70th Tank Battalion
The US Army's 70th Tank Battalion was activated in 1941 as part of the formation of independent tank battalions designed to support infantry divisions and reinforce the anti-tank and offensive operations of US forces. After training in the United States and becoming operational, the battalion was deployed to the European theater in 1944 to participate in combat on the Western Front.
The battalion landed in Normandy in the summer of 1944, shortly after the start of Operation Overlord. It fought alongside US infantry divisions in operations to consolidate bridgeheads and advance through the Normandy bocage, providing armored support during attacks on fortified German positions. After securing the beaches and coastal areas, the 70th Tank Battalion continued operations inland, participating in the advance through France, the crossing of the Seine, and then the advance towards the Moselle and Lorraine.
In the fall of 1944, the battalion participated in the Rhineland campaign, supporting American forces in the fighting to break through German defenses west of the Rhine. During the winter of 1944-1945, it was engaged in the Battle of the Bulge, providing support to infantry units and contributing to counteroffensive operations designed to repel German forces.
In 1945, the 70th Tank Battalion took part in the final offensive in Germany. It was involved in operations to cross the Rhine and advance into central Germany, supporting infantry divisions in capturing cities, reducing pockets of resistance, and securing the surrender of enemy forces until Germany's capitulation in May 1945. After the fighting ended, the battalion was assigned to control and security missions before being deactivated.
The 70th Tank Battalion's service record includes campaign credits for Normandy, Northern France, Lorraine, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Its engagement spanned from the initial phase of the Normandy breakthrough to the final operations on German soil, providing continuous armored support to U.S. infantry forces.
