10th Armored Division (United States)
|10th Armored Division (United States)|
10th Armored Division Shoulder Patch
|Allegiance||Allies of World War II|
|Branch||United States Army|
|Part
10th Armored Division (United States)
|10th Armored Division (United States)|
10th Armored Division Shoulder Patch
|Allegiance||Allies of World War II|
|Branch||United States Army|
|Part of|| Twelfth United States Army Group
Third United States Army
Seventh United States Army
|Motto||Terrify and Destroy
Better than Most, As good as the Best
|Colors||Red, Blue and Yellow|
|Equipment||M4 Sherman Tank
|Engagements||World War II
Battle of the Bulge
Central Europe Campaign
|Decorations||(5) Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|
|General George S. Patton
General Walton Harris Walker
Major General Paul Newgarden
Major General William H. H. Morris
|U.S. Armored Divisions|
|9th Armored Division (Inactive)||11th Armored Division (Inactive)|
The 10th Armored Division (nicknamed Tiger Division) was an armored division of the United States Army in World War II. During the European Theater of Operations the 10th Armored Division was part of the Twelfth United States Army Group and was originally assigned to General George S. Patton’s Third United States Army. Near the conclusion of the war the 10th Armored saw action with General Alexander Patch's Seventh United States Army.
The 10th Armored Division was inactivated on 13 October 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia. On 25 February 1953, the division was allotted to the Regular Army but remained inactive.
10th Armored Division Combat Chronicle
Note. The bulk of this section of the article is taken from the July–August 1992 issue of Armor Magazine, pp. 41 - 43, in the article titled "10th AD Tigers missed credit for valiant fight at Bastogne", by Captain John Buckheit. Armor Magazine allows the reprinting of its material provided that the publication and author are credited.
The division, which served under General George S. Patton's Third Army, was activated on 15 July 1942, at Fort Benning, Georgia. The 10th Armored Division entered France through the port of Cherbourg, 23 September 1944, and put in a month of training at Teurtheville, France, before entering combat. Leaving Teurtheville, 25 October, the Division moved to Mars-la-Tour, where it entered combat, 2 November, in support of the XX Corps, containing enemy troops in the area. Later that month, the 10th participated in the capture of Metz. It was the first time in 1500 years that the ancient fortress at Metz fell. After fierce fighting, the 10th slammed into the vaunted Siegfried Line and led General George S. Patton's Third Army into Germany on 19 November 1944.
On 17 December 1944 the Allied tide of battle came to a halt. In the north, the Germans had launched their Ardennes Offensive later called The Battle of the Bulge. The 10th was the first division to move north in an attempt to impede the German assault. Combat Command A moved 75 miles in a single day, directly into the attack. The 10th assumed responsibility to protect Luxembourg and the Third Army's right flank. Combat Command B was dispatched directly to Bastogne by Patton on 17 December 1944. At that time, the 101st Airborne Division was on respite in France; Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division was the only combat unit defending Bastogne at the time. For over eight hours CCB held Bastogne alone, against eight German Divisions. When the 101 Airborne Division arrived both military outfits were surrounded and trapped. However CCB and the 101 Airborne Division maintained a defensive posture and held until the German offensive burned out several days later.
At the Conclusion of the battle, the 10th Armored Division's, 21st Tank Battalion and Combat Command B were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their extraordinary heroism from 17 to 27 December 1944 Battle of the Bulge. The 101 Airborne Division was also honored with the Presidential Unit Citation for their actions at Bastogne.
The 10th Armored Tigers played key roles in several of the war's greatest battles, including Combat Command B's gallant defense of Bastogne. Years after the war, General Anthony McAuliffe praised the men of the Tiger Division, noting that, "In my opinion, Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division was never properly credited with their important role in the Bastogne battle."
In early February 1945, the 10th rea