The 44th Infantry Division was a division of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...

National Guard National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. Nat ...

from October 1920 to November 1945, when it was inactivated after Federal Service during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. A second 44th Infantry Division existed in the

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...

Army National Guard from 1946 until October 1954, when that division was disbanded after federal service during the

Korean War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Korean War , partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict , image = Korean War Montage 2.png , image_size = 300px , caption = Clockwise from top:{ ...

Formation

Originally named the 44th Division, it was constituted on 19 October 1920 as a

Division, as a result of the

National Defense Act The National Defense Act of 1916, , was a United States federal law that updated the Militia Act of 1903, which related to the organization of the military, particularly the National Guard. The principal change of the act was to supersede pro ...

of 1920's major expansion of the National Guard.Wilson, John B., The Army Lineage Series: "Armies, Corps, Divisions and Separate Brigades" (US Army Center of Military History Washington, D.C, 1999) As originally conceived, the division was to consist of National Guard units from the States of

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delawa ...

and

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, and was to form part of the

Second Corps Area A Corps area was a geographically-based organizational structure (military district) of the United States Army used to accomplish administrative, training and tactical tasks from 1920 to 1942. Each corps area included divisions of the Regular Army ...

. However, only individual members of the division staff, and not any whole units, ended up being assigned to the state of Delaware. The 57th Infantry Brigade from the New Jersey Army National Guard (NJARNG) and the 87th Infantry Brigade of the

New York Army National Guard The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the United States Army's available combat forces and approxim ...

(NYARNG) were incorporated almost immediately and growth continued piecemeal, as subordinate units were organized, until 1940."Historical and Pictorial Review, National Guard of the State of New Jersey" (Baton Rouge, 1940) The

shoulder sleeve insignia A shoulder sleeve insignia (often abbreviated SSI) is an embroidered patch worn on some uniforms of the United States Army. It is used by major formations of the U.S. Army; each formation has a unique formation patch. The U.S. Army is unique amo ...

(unit patch) of the 44th Division was approved by the

Secretary of War The secretary of war was a member of the U.S. president's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the ...

on 5 October 1921. The division was formally organized and federally recognized on 26 March 1924.

Interwar

The 44th Division participated in the First Army Maneuvers in Upstate New York from 7–24 August 1940,Moenk, "A History of Large-Scale Army Maneuvers in the United States, 1935–1964", (Fort Monroe, VA, 1969). prior to being inducted into federal service for twelve months of training on 16 September 1940.Stanton, Shelby L. Order of Battle: U.S. Army, World War II, Galahad Books, New York, 1991 Posted at Fort Dix, New Jersey during 1940–1941, the division's training culminated in the

Carolina Maneuvers The Carolina Maneuvers were a series of United States Army exercises held around Southern North Carolina and Northern South Carolina in 1941. The exercises, which involved some 350,000 troops, was designed to evaluate United States training, logis ...

, September–December 1941.

Order of Battle

* HQ 44th Division * 57th Infantry Brigade ** 113th Infantry Regiment ** 114th Infantry Regiment * 87th Infantry Brigade ** 71st Infantry Regiment ** 174th Infantry Regiment * 69th Field Artillery Brigade ** 112th Field Artillery Regiment ** 156th Field Artillery Regiment **

157th Field Artillery Regiment The 157th Field Artillery Regiment (First Colorado) is a United States Army Regimental System field artillery parent regiment of the United States Army National Guard, represented in the Colorado Army National Guard by the 3rd Battalion, 157 ...

* 44th Military Police Company * 44th Signal Company * 119th Ordnance Company * 104th Engineer Regiment * 119th Medical Regiment * 119th Quartermaster Regiment

World War II

The division was en route to New Jersey on 7 December 1941, returning to Fort Dix when news was heard of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. A regimental combat team, based on the 113th Infantry, was immediately detached from the division and attached to the Eastern Defense Command to provide ground forces for the defense of the East Coast from New York to Philadelphia. Shortly afterwards, the remainder of the division moved to Camp Claiborne, LA, where the 44th Division was reorganized and redesignated, the 44th Infantry Division on 16 February 1942. The division was then sent to Fort Lewis Washington, where it participated in defense of the West Coast under the

Western Defense Command Western Defense Command (WDC) was established on 17 March 1941 as the command formation of the United States Army responsible for coordinating the defense of the Pacific Coast region of the United States during World War II. A second major respo ...

for the remainder of 1942. In February 1943, the 44th Infantry Division, much reduced through the loss of personnel and units entered a period of rebuilding and training. After completing the "D-Series", division-level training, the 44th was sent to participate in the multi-division Fourth Army #6 Louisiana Maneuvers, 7 February-3 April 1944. The division then moved to Camp Phillips, KS for its final pre-deployment preparations. The division moved by railroad to

Camp Myles Standish Camp Myles Standish was a U.S. Army camp located in Taunton, Massachusetts during World War II. It was the main staging area for the Boston Port of Embarkation, with about a million U.S. and Allied soldiers passing through the camp on their wa ...

, Massachusetts, arriving on 24–27 August 1944; departing the United States via the Boston Port of Embarkation on 5 September 1944.

Order of battle

* Headquarters, 44th Infantry Division * 71st Infantry Regiment * 114th Infantry Regiment * 324th Infantry Regiment * Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 44th Infantry Division Artillery ** 156th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) ** 157th Field Artillery Battalion (155 mm) ** 217th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) ** 220th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) * 63rd Engineer Combat Battalion * 119th Medical Battalion * 44th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized) * Headquarters, Special Troops, 44th Infantry Division ** Headquarters Company, 44th Infantry Division ** 744th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company ** 44th Quartermaster Company ** 44th Signal Company ** Military Police Platoon ** Band * 44th Counterintelligence Corps Detachment

Combat chronicle

Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1971-053-59, Mannheim, US-Truppen im Straßenkampf

The 44th Infantry Division landed in France via

Cherbourg Naval Base Cherbourg Naval Base is a naval base in Cherbourg Harbour, Cherbourg, Manche department, Normandy. The town has been a base of the French Navy since the opening of the military port in 1813. History Early works Cherbourg had been a stronghold ...

, 15 September 1944, and trained for a month before entering combat, 18 October 1944, when it relieved the 79th Division in the vicinity of Foret de Parroy, east of

Lunéville Lunéville ( ; German, obsolete: ''Lünstadt'' ) is a commune in the northeastern French department of Meurthe-et-Moselle. It is a subprefecture of the department and lies on the river Meurthe at its confluence with the Vezouze. History L ...

, France, to take part in the Seventh Army drive to secure several passes in the

Vosges Mountains The Vosges ( , ; german: Vogesen ; Franconian and gsw, Vogese) are a range of low mountains in Eastern France, near its border with Germany. Together with the Palatine Forest to the north on the German side of the border, they form a singl ...

. Within 6 days, the division was hit by a heavy German counterattack, 25–26 October. The attack was repulsed and the 44th continued its active defense. On 13 November 1944, it jumped off in an attack northeast, forcing a passage through the Vosges Mountains east of Leintrey to Dossenheim, took Avricourt, 17 November, and pushed on to liberate

Strasbourg Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label= Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label= Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the ...

, along with the 2d French Armored Division. After regrouping, the division returned to the attack, taking Ratzwiller and entering the Ensemble de Bitche in the

Maginot Line The Maginot Line (french: Ligne Maginot, ), named after the Minister of the Armed Forces (France), French Minister of War André Maginot, is a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles and weapon installations built by French Third Republic, F ...

. On 14 December, regiments of the 44th Division took part in assaulting major Maginot line fortifications. The division's 71st and 324th Infantry Regiments assaulted Fort Simserhof and nearby Hottviller. After six days of fighting, the unit captured Simershof on 20 December. Displacing to defensive positions east of

Sarreguemines Sarreguemines (; German: ''Saargemünd'' , Lorraine Franconian: ''Saargemìnn'') is a commune in the Moselle department of the Grand Est administrative region in north-eastern France. It is the seat of an arrondissement and a canton. As of ...

, 21–23 December, the 44th threw back three attempted crossings by the enemy of the Blies River. An aggressive defense of the Sarreguemines area was continued throughout February 1945 and most of March. Moving across the

Rhine ), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland , source1_coordinates= , source1_elevation = , source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein , source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland , source2_coordinates= , source ...

Worms Worms may refer to: *Worm, an invertebrate animal with a tube-like body and no limbs Places *Worms, Germany Worms () is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, situated on the Upper Rhine about south-southwest of Frankfurt am Main. It had ...

, 26 March, in the wake of the 3d Division, the 44th relieved the 3d, 26–27 March, and crossed the Neckar River to attack and capture

Mannheim Mannheim (; Palatine German: or ), officially the University City of Mannheim (german: Universitätsstadt Mannheim), is the second-largest city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg after the state capital of Stuttgart, and Germany's ...

, 28–29 March. Shifting to the west bank of the Main, the division crossed that river at Gross-Auheim in early April, and engaged in a 3-week training period. Attacking 18 April, after the 10th Armored Division, the 44th took Ehingen, 23 April, crossed the

Danube The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...

, and attacking southeast, took

Füssen Füssen is a town in Bavaria, Germany, in the district of Ostallgäu, situated one kilometre from the Austrian border. The town is known for violin manufacturing and as the closest transportation hub for the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau ca ...

, Berg, and

Wertach Wertach is a small town in the Oberallgäu district, southern Bavaria, (Germany), in the German Alps. It is situated on the river Wertach, southeast of Kempten. The town was the childhood home of the writer W. G. Sebald. History Wertach wa ...

, in a drive on

Imst Imst (; Southern Bavarian: ''Imscht'') is a town in the Austrian federal state of Tyrol. It lies on the River Inn in western Tyrol, some west of Innsbruck and at an altitude of above sea level. With a current population (2013) of 9,552, I ...

, Austria. On 2 May, a group of V-2 rocket scientists that included

Wernher von Braun Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun ( , ; 23 March 191216 June 1977) was a German and American aerospace engineer and space architect. He was a member of the Nazi Party and Allgemeine SS, as well as the leading figure in the develop ...

surrendered to the 44th. Pursuing the disintegrating enemy through

Fern Pass Fern Pass (elevation 1212 m) is a mountain pass in the Tyrolean Alps in Austria. It is located between the Lechtal Alps on the west and the Mieming Mountains on the east. The highest peak in Germany, the Zugspitze is only 13.5 km away to t ...

and into the

Inn River , image = UnterinntalWest.JPG , image_caption = Lower Inn valley from Rattenberg castle , source1_location = Swiss Alps (Lägh dal Lunghin) , source1_elevation = , source1_coordinates= , mouth_location = Danube (Passau) , mo ...

valley, the 44th set up its CP at Imst on 4 May. After a short period of occupation duty, the division returned to the United States in July 1945 for retraining prior to redeployment, but the end of the Pacific war resulted in inactivation in November 1945 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.

Casualties

*Total battle casualties: 5,655Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953) *Killed in action: 1,038 *Wounded in action: 4,209 *Missing in action: 100 *Prisoner of war: 308

Assignments in ETO

*30 August 1944: Ninth Army, 12th Army Group. *5 September 1944: III Corps. *10 October 1944: Ninth Army, 12th Army Group. *14 October 1944: XV Corps, 6th Army Group, for supply. *17 October 1944: XV Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. *8 April 1945: Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. *15 April 1945: XXI Corps. *17 April 1945: VI Corps.

Campaigns

World War II: * Northern France (25 July – 14 September 44)(General Order (GO) #102, War Department (WD), 9 Nov 45) *

Rhineland The Rhineland (german: Rheinland; french: Rhénanie; nl, Rijnland; ksh, Rhingland; Latinised name: ''Rhenania'') is a loosely defined area of Western Germany along the Rhine, chiefly its middle section. Term Historically, the Rhinelands ...

(15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 (GO #118, WD, 12 December 1945) * Ardennes-Alsace (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 (GO #63, Department of the Army, 20 September 1948) * Central Europe (22 March 1945 – 11 May 1945 (GO #116, WD, 11 December, 45) * Days of combat: 190 * Distinguished Unit Citations: 3

Awards

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of val ...

– 1. * DSC – 38. *

Distinguished Service Medal (United States) Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation. Examples include: *Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in action * Distinguishe ...

– 2. *

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

– 464. *

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight u ...

– 8. *

Soldiers Medal The Soldier's Medal is an individual decoration 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., Appendix 5, p. 126. The Army' Soldier's Medal is equi ...

– 6. *

Bronze Star The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. W ...

– 2,647. *

Air Medal The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Criteria The Air Medal was establish ...

– 110. *

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleo ...

– 1.

Commanders

* Maj. Gen.

Clifford R. Powell Clifford Ross Powell (July 26, 1893March 28, 1973) was an American, who served as the acting governor of New Jersey from January 3, 1935, to January 8, 1935. Biography He was born in Lumberton Township, New Jersey on July 26, 1893. He was educa ...

(September 1940 – August 1941). * Maj. Gen. James I. Muir (August 1941 – August 1944). * Maj. Gen.

Robert L. Spragins Major General Robert Lily Spragins (November 12, 1890 – December 26, 1964) was a senior United States Army officer. He was notable for his command of the 71st and 44th Infantry Divisions in World War II. Early life and military career Sp ...

(August 1944 – December 1944). * Maj. Gen.

William F. Dean William Frishe Dean Sr. (August 1, 1899August 24, 1981) was a United States Army major general during World War II and the Korean War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 20 and 21, 1950, during the Battle of Taejon in South K ...

(January 1945 – September 1945). * Brig. Gen. William A. Beiderlinden (1 – 14 November 1945). * Brig. Gen. Robert L. Dulaney (November 1945 – inactivation). * Returned to U.S.: 21 July 1945. * Inactivated: 30 November 1945.

Postwar

The 44th Infantry Division was reactivated in the Illinois Army National Guard in 1946, and inducted into federal service in early 1952 during the

. It was disbanded after its release from federal service on 10 October 1954.OCS Form 10, Official Statement of Lineage and Battle Honors, "Headquarters Company, 44th Infantry Division, NG, Ill.,” dated 16 FEB 54 & 5 OCT 60, US Army Center for Military History files re: 44th Infantry Division, Fort McNair, VA. On 15 June 2017 the 50th IBCT was reflagged as the 44th Brigade Combat Team, and carries the lineage of the 44th Infantry Division.

Commanders of the 44th Infantry Division

{, border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="20" align="center" , - , valign="top" width="33%", *Major General Quincy A. Gillmore, March 1924 – November 1932 *Major General John J. Toffey, January 1933 – June 1936 *Major General Winfield S. Price, February 1937 – June 1939 *Major General Clifford R. Powell, June 1939 – August 1941 *Major General James I. Muir, August 1941 – August 1944 *Major General Robert F. Spragins, August 1944 – December 1944 *Brigadier General William F. Dean, December 1941 – March 1945 *Major General William F. Dean, March 1945 – October 1945 *Brigadier General Robert L. Dulaney, November 1945

References

External links

* http://www.history.army.mil/documents/eto-ob/44ID-ETO.htm
Website dedicated to the U.S. 44th Infantry Division
{{DEFAULTSORT:044 Divisions of the United States Army National Guard 044th Infantry Division, U.S. Infantry Division, U.S. 044 Infantry divisions of the United States Army in World War II Military units and formations disestablished in 1954 Military units and formations established in 1924