106th Infantry Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 106th Infantry Division


caption=106th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
dates= 1943-1945
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= Army
type= Infantry
role=
size= Division
command_structure=
garrison=
garrison_label=
equipment=
equipment_label=
nickname="Golden Lion"
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=A golden lion's face on a blue circular background encircled by white and then red borders respectively.
battles=World War II
* Battle of the Bulge
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
current_commander=
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=US Infantry
previous=104th Infantry Division
next=108th Infantry Division

The 106th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War II well known to be the hardest hit American unit of the Battle of the Bulge.

World War II

*Activated: 15 March 1943.
*Overseas: 10 November 1944.
*Campaigns: Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace.
*Days of combat: 63.
*Distinguished Unit Citations: 1.
*Awards: DSC-6; DSM-1; SS-77; LM-9; SM-26; BSM-352; AM-10.
*Commanders: Maj. Gen. Alan W. Jones (15 March 1943-22 December 1944), Brig. Gen. Herbert T. Perrin (22 December 1944-8 February 1945), Maj. Gen. Donald A. Stroh (February 1945-August 1945), Brig. Gen. Francis A. Woolfley (August 1945 to inactivation).
*Returned to U.S.: 1 October 1945.
*Inactivated: 2 October 1945.

Combat Chronicle

The 106th Infantry Division received its final state-side training at Camp Atterbury [http://www.IndianaMilitary.org] , Indiana, from 03/27/1944 to 10/13/1944.

The 106th Infantry Division arrived in the United Kingdom, 17 November 1944, and trained briefly, then moved to France, 6 December. It relieved the 2nd Infantry Division in the quiet area of Schnee Eifel on the 11th for further training.

The German Ardennes Offensive was thrown in force without warning at the 106th on 16 December with a large thrust through the Schnee Eifel area by the German Sixth SS Panzer Army and German Fifth Panzer Army. At this time the division has been on the continent for only 15 days with many new soldiers at an average age of 22 years. In addition, the division had minimal supplies and ammunition.

Immediately the 422d and 423d Infantry Regiments were encircled and cut off from the remainder of the division by a junction of enemy forces in the vicinity of Schonberg. They were in the forest that had small roads and little terrain where maneuver was practicable. The regiments lacked armored support, and though they regrouped for counterattack, they were blocked by the enemy and lost to the division on 18 December. The division suffered 641 killed and 1,200 wounded in these early actions. Over 7,000 soldiers were captured and sent to various POW camps throughout Germany. One of the division's losses in this action was Kurt Vonnegut, who suffered the rest of the war as a prisoner and later drew upon his experiences to write his novel "Slaughterhouse Five".

The rest of the division withdrew from St. Vith on the 21st under constant enemy fire and pulled back over the Salm River at Vielsalm, 23 December. On the 24th, the 424th Regiment attached to the 7th Armored Division fought a delaying action at Manhay until ordered to an assembly area.

From 25 December 1944 to 9 January 1945, the division received reinforcements and supplies at Anthisnes, Belgium, and returned to the struggle, securing objectives along the Ennal-Logbierme line on the 15th after heavy fighting. After being pinched out by advancing divisions, the 106th assembled at Stavelot on the 18th for rehabilitation and training. It moved to the vicinity of Hunningen, 7 February, for defensive patrols and training.

In March, the 424th advanced along the high ground between Berk and the Simmer river and was again pinched out at Olds on the 7th. A period of training and patrolling followed until 15 March when the division moved to St. Quentin for rehabilitation and the reconstruction of lost units. For the remainder of its stay in Europe, the 106th handled prisoners of war enclosures and engaged in occupational duties.

Assignments in the ETO

*29 November 1944: VIII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
*20 December 1944: XVIII (Abn) Corps, First Army (attached to the British 21st Army Group), 12th Army Group.
*18 January 1945: XVIII (Abn) Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
*6 February 1945: V Corps.
*10 March 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group.
*15 April 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to ADSEC (Advanced Section, Communications Zone).

Cultural references

Author Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Slaughterhouse-Five" is largely based on his experiences as a combat infantryman in the 106th Infantry Division. Vonnegut was one of the soldiers captured during the 106th's defeat at the Battle of the Bulge and he was taken to an underground POW camp in Dresden where he experienced first-hand the Dresden fire-bombing. His experiences as a member of the 106th and a POW heavily influenced many of his early novels.

References

*"The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States" U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at [http://www.army.mil/cmh/lineage/cc/106id.htm http://www.army.mil/cmh/lineage/cc/106id.htm] .
* [http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/106thinfantry/index.html The 106th: The Story of the 106th Infantry Division]
* [http://www.IndianaMilitary.org 106th at Camp Atterbury, Indiana]
* [http://www.IndianaMilitary.org Diaries and POW Accounts of 106th members]
* [http://www.IndianaMilitary.org Re-constructed Roster of 106th members]
* [http://ice.mm.com/user/jpk/ The 106th Division Association Website]
* [http://www.the106thinfantrydivision.be.tt/ An interesting webpage on the 106th featuring WWII artifacts]