U.S. 97th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 97th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army
in World War I
and World War II
.
and took up a defensive position along the west bank of the Rhine River opposite Düsseldorf, engaging in patrolling. The 97th entered the battle of the Ruhr pocket
, crossing the Rhine near Bonn
, 3 April, and taking up a position on the southern bank of the Sieg River. It crossed that river, 7 April, with the troops suffering 80% casualties in wounded and dead. There was a building marked by a red cross which the 97th assumed was a hospital and therefore, did not attack it. In fact, it was a factory that made German 88's. The Germans had tunnels dug there and after the troops got up on land, past the river, the Germans came up behind them. They then shot at the Americans from both directions. It fought a street-to-street engagement in Siegburg
on the 10th.
After Siegburg, they captured Cologne
(Koeln) Germany. Pushing on toward Düsseldorf
through difficult terrain and heavy resistance in densely wooded areas, the division captured Solingen
on 17 April. The Germans cut down trees to impede the infantry's advance, thus blocking the roads in the woods. Düsseldorf fell on the next day and the Ruhr pocket was eliminated. The infantry drove through Düsseldorf, waiting for the Germans to shoot at them; then they would find the pockets of Germans and shoot at them to flush them out.
On 23 April elements of the 97th, together with members of the 90th Infantry Division, liberated Flossenbürg concentration camp
near Floß
in Bavaria. A Military Police
patrol from the 303rd Infantry Regiment may have been the first U.S. Army unit to reach the camp, although a colonel from the 90th later took credit for liberating the camp. Members of the 97th Division treated sick and dying prisoners and buried the several hundred corpses discovered in the camp. Brigadier General Halsey inspected the camp as did General Sherman V. Hasbrouck, the commanding officer of the division artillery. Members of the Counter Intelligence Corps
, which included Robie Macauley
, Ib Melchior
and Anthony Hecht
, interviewed former prisoners and gathered evidence for trials of former camp officers and guards.
On 25 April the division entered Ash, Czechoslovakia. Moving to protect the left flank of the Third Army on its southern drive, the 97th took Cheb, Czechoslovakia, on 25 April 1945 and attacked the Czechoslovak pocket near Weiden, Germany
, on the 29th. It had advanced to Konstantinovy Lázně
, Czechoslovakia, when it received the cease-fire order on 7 May. Part of the division was in Teplá
where the German 2nd Panzer Division had surrendered. The troops used the monastery there as a POW camp for the Germans.
The division left for Le Havre, 16 June 1945, for redeployment to the Pacific, arriving at Cebu
, Philippine Islands, 16 September, and then sailed to Japan for occupation duty
, arriving at Yokohama
on 23 September 1945.
97th Infantry Division was credited with firing the last official shot in the European Theatre of Operations during World War II. This shot was fired by PFC Domenic Mozzetta of Company B, 387th Infantry Regiment, 97th Division, at a German sniper near Klenovice, Czechoslovakia shortly before midnight, 7 May 1945.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
World War I
The division was activated 5 September 1918 and inactivated 20 November 1918 ; one infantry regiment (303d) served with the 76th Division.World War II
- Activated: 25 February 1943
- Overseas: 19 February 1945, for the ETO; 28 August 1945, for the Pacific Theater
- Campaigns: Central EuropeCentral Europe CampaignAfter crossing the Rhine the Western Allies fanned out overrunning all of western Germany from the Baltic in the north to Austria in the south before the Germans surrendered on 8 May 1945. This is known as the "Central Europe Campaign" in United States military histories.By the early spring of...
- Days of combat: 41 (ETO)
- Awards: Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
-1 (Joe R. HastingsJoe R. HastingsJoe Ray Hastings was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
); Distinguished Service Cross (United States)Distinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
-1 ; Distinguished Service Medal (Army)Distinguished Service Medal (Army)The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
-1 ; Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
-61; Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
-2; Soldier's MedalSoldier's MedalThe Soldier's Medal is a military award of the United States Army. It was introduced as Section 11 of the Air Corps Act, passed by the Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926...
-3 ; Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
−206 - Commanders: Maj. Gen. Louis A. Craig (4 February 1943 – 19 January 1944), Brig. Gen. Milton B. Halsey (20 January 1944 – 24 September 1945), Maj. Gen. Herman F. Kramer (24 September 1945 to inactivation). Returned to U.S.: 26 June 1945, from the ETO
- Overseas: 16 September 1945, to the Philippine Islands
- Inactivated: 31 March 1946 in Japan
Combat chronicle
The 97th Infantry Division landed at Le Havre, France, 2 March 1945, and moved to Camp Lucky Strike. On 28 March, the division crossed the German border west of AachenAachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
and took up a defensive position along the west bank of the Rhine River opposite Düsseldorf, engaging in patrolling. The 97th entered the battle of the Ruhr pocket
Ruhr Pocket
The Ruhr Pocket was a battle of encirclement that took place in late March and early April 1945, near the end of World War II, in the Ruhr Area of Germany. For all intents and purposes, it marked the end of major organized resistance on Nazi Germany's Western Front, as more than 300,000 troops were...
, crossing the Rhine near Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, 3 April, and taking up a position on the southern bank of the Sieg River. It crossed that river, 7 April, with the troops suffering 80% casualties in wounded and dead. There was a building marked by a red cross which the 97th assumed was a hospital and therefore, did not attack it. In fact, it was a factory that made German 88's. The Germans had tunnels dug there and after the troops got up on land, past the river, the Germans came up behind them. They then shot at the Americans from both directions. It fought a street-to-street engagement in Siegburg
Siegburg
--122.148.78.228 05:06, 14 November 2011 Siegburg is a city in the district of Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany...
on the 10th.
After Siegburg, they captured Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
(Koeln) Germany. Pushing on toward Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
through difficult terrain and heavy resistance in densely wooded areas, the division captured Solingen
Solingen
Solingen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the northern edge of the region called Bergisches Land, south of the Ruhr area, and with a 2009 population of 161,366 is the second largest city in the Bergisches Land...
on 17 April. The Germans cut down trees to impede the infantry's advance, thus blocking the roads in the woods. Düsseldorf fell on the next day and the Ruhr pocket was eliminated. The infantry drove through Düsseldorf, waiting for the Germans to shoot at them; then they would find the pockets of Germans and shoot at them to flush them out.
On 23 April elements of the 97th, together with members of the 90th Infantry Division, liberated Flossenbürg concentration camp
Flossenbürg concentration camp
Konzentrationslager Flossenbürg was a Nazi concentration camp built in May 1938 by the Schutzstaffel Economic-Administrative Main Office at Flossenbürg, in the Oberpfalz region of Bavaria, Germany, near the border with Czechoslovakia. Until its liberation in April 1945, more than 96,000 prisoners...
near Floß
Floß
Floß is a municipality in the district of Neustadt in Bavaria in Germany....
in Bavaria. A Military Police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
patrol from the 303rd Infantry Regiment may have been the first U.S. Army unit to reach the camp, although a colonel from the 90th later took credit for liberating the camp. Members of the 97th Division treated sick and dying prisoners and buried the several hundred corpses discovered in the camp. Brigadier General Halsey inspected the camp as did General Sherman V. Hasbrouck, the commanding officer of the division artillery. Members of the Counter Intelligence Corps
Counter Intelligence Corps
The Counter Intelligence Corps was a World War II and early Cold War intelligence agency within the United States Army. Its role was taken over by the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps in 1961 and, in 1967, by the U.S. Army Intelligence Agency...
, which included Robie Macauley
Robie Macauley
Robie Mayhew Macauley was an editor, novelist and critic whose literary career spanned over 50 years.-Early life:...
, Ib Melchior
Ib Melchior
Ib Jørgen Melchior is a novelist, short story writer, film producer, film director, and screenwriter of low-budget American science fiction movies, most of them released by American International Pictures...
and Anthony Hecht
Anthony Hecht
Anthony Evan Hecht was an American poet. His work combined a deep interest in form with a passionate desire to confront the horrors of 20th century history, with the Second World War, in which he fought, and the Holocaust being recurrent themes in his work.-Early years:Hecht was born in New York...
, interviewed former prisoners and gathered evidence for trials of former camp officers and guards.
On 25 April the division entered Ash, Czechoslovakia. Moving to protect the left flank of the Third Army on its southern drive, the 97th took Cheb, Czechoslovakia, on 25 April 1945 and attacked the Czechoslovak pocket near Weiden, Germany
Weiden in der Oberpfalz
Weiden in der Oberpfalz is a district-free city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located 100 km east of Nuremberg and 35 km west of the Czech border. A branch of the German Army's NCO Academy is located here...
, on the 29th. It had advanced to Konstantinovy Lázně
Konstantinovy Lázně
Konstantinovy Lázně is a village and municipality in Tachov District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic.The municipality covers an area of , and has a population of 937 ....
, Czechoslovakia, when it received the cease-fire order on 7 May. Part of the division was in Teplá
Teplá
Teplá is a town in the western Czech Republic....
where the German 2nd Panzer Division had surrendered. The troops used the monastery there as a POW camp for the Germans.
The division left for Le Havre, 16 June 1945, for redeployment to the Pacific, arriving at Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
, Philippine Islands, 16 September, and then sailed to Japan for occupation duty
Occupied Japan
At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. This foreign presence marked the first time in its history that the island nation had been occupied by a foreign power...
, arriving at Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
on 23 September 1945.
97th Infantry Division was credited with firing the last official shot in the European Theatre of Operations during World War II. This shot was fired by PFC Domenic Mozzetta of Company B, 387th Infantry Regiment, 97th Division, at a German sniper near Klenovice, Czechoslovakia shortly before midnight, 7 May 1945.
Assignments in the ETO
- 30 January 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group
- 28 March 1945: XXII Corps
- 1 April 1945: First Army, 12th Army Group
- 10 April 1945: XVIII (Abn) Corps
- 19 April 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group
- 22 April 1945: XII Corps
- 28 April 1945: First Army, 12th Army Group
- 30 April 1945: V Corps
- 6 May 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group
General
- Nickname: Trident.
- Shoulder patch: A vertical trident in white on a blue background.
- Division with the highest IQ in WWII – started out as Air Corps and ASTP (Army Specialized Training Program) – but they were pulled to Infantry when casualties in Europe needed to be replaced.
See also
- Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950.
- The Story of the 97th Infantry Division Original document with photos
- http://www.97thid.com
- http://www.97thdivision.com