The US II Corps was the first American formation of any size to see combat in Europe or Africa during World War II.
History
It came to prominence in the Battle of Kasserine Pass when Field Marshal Erwin Rommel defeated the formation. However, after a change of command, it recovered its cohesion and fought well for the rest of the campaign. It held the southern flank of British 1st Army during the destruction of Axis forces in Africa.
A further amphibious operation followed at Salerno. The corps then fought its way up the western side of Italy, ending up on the right flank of US Fifth Army in May 1945.
Polish IICorps was on the coast, Canadian I Corps was on the coastal plain on the Poles' left and British V Corps was in the hills on the Canadians' left.
British X Corps was on the left wing of the 8th Army front in a holding role.
Between September 21 and October 3, U.S. 88th Division had fought its way to a standstill on the route to Imola suffering 2,105 men killed and wounded—roughly the same as the whole of the rest of IICorps during the actual breaching of the Gothic Line.
World War IIU.S. Army corps commanders were the orchestrators of combat, the men responsible for coordinating the fighting power and tactical deployment of divisions.
Corps commanders who moved on to higher military positions during or after the war, such as Omar N. Bradley, George S. Patton, Jr., J. Lawton Collins, and Matthew B. Ridgway, are well known to military historians, and many have published their memoirs.
Corps command during World War II was an intellectually demanding job; classroom education at the War College, therefore, was valuable preparation for the task.
Feeds |
Contact