NAME:
Sixty-Fifth Infantry Division / 65th Division
NICKNAME:
"Battle Axe"
BATTLE HONORS:
World War II
Rhineland
Central Europe
ACTIVATED:
Aug 10, 1943
DEACTIVATED:
Aug 31, 1945
PATCH HISTORY:
The 65th Infantry Division shoulder patch is a white halbert on a blue shield. The halbert, a sharp pointed battle-ax, was a potent weapon of the 15th Century foot soldier, being suitable either for a powerful cutting smash or a quick thrust. It was selected by Major General S. E. Reinhart, Commanding General of the 65th, as an emblem that would signify both the shock action and the speed of the modern infantry division.
From: http://www.65thdiv.com/lev1/hist.html
HISTORY:
World War II
Activated: 16 August 1943.
Overseas: 10 January 1945.
Campaigns: Rhineland, Central Europe.
Days of combat: 55.
Awards: MH-1 ; DSM-1 ; SS-77; LM-14; SM-4; BSM-686; AM-19.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Stanley E. Reinhart (August 1943 – 1 August 1945), Brig. Gen. John E. Copeland (1 August 1945 to inactivation).
Inactivated: 31 August 1945 in Germany.
Combat Chronicle
The 65th Infantry Division landed at Le Havre, France, 21 January 1945, and proceeded to Camp Lucky Strike, where training continued until 1 March, when the Division moved forward to relieve the 26th Infantry Division. First elements entered the line, 5 March 1945, and the Division as a whole took over aggressive defense of the sector along the Saar, from Orscholz to Wadgassen, on 8 March 1945. On 17 March, the Division attacked across the Saar, crossing the river at Dillingen and captured Saarlautern, 19 March, as Siegfried Line defenses cracked. Capturing Neunkirchen, 21 March 1945, the Division raced to the Rhine, crossed the river at Oppenheim, 30 March, and ran into heavy Germany resistance and counterattacks. Langensalza fell on 5 April, Struth on the 7th, and Neumarkt on the 22d.
Continuing its advance against crumbling Nazi opposition, the Division crossed the Danube 4 miles below Regensburg, 26 April, took the city, 27 April, seized Passau, cross the Inn River, 4 May, and occupied Linz, Austria, on the 5th. Germans surrendered en masse. On 9 May, as hostilities officially ended in Europe, the troops of the 65th made contact with the Russians at Erlauf.
Assignments in the ETO
25 January 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group.
1 March 1945: XX Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
4 April 1945: VIII Corps.
17 April 1945: XX Corps.
Divisional history from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_65th_Infantry_Division
http://www.65thdiv.com/lev1/hist.html