 1942
Overseas: 6 October 1944
Campaigns: Rhineland, Central Europe
Awards: DSC-12; DSM-1; SS-299; LM-3; SM-14; BSM-2,669; AM-92
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Charles C. Hoffner, Jr. (November 1942-January 1945), Maj. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe (January-July 1945), Brig. Gen. John N. Robinson (August 1945 to inactivation).
Returned to U. S.: 10 September 1945
Inactivated: 22 September 1945

[edit] Combat Chronicle

The 103d Infantry Division arrived at Marseilles, France, 20 October 1944. It relieved the 3d Division at Chevry, 8 November, and attacked west of St. Dié, 16 November, in its drive through the Vosges Mountains. Meeting heavy resistance all the way, it crossed the Meurthe River, took St. Dié, 23 November and captured Diefenbach on 29 November and Selestat on 4 December.

The division crossed the Zintzel River at Griesbach, 10 December. Pushing through Glimbach, the 103d crossed the Lauter River into Germany, 15 December, and assaulted the outer defenses of the Siegfried Line. On the 22d, the division moved west to the Sarreguemines area where an active defense was maintained. The enemy offensive did not develop in its sector and the 103d moved to Reichshofen, 14 January 1945, to take up positions along the Sauer River. Defensive patrols were active and a limited attack on Soufflenheim on the 19th was repulsed by the enemy. On the 20th, the division withdrew to the Moder and repulsed German advances near Muehlhausen, 23-25 January. The 103d's offensive began, 15 March 1945. Crossing the Moder and Zintzel Rivers and taking Muehlhausen against sharp opposition, the division moved over the Lauter River and penetrated the defenses of the Siegfried Line. As German resistance disintegrated, the 103d reached the Rhine Valley, 23 March, and engaged in mopping up operations in the plain west of the Rhine River. In April it received occupational duties until 20 April when it resumed the offensive, pursuing a fleeing enemy through Stuttgart and taking Münsingen on the 24th. Crossing the Danube near Ulm on the 26th, it took Innsbruck on 3 May and reached the Brenner Pass on the 4th. After Victory in Europe Day the division received occupational duties until it left for home and inactivation.