NAME:
Seventy-First Infantry Division / 71st Division
NICKNAME:
"Red Circle Division"
BATTLE HONORS:
Rhineland
Central-Europe
ACTIVATED:
July 15, 1943
DEACTIVATED:
March 12, 1946
HISTORY:
World War II
Activated: 15 July 1943.
Overseas: 26 January 1945.
Campaigns: Rhineland, Central-Europe
Days of combat: 62.
Awards: DSC-1 ; DSM-1 ; SS-180; LM-1 ; SM-8 ; BSM-695 ; AM 10.
Commanders: Brig.Gen. Robert L. Spragins (July 1943-October 1944), Maj. Gen. Eugene M. Landrum (October-November 1944), Maj. Gen. Willard G. Wyman (November 1944-16 August 1945), Brig. Gen. Onslow S. Rolfe (17 August 1945 10 October 1945), Maj. Gen. Arthur A. White (October 1945-February 1946).
Returned to U.S.: 10 March 1946.
Inactivated: 12 March 1946.
Combat chronicle
The 71st Infantry Division arrived at Le Havre, France, 6 February 1945, and trained at Camp Old Gold with headquarters at Limesy. The Division moved east, relieved the 100th Division at Ratswiller and saw its first action on 11 March 1945. Their ouster of the Germans from France began 15 March. The Division moved through outer belts of the Siegfried Line, captured Pirmasens, 21 March, and crossed the Rhine at Oppenheim, 30 March. The 71st continued the advance, taking Coburg without resistance, cutting the Munich-Berlin autobahn, 13 April, and capturing Bayreuth after fierce opposition on the 16th. Moving south, the Division destroyed Schonfeld, 18 April, took Rosenberg, crossed the Naab River at Kallmünz on the 24th and crossed the Danube on the 26th. Regensburg fell on the next day and Straubing on the 28th. As resistance crumbled, the Division crossed the Isar on the 29th and entered Austria, 2 May.
The 71st organized and occupied defensive positions along the Enns River and contacted Russian forces east of Linz, 8 May, the day before hostilities ceased. The Division was assigned occupational duties until it left for home and inactivation 1 March 1946.
Assignments in the ETO
21 January 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group.
2 March 1945: Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
9 March 1945: XV Corps.
22 March 1945: XXI Corps.
25 March 1945: VI Corps.
29 March 1945: 12th Army Group,
8 April 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group.
11 April 1945: XII Corps.
20 April 1945: XX Corps.
Divisional history from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_71st_Infantry_Division
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Liberated Straubing, Gunskirchen and more than 80 smaller camps in Austria.
From: http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=...duleId=10006168
Penetrated farther east than any other U.S. combat unit, accepted the surrender of the German Army Group South on May 7, 1945, one day prior to V.E. day. and total rout of the German Sixth SS division Nord.
From: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/4020/71st.html