The 104th Infantry Division —nicknamed the Timberwolf Division— was a division of the United States Army that fought for 195 consecutive days during World War II. Some 34,000 men served with the division under the leadership of General Terry Allen, who was much admired despite his nickname, "Terrible Terry". The division's first action came in October of 1944 during the taking of Achtmaal and Zundert in Holland. It then participated in the Battle of the Bulge, advanced through the Siegfried line and across the Inde River into Cologne, and it helped complete the encirclement of the Ruhr pocket. Finally, it made a 350-mile sweep to the Mulde River in the heart of Germany. The division was particularly renowned for its night fighting prowess. Image File history File links Shoulder sleeve patch of the 104th Infantry Division, the Timberwolf Division File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Shoulder Sleeve Insignia for the U.S. 1st Infantry Division SSI for the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division A United States Army Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) or shoulder patch is a cloth heraldic device that uniquely identifies major U.S. Army units. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants United States Germany Commanders Courtney Hodges Walter Model Strength 120,000 80,000 Casualties 33,000 casualties 12,000—16,000 deaths[1] (est. ... Combatants United States  United Kingdom Germany Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower Omar N. Bradley George S. Patton, Jr. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... The United States Army is the largest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Terry Allen may refer to: Terry Allen (singer), Country singer and artist. ... Achtmaal is a little village in the South of the Netherlands falling under the municipality of Zundert. ... River Inde as a tributary of the Rur The small river Inde has its source near Raeren in Eastern Belgium, runs through Aachen-Kornelimünster, Eschweiler and Inden, and flows into the river Rur near Jülich. ... The Ruhr Pocket was a battle that took place at the end of World War II in the Ruhr Area, Germany. ...

Insignia

The division's nickname came from its timberwolf shoulder insignia. The division insignia is a gray Timberwolf's head on a balsam green disc. It was designed by Charles Livingston Bull, artist and authority on wild life, and represents the northwest. It was in this section of the country that the 104th conducted its training in 1942-43 when it was activated (see U. S. Army Center for Military History - 104th Infantry Division). Trinomial name Canis lupus lycaon Schreber, 1775 Eastern Timber wolf range The Eastern Timber Wolf (Canis lupus lycaon) is an endangered subspecies of the Gray Wolf and is native to North America. ...

Assignment and Attachment to Higher Units

From Arno Lasoe's U. S. XIX Corps website:^[1]

• 28 August 1944, Ninth Army, 12th Army Group
• 5 September 1944, III Corps
• 15 October 1944, Ninth Army, but attached for operations to the British I Corps, Canadian 1st Army, British 21st Army Group
  • in clearing the Schelde estuary to open Antwerp ports, during the Battle of the Scheldt
• 5 November 1944, First Army, 12th Army Group
• 8 November 1944, VII Corps, First Army
• 20 December 1944, VII Corps, First Army (attached to the British 21st Army Group), 12th Army Group
• 21 December 1944, XIX Corps, Ninth Army (attached to the British 21st Army Group), 12th Army Group
• 3 February 1945, VII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group

The US Ninth Army was one of the main US combat commands used during the campaign in northwest Europe in 1944 and 1945. ... The 12th Army Group was the largest and most powerful American formation ever to take to the field. ... For the III Corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, see III Corps (ACW). ... The Canadian First Army was the overall command for the Canadian military forces in Europe during World War II. It was formed in early 1942 to command two corps composed of the three infantry divisions, two armoured divisions, and two armoured brigades that had assembled in England. ... Combatants Canada United Kingdom Poland Belgium Norway Germany Commanders Guy Simonds (acting) (First Canadian Army) Gustav-Adolf von Zangen (German 15th Army) Strength  ?  ? Casualties 12,873 total; including 6,367 Canadian  ? The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations which took place in northern Belgium and south... Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the U.S. First Army. ... For the VII Corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, see VII Corps (ACW). ...

History

The 104th Infantry Division landed in France on September 7, 1944^[2] . It is likely that the division was initially involved with implementing the Red Ball Express. is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

With Canadian First Army, in the Battle of the Scheldt

The 104th's first combat experience occurred during the latter portions of the Battle of the Scheldt. While attached to the Canadian 1st Army, the division moved into defensive positions in the vicinity of Wuustwezel, Belgium, on October 23, 1944, and went over to the offensive on the 25th, taking Zundert and Achtmaal, gaining control of the Breda-Roosendaal Road (see map), and overrunning Vaart Canal defenses. Leur and Etten fell as the division advanced to the Mark River on October 31. A coordinated attack over the Mark River at Standaarbuiten (part of Moerdijk municipality), on November 2, 1944, established a bridgehead. Zevenbergen was captured and the Maas River reached on November 5. Combatants Canada United Kingdom Poland Belgium Norway Germany Commanders Guy Simonds (acting) (First Canadian Army) Gustav-Adolf von Zangen (German 15th Army) Strength  ?  ? Casualties 12,873 total; including 6,367 Canadian  ? The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations which took place in northern Belgium and south... Combatants Canada United Kingdom Poland Belgium Norway Germany Commanders Guy Simonds (acting) (First Canadian Army) Gustav-Adolf von Zangen (German 15th Army) Strength  ?  ? Casualties 12,873 total; including 6,367 Canadian  ? The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations which took place in northern Belgium and south... The Canadian First Army was the overall command for the Canadian military forces in Europe during World War II. It was formed in early 1942 to command two corps composed of the three infantry divisions, two armoured divisions, and two armoured brigades that had assembled in England. ... Wuustwezel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Achtmaal is a little village in the South of the Netherlands falling under the municipality of Zundert. ... Etten-Leur is a municipality in the southern Netherlands. ... The Mark is a river in Belgium and the Netherlands. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Moerdijk is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. ... November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... A bridgehead is literally a military fortification that protects the end of a bridge that is closest to the enemy. ... Zevenbergen is a Dutch city which is a part of the municipality of Moerdijk. ... is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

With VII Corps, in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest

After release by the First Canadian Army, on November 6 the 104th began moving by motor convoy towards Aachen, Germany (see map). The 414th Regimental Combat Team remained behind temporarily to secure Moerdijk. On November 8, the division started its relief of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division in the vicinity of Aachen, and it became attached by the VII Corps, First Army. Combatants United States Germany Commanders Courtney Hodges Walter Model Strength 120,000 80,000 Casualties 33,000 casualties 12,000—16,000 deaths[1] (est. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Oche redirects here; in darts the oche is the line from which players must throw. ... Moerdijk is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. ... is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the VII Corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, see VII Corps (ACW). ... Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the U.S. First Army. ...

The 104th participated in the northern edge of what is now called the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. The abstract of a Defense Technical Information Center report, "Huertgen Forest: Offensive, Deliberate Attack, Forest, 16 November 1944", describes what happened as follows:^[3] "The VII (US) Corps, 1st Army attacked 16 November 1944 with 1st Inf Div, 4th Inf Div, 104th Inf Div, and CCR 5th AD to clear Huertgen Forest and the path of 1st Army to the Roer River. After heavy fighting, primarily by the 4th Infantry Division, VII Corps' attack ground to a halt. V Corps was committed on 21 November 1944. Attacking with 8th Inf Div, and CCR 5th AD, the V Corps managed to capture Huertgen after stiff fighting on 28 November 1944." Combatants United States Germany Commanders Courtney Hodges Walter Model Strength 120,000 80,000 Casualties 33,000 casualties 12,000—16,000 deaths[1] (est. ... The Rur (-German, in Dutch and French: Roer, not to be confused with the Ruhr) is a river in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. ...

While the 4th Infantry Division was being stalled by dug-in defenders deep within the Hurtgen Forest, the 104th Infantry Division attacked and secured Stolberg on November 16. Pushing on against heavy resistance, the 104th division was able to take Eschweiler on the November 21. The division next cleared the area west of the Inde River, including Inden, in vicious fighting. Battle of Hurtgen Forest (German: Schlacht im Hürtgenwald) is name given to series of fierce battles fought between the Americans and the Germans during World War II in the Hürtgen forest (or Huertgen forest), afterwards known to both Americans and Germans simply as the Huertgenwald (Hürtgenwald). ... Stolberg (pronounced ) is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... November 16 is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 45 days remaining. ... Castle of Kambach Castle of Roethgen Eschweiler Central Station The Leather Pietà Castle of Palant Castle of Kinzweiler Old Townhall Eschweilers power plant next to the A 4 Eschweiler is a town in the district of Aachen in North Rhine-Westfalia in Germany on the river Inde, near the... is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... River Inde as a tributary of the Rur The small river Inde has its source near Raeren in Eastern Belgium, runs through Aachen-Kornelimünster, Eschweiler and Inden, and flows into the river Rur near Jülich. ... Inden is a village and a municipality in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ...

With VII Corps,

Despite strong enemy counterattacks in the vicinity of Lamersdorf, Inden and Lucherberg (see map) in early December, by December 23 the 104th and its attached units had completed a hard-fought, town-by-town drive beyond the Siegfried Line to the Roer River. From December 15, 1944 to February 22, 1945 (Note: Unit was not in the Battle of the Bulge), the 104th was involved with defending its sector near Düren and Merken (see map). December 23 is the 357th day of the year (358th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Rur (-German, in Dutch and French: Roer, not to be confused with the Ruhr) is a river in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Düren is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, capital of Düren district. ...

Drive to Cologne

As the German offensive in the Ardennes wound down, the division moved across the Roer and took Huchem-Stammeln, Birkesdorf, and North Duren. On March 5, it entered Cologne after heavy fighting (see map). This archive from the 750th Tank Battalion elaborates on actions involved in the approach to Cologne. The Rur (-German, in Dutch and French: Roer, not to be confused with the Ruhr) is a river in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. ... Düren is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, capital of the district Düren. ... This article is about the day. ... For other uses, see Cologne (disambiguation). ...

Encirclement of the Ruhr pocket

After defending the west bank of the Rhine, the division crossed the river at Honnef on March 22, 1945, and attacked to the east of the Remagen bridgehead. General Collins’ VII Corps (First Army) was given the assignment of encircling the important Ruhr industrial area of Germany from the south. Beginning early on March 25, the 3rd Armored Division, with the 104th's 414th Infantry Regiment attached, began a lightning-like thrust eastward. After 9 days, the 3rd Armored and 414th Infantry had completed a 193-mile dash to Paderborn, and at Lippstadt, they linked up with the U.S. Ninth Army to complete the encirclement of the Ruhr pocket (see map), thus trapping 335,000 German troops. During this offensive, the 3rd Armored advanced in four columns on more or less parallel roads. The remainder of the 104th Infantry Division, mounted on trucks and accompanied by the 750th Tank Battalion and other supporting troops, had the job of mopping up enemy forces bypassed by the 3rd Armored. In many cases, these bypassed forces had recovered from the initial shock by the time the follow-up forces reached them and put up a strong defense. The 104th repulsed heavy attacks near Medebach, and Paderborn was captured on April 1, 1945. After regrouping, the 104th advanced to the east and crossed the Weser River on the 8th, blocking enemy exits from the Harz Mountains. It has been suggested that River Rhine Pollution: November 1986 be merged into this article or section. ... Bad Honnef is a spa town in Germany near Bonn in the Rhein-Sieg district, North Rhine-Westphalia. ... March 22 is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Remagen is a city in Germany in the Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate, district Ahrweiler. ... is the 84th day of the year (85th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the conurbation see Ruhr Area. ... Medebach is a town and a municipality in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Weser watershed Orthographic projection centred over Bremen The Weser is a river of north-western Germany. ... The Harz is a mountain range in northern Germany. ...

The rapid 3rd Armored advance created an ever-lengthening line for the 104th to defend. The line was threatened both from German troops on the west attempting to break out of the entrapment and from enemy forces on the east. There were many engagements all along the line. Supply vehicles carrying much-needed fuel and other materials were frequently ambushed. General Collins placed additional divisions in the ever-lengthening line to contain the Germans. Ultimately there were five infantry divisions, plus a cavalry group, stretched over a 175-mile arc from Remagen to Paderborn. As the increasing seriousness of the German situation became apparent, larger and larger groups attempted (without success) to break through the American lines. It was a very fluid situation, and it was uncertain as to when or where the enemy might be encountered (see the 750th records).

Liberation of Nordhausen camps, and the battle for Halle

After liberating the Mittelbau Dora concentration camp near Nordhausen on April 11 (see The Journey of Private Galione, Supporting Documents), the 104th then crossed the Saale River and took Halle in a bitter 5-day struggle which lasted from April 15 to 19 (see map). The sector to the Mulde River was cleared by the 21st, and after vigorous patrolling, the division contacted the Red Army at Pretzsch on April 26. The 104th left for home and inactivation on June 27. Supervised by American soldiers, German civilians from the town of Nordhausen bury corpses of prisoners found at Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp in mass graves. ... Length 413 km Elevation of the source 728  m Average discharge  ?  m³/s Area watershed  ?  km² Origin  Germany Mouth  Elbe Basin countries Germany Saale is the name of two rivers in Germany: the Saxonian Saale (German: Sächsische Saale) and the Franconian Saale (German: Fränkische Saale). ... Halle (also called Halle an der Saale (literally Halle on the Saale, and in some historic references is not uncommonly called Saale after the river) in order to distinguish it from Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia) is the largest town in the German State of Saxony-Anhalt. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... The Mulde is a river in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. ... For other organizations known as the Red Army, see Red Army (disambiguation). ... Pretzsch may refer to: Pretzsch, a community in the Burgenlandkreis in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany; Pretzsch a community in the Wittenberg district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Units

• 413th Infantry Regiment - (3 battalions)
• 414th Infantry Regiment - (3 battalions)
• 415th Infantry Regiment - (3 battalions)
• 385th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
• 386th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
• 387th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)
• 929th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
• 329th Medical Battalion
• 329th Engineer Combat Battalion
• 104th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
• 804th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
• 104th Quartermaster Company
• 104th Signal Company
• Military Police Platoon
• Headquarters Company
• Band

References: 1. The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950. 2. Order of Battle of the United States Army, World War II, European Theater of Operations, Office of the Theater Historian, Paris, France, December 1945.

Attached Units

• 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion - attached Oct 29, 44 - Mar 7, 45
• 555th AAA Battalion - attached Oct 26, 44 - May 24, 45
• 750th Tank Battalion - attached Nov 16, 44 - Dec 23, 44
• 87th Chemical Battalion - attached Dec 10, 44 - Dec 22, 44

Casualties

As reported in the U. S. Center for Military History^[4]

• Killed 1,294
• Wounded 5,305
• Missing 385
• Captured 27
• Battle Casualties 7,011
• Non-Battle Casualties 6,396
• Total Casualties 13,407

• Percent of T/O Strength 95.1

External links

• 104th Infantry Division Association
• 104th Infantry Division Command Personnel
• Timberwolves: The Story of the 104th Infantry Division
• Album of the Timberwolves during WW2
• Liberation of Achtmaal by the 415th Regiment of the 104th Inf.Div.
• The Journey of Private Galione 415B Liberator of Mittelbau Dora, Concentration Camp Nordhausen
• A story from the Inde River Operation by Albert E. Sikiosi, Company C, 329 Engr Battalion

References

1. The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States. Combat Chronicle: 104th Infantry Division. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1950.
2. U. S. Army Center for Military History - 104th Infantry Division
3. 104th Division (Institutional Training) history page