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20th Armored Division
The mixture of insignia and distinctive colors
of several arms incorporated in the Armored Force symbolize integrity and esprit.
It is an interlocked ornament, found in Nordic monuments, composed of three
torques: red for Artillery; blue for Infantry; and yellow for Cavalry. The symbols
represent the characteristics of Armored Divisions: the tank track, mobility
and armor protection; the cannon, fire power; and the red bolt of lightning,
shock action.
[page 552]
Command and Staff
Commanding General
17Feb45 |
Maj. Gen. Orlando
Ward |
Artillery Commander
17Feb45 |
Col. Lewis H. Ham |
Chief of Staff
17Feb45 |
Col. Edwin H. J.
Carns |
30Apr45 |
Lt. Col. William
E. Leonhard |
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1
17Feb45 |
Maj. James R. Story |
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2
17Feb45 |
Lt. Col. Robert
J. Williams |
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3
17Feb45 |
Lt. Col. Rex N.
Anderson |
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4
17Feb45 |
Maj. William S.
McElhenny |
1Apr45 |
Lt. Col. William
S. McElhenny |
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-5
15Apr45 |
Lt. Col. William
L. Wells |
Adjutant General
17Feb45 |
Lt. Col. K. K. Gilbertson |
Commanding Officer, Combat Command A
17Feb45 |
Brig. Gen. Cornelius
M. Daly |
4Apr45 |
Col. Thomas A. McCrary
(Acting) |
3May45 |
Brig. Gen. Cornelius
M. Daly |
Commanding Officer, Combat Command B
17Feb45 |
Col. Newton W. Jones |
30Apr45 |
Col. Edwin H. J.
Carns |
Commanding Officer, Combat Command R
17Feb45 |
Col. Thomas A. McCrary |
[page 553]
STATISTICS
Chronology
- Activated 15 March 1943
- Arrived in European Theater of Operations 17 February
1945
- Arrived Continent 21 February 1945 (D+225)
- Entered Combat 24 April 1945
- Days in Combat 8
Campaigns
Central Europe
Casualties (Tentative)
- Killed 9
- Wounded 66
- Missing 1
- Captured -
- Battle Casualties 76
- Non-Battle Casualties 319
- Total Casualties 395
Percent of Table of Organization Strength 3.7
Individual Awards
- Distinguished Service Cross 0
- Legion of Merit 0
- Silver Star 29
- Soldier's Medal 3
- Bronze Star 103
- Air Medal 0
Prisoners of War Taken -
COMPOSITION
- Headquarters Company
- Combat Command A
- Combat Command B
- Reserve Command
- 9th Tank Battalion
- 20th Tank Battalion
- 27th Tank Battalion
- 8th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 65th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 70th Armored Infantry Battalion
- 30th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized)
- 220th Armored Engineer Battalion
- 160th Armored Signal Company
- 20th Armored Division Artillery
- 412th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 413th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 414th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 20th Armored Division Trains
- 138th Ordnance Maintenance Battalion
- 220th Armored Medical Battalion
- Military Police Platoon
- Band
[page 554]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
468th AAA AW Bn (SP) 4Apr45-3Jul45
Armored
6th Armored Group 18Apr45-6Jul45
Field Artillery
- 250th FA Bn (105mm how.) 27Apr45-3May45
- 975th FA Bn (155mm how.) 28Apr45-3May45
DETACHMENTS
Armored
- 27th Tank Bn 21Apr45-24Apr45 (to 86th Div)
- 27th Tank Bn 24Apr45-28Apr45 (to 42d Div)
- 27th Tank Bn 30Apr45-10May45 (to 42d Div)
Field Artillery
414th Armored FA Bn 24Apr45-1May45 (to 42d Div)
[page 555]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
DATE |
CORPS |
ARMY |
ARMY GROUP |
Assigned |
Attached |
Assigned |
Attached |
29Jan45 |
|
Fifteenth |
|
12th |
|
3Apr45 |
XXII |
Fifteenth |
|
12th |
|
7Apr45 |
XXII |
Fifteenth |
First |
12th |
|
12Apr45 |
- |
First |
- |
12th |
|
19Apr45 |
III |
Third |
|
12th |
|
23Apr45 |
XV |
Seventh |
|
6th |
|
[page 556]
COMMAND POSTS
DATE |
TOWN |
REGION |
COUNTRY |
18Feb45 |
Le Havre |
Seine-Inferieure |
France |
20Feb45 |
La Vieux-Rue |
Seine-Inferieure |
France |
3Apr45 |
Herzogenrath |
Rhineland |
Germany |
11Apr45 |
Frickhofen |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
25Apr45 |
Pfafflingen |
Bavaria |
Germany |
28Apr45 |
Ober Barr |
Bavaria |
Germany |
29Apr45 |
Petershausen |
Bavaria |
Germany |
1May45 |
Zengermoos |
Bavaria |
Germany |
2May45 |
Neufarn |
Bavaria |
Germany |
4May45 |
Alternmarkt |
Bavaria |
Germany |
5May45 |
Tettenhausen |
Bavaria |
Germany |
8May45 |
Prien |
Bavaria |
Germany |
[page 557]
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