83rd Infantry Division

The US Army's 83rd Infantry Division was reactivated on August 15, 1942, and trained in the United States before being assigned to the European theater of operations. After a long period of training and preparation, the division left the United States in the spring of 1944 and landed in Normandy in June 1944, shortly after the initial Allied landings.

From July 1944 onwards, the 83rd Infantry Division was engaged in combat in Normandy, particularly in the bocage sector, where it took part in operations aimed at widening the Allied bridgehead and breaking through German defenses. It took part in operations following the American breakthrough and participated in the advance through Brittany and western France, contributing to the liberation of several towns and the securing of communication routes.

In the fall of 1944, the division was engaged in the campaign in northern France and advanced eastward toward the German border. It participated in operations in the Rhineland, particularly in the fighting in the Hürtgenwald region and in operations against German defensive lines established west of the Rhine. These engagements took place in a context of prolonged fighting and difficult weather conditions.

During the winter of 1944-1945, the 83rd Infantry Division was involved in operations related to the Battle of the Bulge, mainly in missions to stabilize the front and secure areas threatened by the German offensive. After the offensive failed, the division resumed its offensive operations towards Germany.

In 1945, the division participated in the final Allied offensive. It took part in the crossing of the Rhine, then advanced into northern Germany, participating in the capture of cities, the reduction of pockets of resistance, and the taking of prisoners until the German surrender in May 1945. After the fighting ended, the 83rd Infantry Division was assigned to occupation duties in Germany before being gradually deactivated.

The 83rd Infantry Division's service record during World War II includes campaign credits for Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, the Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. Its engagement lasted from the summer of 1944 until the end of hostilities in Europe.