Posted on 03/17/2020 5:30:04 PM PDT by ransomnote
At my direction, the United States Army will award the Presidential Unit Citation to the 30th Infantry Division. More than 75 years ago, Soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division slept in their foxholes after hastily taking defensive positions around the small town of Mortain, France. They woke to find themselves under attack by an entire German Panzer Corps. Through this assault, Adolf Hitler gambled to keep American forces from breaking out of the Normandy beachhead and into the open countryside. The Nazi plan required the Panzer forces to cut through the 30th Infantry Division en route to the sea. However, the actions of the 30th Infantry Division would prove to be decisive in blunting this attack.
Nicknamed the “Old Hickory Division” because its Soldiers hailed from National Guard units from North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia – all States closely associated with President Andrew Jackson – the 30th Division Soldiers proved as tough as their unit’s namesake. The situation they faced on August 6, 1944, was dire. They found themselves confronted by overwhelming enemy armor, and the German Panzers broke through their lines. The Old Hickory Division, however, did not stop fighting. It pressed its cooks, clerks, and drivers into service as riflemen. The Division’s artillery protected its encircled and isolated elements with a constant barrage of fire. At daybreak, American and British close air support arrived to help. By the afternoon of August 7th, the German attack stalled and the Division quickly counterattacked to relieve its trapped elements, through another five days of fierce fighting. More than 2,000 Old Hickory Soldiers were killed or wounded during the weeklong battle, but their efforts and sacrifice would have a profound impact on the course of history.
After the War, eight units within the 30th Infantry Division were recognized with the Presidential Unit Citation. Today, I am proud to direct the Army to honor the remainder of the Division and attached units with the Presidential Unit Citation for their heroic stand at Mortain. This action rightfully recognizes our Veterans who triumphed against incredible odds, as well as those who died during a critical battle that helped ensure the Allied victory in Europe.
The White House
I have read that the Germans called this division “Roosevelt’s SS.”
I remember that one German panzer group fought their way to a nearby beach but when they got there, there was nothing they could do so they retreated.
Beautiful. Gave me chills reading it.
At the end of the war, Eisenhower developed a list of division level organizations that deserved the Presidental Unit Citation (then called the Distinguished Unit Citation). The 30th Infantry Division was on that list. But, none of those awards were ever made.
The 30th Infantry Division certainly deserved it, but the Army had a different notion than what prevailed in the Navy Department with their Naval Presidential Unit Citation. Marine Divisions were so recognized for their distinguished combat records, but Army divisions, with a few exceptions, were not. In the Army the DUC was generally limited to the Regimental and battalion level.
This ought to be fixed.
The bravery of these men ended yet another of Hitler's fantasy campaigns and allowed Patton to drive clean across France.
“I remember that one German panzer group fought their way to a nearby beach but when they got there, there was nothing they could do so they retreated.”
Source for that? I’ve never heard of a Nazi tank unit that fought their way to a D-Day beach.
I had never heard that. Apparently they made it to the edge of the British landing beaches and it was too hot to stay there and they had to fall back.
“The dispositions of German armour meant only 21st Panzer Division was immediately available for a counterattack. Some of its units had already been engaged by British airborne forces, but it was not until mid-afternoon on D-Day that the division finally advanced against the British north of Caen. The commander of LXXXIV Corps, General Erich Marcks, told Colonel Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski, who was leading the attack, ‘if you don’t succeed in throwing the British into the sea we shall have lost the war.’ The German assault was beaten back by British tanks and artillery. Some panzers actually reached the coast, but then had to withdraw. They lost 70 out of 124 tanks.”
They probably remembered Dieppe and thought they might have a chance again. They simply had no concept of the size and power of the invasion force, although i guess they found out pretty quick.
It was on one of the history type channels. I too had never heard of it but they did say it. It doesn’t sound like one they would make up tho.
I have lost a lot of confidence in those shows recently. They had one on Midway a few days ago with glaring errors. They said that we had 4 carriers at Midway and also said we sank all 4 Japanese Carriers on the same day.
I saw that and said “What the what?”
Perhaps the documentary channels current reliance on inferior programming and infomercials has caused good filmmakers to seek other pastures. Not unlike when MTV injured music when it went (c)rap. Just another part of the dumbing down of America.
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