For the VII Corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, see VII Corps (ACW)

VII Corps (ACW)

Two corps of the Union Army were called VII Corps during the American Civil War.-VII Corps :This corps was established 22 July 1862 from various Union troops stationed in southeastern Virginia. The corps' main combat action occurred in the spring of 1863, when it faced Confederate troops of James...

.

The VII Corps of the United States Army

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...

 was one of the two principal corps

Corps

A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...

 of the army in Europe during the Cold War

Cold War

The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...

, along with V Corps. Activated in 1918, it was subordinate to the Seventh Army, or USAREUR, throughout most of its existence and based outside of Stuttgart

Stuttgart

Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....

, West Germany

West Germany

West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....

, until deactivated in 1992.

World War and Cold War

Organized at the end of 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...

 on 19 August 1918, at Remiremont

Remiremont

Remiremont is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.Inhabitants are called Romarimontains.-Geography:Remiremont is located on the Moselle, close to its confluence with the Moselotte, southeast of Épinal...

, France, its first re-entry into Europe took place on D-Day

D-Day

D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...

 in 1944, as one of the two assault corps for US First Army during Operation Overlord

Operation Overlord

Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...

. Subsequently, the unit participated in many battles during the advance across France and Germany until the surrender of the Third Reich.

Throughout the Cold War

Cold War

The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...

, the corps guarded part of NATO's front with the Warsaw Pact

Warsaw Pact

The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...

. After Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...

's troops invaded Kuwait

Kuwait

The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...

 in 1990, the corps was deployed to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...

 as part of the second major wave of deployments of American forces. Its presence took US forces in theatre from a force capable of defending Saudi Arabia to a force capable of ejecting Iraq

Iraq

Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

i troops from Kuwait.

Gulf War

In the Gulf War

Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

, VII Corps was probably the most powerful formation of its type ever to take to the battlefield. Normally, a corps commands three divisions when at full strength, along with other units such as artillery of various types, corps-level engineers and support units. However, VII Corps had far more firepower under its command.

Its principal full strength fighting formations were U.S. 1st Armored Division

U.S. 1st Armored Division

The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"—is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S...

, U.S. 3rd Armored Division

U.S. 3rd Armored Division

The 3rd Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army. Nickamed the Third Herd, the division was first activated in 1941, and was active in the European Theater of World War II. The division was stationed in West Germany for much of the Cold War, and participated in the...

 and U.S. 1st Infantry Division

U.S. 1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army is the oldest division in the United States Army. It has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917...

. In addition, the Corps had U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment

U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment

The 2nd Cavalry Regiment , also known as the Second Dragoons, is an active mechanized infantry and cavalry regiment of the United States Army. The Second Dragoons is a component of V Corps and United States Army Europe, with its garrison at the Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany...

 to act as a scouting force, and two further heavy divisions; US 1st Cavalry Division and British 1st Armoured Division

British 1st Armoured Division

The 1st Armoured Division is an armoured division of the British Army. Originally formed in November 1937 as the Mobile Division, it saw extensive service during the Second World War, was disbanded afterward, was reconstituted in 1976, and remains in service today...

, as well as the U.S. 11th Aviation Group. Although both 1st Cavalry Division and 1st Armoured Division had only two maneuver brigades, they were still immensely powerful formations in their own right.

VII corps was originally deployed to give the CinC an offensive option if needed. In the 100 hour war they were given a force mission: To wipe out the Iraqi Republican Guards Heavy Divisions. That meant that the 1st Infantry Division had to make a forced entry to make room for the British attack on the right wing and to secure the main forces advance on the left. That attack force was led by the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment followed by the 1st Armored Division and the 3rd Armored Division. That main force was later joined by the 1st Infantry Division after they had completed their breach. That gave VII Corps commander General Frederick M. Franks, Jr. a three Division strike force to confront several Iraqi Armored Divisions. After the corp had turned 90 degrees east according to FRAGPLAN 7 and after the Cavalry Regiment had fought the single sided Battle of 73 Easting

Battle of 73 Easting

The Battle of 73 Easting was a decisive tank battle fought on 26 February 1991, during the Gulf War, between American-British armored forces and those of the Iraqi Republican Guard. The battle took place several hours after the Battle of Al Busayyah...

 the three Divisions (plus the British on the right wing) fought one of the most one sided battles in the history of the US Army.

VII Corps cut a swathe through Iraqi forces. It advanced with U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps

U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps

The XVIII Airborne Corps is the corps of the United States Army designed for rapid deployment anywhere in the world. It is referred to as "America's Contingency Corps". Its headquarters are at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.-World War II:...

 on its left wing and Arab

Arab

Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...

 forces on its right wing. It pulverized all Iraqi forces that tried to stand and fight and destroyed a good proportion of the Iraqi Republican Guard

Iraqi Republican Guard

The Iraqi Republican Guard was a branch of the Iraqi military during the presidency of Saddam Hussein. It later became the Republican Guard Corps, and then the Republican Guard Forces Command with its expansion into two corps....

 divisions. A ceasefire was called before the destruction of the Republican Guard units could be completed.

VII Corps attack cost about a hundred US and British soldier lives. But it destroyed several Divisions including the Medina and the Tawalkna Republican guards division along with support units. It also destroyed most of the Iraqi VII Corps that had guarded the frontline as well as other units. The attack was one of the most single sided battles in history of warfare. The Battle of 73 Easting

Battle of 73 Easting

The Battle of 73 Easting was a decisive tank battle fought on 26 February 1991, during the Gulf War, between American-British armored forces and those of the Iraqi Republican Guard. The battle took place several hours after the Battle of Al Busayyah...

 was studied as a textbook armored battle in the US armored units.

After the fighting was over, VII Corps returned to Germany. It was disbanded as part of the post-Cold War American defense spending cuts.

Allied Chain of Command

Supreme Allied Commander

Supreme Allied Commander

Supreme Allied Commander is the title held by the most senior commander within certain multinational military alliances. It originated as a term used by the Western Allies during World War II, and is currently used only within NATO. Dwight Eisenhower served as Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary...

: Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...

• 21st Army Group: Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery
  • First Army
    U.S. First Army
    The First United States Army is a field army of the United States Army. It now serves a mobilization, readiness and training command.- Establishment and World War I :...
    
    : Maj. Gen. Courtney Hodges
    Courtney Hodges
    General Courtney Hicks Hodges was an American military officer, most prominent for his role in World War II, in which he commanded the First United States Army in Northwest Europe.-Early life and military career:...
    
    
    • VII Corps: Maj. Gen. J. Lawton Collins
      J. Lawton Collins
      Joseph "Lightning Joe" Lawton Collins was a General in the United States Army. During World War II, he served in both the Pacific and European Theaters of Operations. His elder brother, James Lawton Collins, was also in the army as a Major General...
      
      

Order of Battle and Unit Commanders

VII Corps, Maj. Gen. J. Lawton Collins

J. Lawton Collins

Joseph "Lightning Joe" Lawton Collins was a General in the United States Army. During World War II, he served in both the Pacific and European Theaters of Operations. His elder brother, James Lawton Collins, was also in the army as a Major General...

• 4th Infantry Division, Maj.Gen. Raymond O. Barton
  Raymond O. Barton
  Major General Raymond O. "Tubby" Barton was a graduate of the United States Military Academy as well as a career U.S. Army officer and combat commander in World War I and World War II...
  
  

8th Infantry Col. James A. Van Fleet

12th Infantry Col. Russell P. Reeder

Russell Reeder

Russell Potter "Red" Reeder, Jr. was a United States Army officer and author. Colonel Reeder’s military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and two decorations awarded by...

 (11 June)

Lt. Col. Hervey Tribolet

22d Infantry Col. Hervey A. Tribolet

Col. Robert T. Foster (26 June)

• 9th Infantry Division, Maj.Gen. Manton S. Eddy
  Manton S. Eddy
  Manton Sprague Eddy was a lieutenant general of the United States Army.-Early life:Eddy graduated from Shattuck Military School in Faribault, Minnesota in 1913. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1916. Thoroughly the infantryman, Manton Eddy served in France in World War I in rifle and machine...
  
  

39th Infantry Col. Harry A. Flint

47th Infantry Col. George W. Smythe

60th Infantry Col. Frederick J. de Rohan

• 79th Infantry Division, Maj.Gen. Ira T. Wyche

313th Infantry Col. Sterling A. Wood

314th Infantry

314th Infantry Regiment (United States)

The 314th Infantry Regiment is an Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army first organized in 1917.-World War I:Organized as part of the 79th Division A.E.F. - World War I The United States in World War I, the men of the 314th were trained at Camp Meade , Maryland...

 Col. Warren A. Robinson

315th Infantry Col. Porter P. Wiggins

Col. Bernard B. McMahon (24 June)

• 82d Airborne Division, Maj.Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway

505th Parachute Infantry Col. William E. Ekman

507th Parachute Infantry

507th Infantry Regiment

During World War II, the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment was a regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division and, later, 17th Airborne Division of the United States Army.The regiment was initially formed at Camp Toccoa, Georgia on 20 July 1942...

 Col. George V. Millett, Jr.

Col. Edson D. Raff

Edson Raff

Edson Duncan Raff was an officer in the US Army and author of a book on paratroopers. He served as commanding officer of the first American paratroop unit to jump into combat, the 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, near Oran as part of Operation Torch...

 (15 June)

508th Parachute Infantry

508th Infantry Regiment

During World War II, the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment was a regiment of the 82d Airborne Division which in turn became part of XVIII Airborne Corps of the United States Army.-World War II:...

 Col. Roy E. Lindquist

325th Glider Infantry

325th Infantry Regiment

The 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment is a unit of the 82nd Airborne Division. Its subordinate units currently constitute the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.-Capabilities:...

 Col. Harry L. Lewis

• 90th Infantry Division, Brig.Gen. Jay MacKelvie

357th Infantry Col. Philip De Witt Ginder

Philip De Witt Ginder

Philip De Witt Ginder was an American career soldier who rose to the rank of Major General during the Korean War. He was born in Plainfield, New Jersey and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1927....

Col. John W. Sheehy (13 June)

Lt. Col. Charles M. Schwab (15 June)

Col. George B. Barth (17 June)

358th Infantry Col. James V. Thompson

Col. Richard C. Partridge (16 June)

359th Infantry Col. Clark K. Fales

• 101st Airborne Division
  101st Airborne Division
  The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
  
  , Maj.Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor
  Maxwell D. Taylor
  General Maxwell Davenport "Max" Taylor was an United States Army four star general and diplomat of the mid-20th century, who served as the fifth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after having been appointed by the President of the United States John F...
  
  

501st Parachute Infantry Col. Howard R. Johnson

Howard R. Johnson

Howard R. Johnson was the commander of the U.S. Army's 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment during the Second World War.- Early career :...

502d Parachute Infantry Col. George V. H. Moseley, Jr. (WIA 6 June)

Lt. Col. John H. Michaelis

John H. Michaelis

John Hersey Michaelis was a United States Army four star general who served as Commander in Chief, United Nations Command/Commander, United States Forces Korea/Commanding General, Eighth United States Army from 1969 to 1972.Michaelis was a 1936 graduate of the United States Military Academy...

 (6 June)

506th Parachute Infantry Col. Robert F. Sink

327th Glider Infantry

327th Infantry Regiment

During World War II, the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment was a gliderborne regiment of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division. It fought during World War II as part of the U.S. 82nd Division...

 Col. George S. Wear

Col. Joseph H. Harper

Joseph H. Harper

Joseph H. "Bud" Harper was a United States Army officer. Harper was the officer who delivered General Anthony McAuliffe's one-word response, "Nuts", to the German request for the surrender of Bastogne....

 (10 June)

• 4th Cavalry Group (Mechanized), Col. Joseph M. Tully

4th Cavalry Squadron Lt. Col. E. C. Dunn

24th Cavalry Squadron Lt. Col. F. H. Gaston, Jr.

• 6th Armored Group, Col. Francis F. Fainter

70th Tank Battalion Lt. Col. John C. Welborn

746th Tank Battalion Lt. Col. C. G. Hupfer

Battle Casualties, 6 June-1 July 1944

Unit	Total	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Captured
All Units	22,119	2,811	13,564	5,665	79
4th Inf Division	5,452	844	3,814	788	6
9th Inf Division	5,438	301	2,061	76	0
79th Inf Division	2,438	240	1,896	240	0
90th Inf Division	2,376	386	1,979	34	0
82d A/B Div.	4,480	457	1,440	2,571	12
101st A/B Div.	4,670	546	2,217	1,907	0
Corps Troops	304	37	157	49	61

Source: VII Corps, G-1 Reports, June 1944

External links

• GlobalSecurity.org: VII Corps