50th Anniversary - 5th Armored Division


5th AD, the "Victory Division," Was First to Fight on German Soil

ARMOR Magazine
© September - October 1991
pages 30 - 31




Exploiting success with its mobilty, the 5th AD advanced more than 500 miles in its first month in combat. It's 85th Recon Squadron was the first Allied unit to enter Germany from the west.

The 5th Armored Division was formed as part of the expansion of the Armored Forces during World War II. The 5th played a major role in the fighting in Europe, and it was the first division to fight on German soil. Its outstanding combat record justifies its nickname -- "Victory Division."

General Orders, Headquarters, Armored Force, activated the 5th Armored Division on 1 October 1941, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Men from the 3rd and 4th Armored Divisions formed the initial cadre. Slowly, the skeleton unit began training, and new men and equipment arrived. In mid-October 1941, the first medium tanks arrived: five M-3s. The declaration of war in December 1941 quickened the pace of training. The "Victory Division" spent January 1942 reorganizing from a heavy to a light armored division table of organization. Then in February 1942, the 5th moved by rail to Camp Cooke, California. A cadre of men remained at Fort Knox to help form the 8th Armored Division.

During the train ride, the soldiers received .50 caliber machine guns for anti-aircraft defense. Nine days after the 5th arrived, a Japanese submarine shelled the coast about 50 miles away. Soldiers from the 5th responded by patrolling the beaches. As part of the Western Defense Command, the division held "vacate camp alerts." When a Japanese fleet cruised through the North Pacific in May 1942, the 5th deployed to defend the coastline and Los Angeles. New men and equipment continued to arrive, and the Mobilization Training Program went on. By mid-summer, the 5th reached a full strength of 15,000. In August 1942, a group of officers and men left for Camp Beale California, where they became the cadre for the 13th Armored Division. At the same time, the rest of the 5th moved to California's Mojave Desert.

For three months, the 5th lived tactically in the field and participated in corps-level maneuvers. In September 1942, two artillery battalions left the 5th for the fighting in North Africa. Soon, two new battalions from Fort Sill replaced them. During this desert training, over 100 new officers arrived from Fort Knox and Fort Benning. In November 1942, the division assembled at Needles, California. It spent a month refitting with new equipment, then returned to Camp Cooke. Then, in March 1943, the 5th turned over all equipment and vehicles to the 6th Armored Division. The "Victory Division" loaded on trainthe s and moved to bivouac areas in Tennessee. For three months, the 5th drew new equipment and maneuvered in the field. Then in July 1943, the division moved to Pine Camp, New York. Here, the "Victory Division" began a new intensive training program. Once again, the table of organization went through a reorganization. The 5th would retain this final organization for the remainder of the war.

In December 1943, the division moved to Indiantown Gap Military Reservation in Pennsylvania for preparation for overseas deployment. In February 1944, the division moved to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, for final preparations. Finally, on 9 February 1943, the "Victory Division" sailed for England aboard the U.S.A.T. Edmund B. Alexander and the H.M.S. Athlone Castle. The division spent five months in England, both training and operating marshalling camps for the assault forces. Also, MG Oliver, the 5th's commander, implemented the concept of marrying tank and infantry companies for training. The enhanced teamwork paid great dividends in battle.

On 25 July 1944, the 5th landed across Utah Beach, France. That same day Allied bombers blasted a breach into the enemy defense at St. Lo. Initially, the division was in corps reserve. Then on 6 August 1944, the "Victory Division" received orders to push forward and seize Le Mans. Swiftly, the 5th drove through Coutances, Avranches, and Vitre, crossed the Mayenne River, and took Le Mans on 8 August 1944. Now, LTG Patton's Third Army cut down and around the German Seventh Army. The "Victory Division" led the advance. Once the Germans realized the threat, they desperately tried to prevent the encirclement, but the 5th quickly burst through roadblocks, bypassed strong resistance, and drove deeper into the German rear. Once the division reached Argentan, it turned its positions over to the 90th Infantry Division and attacked toward the Seine River. Before the enemy could react, the 5th captured Dreux, bisected the Eure-Seine Triangle, and reached the Seine. This action trapped the German units that had escaped from Normandy. During its first month in combat, the "Victory Division" had advanced more than 500 miles.

On 26 August 1944, the 5th joined LTG Hodges' First Army. Four days later, it moved through Paris to spearhead the V Corps' drive east. The "Victory Division" never allowed the enemy to establish a coherent defense. By 2 September 1944, the 5th had crossed the Oise River, penetrated the Compiegne Forest, and reached the Belgian border. Retreating Germans were aghast to find the "Victory Division" in their rear blocking the roads back to Germany. More than 50,000 surrendered to the advancing 1st Infantry and 3rd Armored Divisions. Once again, the 5th attacked east. It crossed the Meuse River and took Sedan. Five days later, the division overran the City of Luxembourg and captured the transmitting facilities of Radio Luxembourg intact. On 11 September 1944, the "Victory Division's" 85th Recon Squadron became the first Allied unit to enter Germany from the west. By 20 September 1944, the 5th had reached Bettingen, Germany, and forced a salient into the "West Wall."

In November 1944, the 5th moved into the Huertgen Forest. For more than a month, the "Victory Division" battled fierce resistance to penetrate this natural obstacle. Despite heavy casualties, the division took Kleinhau, Brandenburg, and Bergstein. The Germans contested every ridge and village in the rugged terrain. Finally, the 5th reached the Roer River on 20 December 1944. The 8th and 83rd Infantry Divisions came up in relief; the 5th moved into reserve for a well deserved rest.

For most of January 1945, the 5th remained in Belgium in reserve. New men and equipment replaced losses from the Huertgen Forest. The "Victory Division" then joined LTG Simpson's Ninth Army. The refreshed "Victory Division" captured Eicherscheid and Colmar. On 25 February 1945, the division crossed the Roer River, where open terrain allowed more maneuver. Once again, the 5th used superior mobility to prevent the enemy from organizing a strong defense. The "Victory Division" exploited into the enemy rear and used roadblocks to destroy or capture large numbers of troops. The 5th reached the Rhine River on 5 March 1945, and the 75th Infantry Division came up to relieve it.

On 31 March 1945, the 5th crossed the Rhine near Wessel. The following day, it attacked east and once again broke into the German rear. In 13 days, the "Victory Division" penetrated 260 miles into Germany. The division isolated pockets of resistance, destroyed communications centers, and overran defensive positions before the enemy could man them. Before it received word to stop, the 5th had reached the Elbe River in three places. The lead elements had advanced to within 45 miles of Berlin. No other American unit fought closer to the German capital. The 5th was still on the Elbe when hostilities ceased on 7 May 1945.

After the war, the "Victory Division" remained in occupation in Germany. The points system rotated men in and out of the division. Then in September 1945, the entire division moved to France to prepare for the journey home. Units turned in equipment and loaded onto ships bound for New York. On 11 October 1945, the 5th Armored Division was deactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. Today, members of the unit maintain an active veterans organization.


This unit history was researched and prepared by Captain John Buckheit during his temporary assignment to ARMOR Magazine in Summer 1990.


World War II Campaigns

WWII Commanders

MG Jack W. Heard
October 1941 - March 1943

MG Lunsford E. Oliver
March 1943 - July 1945

BG Morrill Ross
July 1945 - September 1945

MG Holmes E. Dager
September 1945 - October 1945




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