2nd Armored Division

The US Army's 2nd Armored Division, nicknamed Hell on Wheels, was deployed to the European theater in 1942 and played an important role in several major campaigns during World War II. The division had been activated before the war and was used for training and preparing modern armored warfare doctrines prior to its deployment.

Its first operational engagement in Europe began in November 1942 during the North African landings as part of Operation Torch. The division took part in fighting in Algeria and Tunisia, advancing west and south against Axis forces until the German and Italian surrender in May 1943.

After the North African campaign, the 2nd Armored Division was transferred to the United Kingdom to prepare for the Normandy landings. It took part in the invasion of France in June 1944, supporting the Allied offensive after the beach landings and helping to break through German defenses in Normandy. The division then continued its advance into northern and eastern France, participating in the liberation of cities and securing communication routes for the advance of American forces.

In the fall of 1944, the 2nd Armored Division participated in the Lorraine campaign and the reduction of German positions along the Moselle and Rhine rivers, contributing to breakthrough operations in western Germany. During the Battle of the Bulge, the division was engaged in counterattacks and defensive missions in the American sector, helping to stabilize the front and recapture territory lost during the German offensive.

In 1945, the division took part in the final offensive in Germany. It crossed the Rhine, participated in operations in the Rhineland and the advance into central and southern Germany, contributing to the capture of cities and industrial centers, as well as the surrender of enemy forces. The 2nd Armored Division ended its operations with the German surrender in May 1945.

Its campaign credits include North Africa, Tunisia, Normandy, Lorraine, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, and Central Europe. The division participated in all of the U.S. Army's major armored offensives in Europe, from North Africa to Germany, operating on multiple fronts and in various combat conditions throughout the conflict.