34th Infantry Division - Red Bull

Activated 10 Feb 1941  •  Entered Combat 8 Nov 1942 North Africa  •  Days of Combat 500  •  Casualties 16,401

Division Chronicle

After continuing its training in Ireland, the 34th Infantry Division saw its first combat in the North African invasion, 8 November 1942, landing at Algiers and seizing the port and outlying airfields. Elements of the Division took part in numerous subsequent engagements in Tunisia during the Allied build-up, notably at Sened Station, Paid Pass, Sbeitla, and Fondouk Gap. In April 1943 the Division assaulted Hill 609, capturing it on 1 May 1943, and then drove through Chouigui Pass to Tebourba and Ferryville.

The Division then trained for the Salerno landing. The 151st FA Bn. went in on D-day, 9 September 1943, at Salerno, while the rest of the Division followed on 25 September. Contacting the enemy at the Calore River, 28 September 1943, the 34th drove north to take Benevento, crossed the winding Volturno three times in October and November, assaulted Mount Patano and took one of its four peaks before being relieved, 9 December 1943. In January 1944, the Division drove into the Gustav line, took Mount Trocchio after a bitter fight, pushed across the Rapido, attacked Monastery Hill, and fought its way into Cassino, being relieved 13 February 1944. After rest and rehabilitation, it landed in the Anzio beachhead, 25 March 1944, maintaining defensive positions until the offensive of 23 May, when it broke out of the beachhead, took Cisterna, and raced to Civitavecchia and Rome. After a short rest, the Division drove across the Cecina River to liberate Livorno, 19 July 1944, and continued on to take Mount Belmonte in October. Digging in south of Bologna for the winter, the 34th jumped off, 15 April 1945, and captured Bologna on 21 April. Pursuit of the routed enemy was halted, 2 May, with the German surrender in Italy.

Division Organization 1944

133rd Infantry Regiment

135rd Infantry Regiment

168rd Infantry Regiment

442nd Regimental Combat Team

100th Infantry Battalion

232nd Engineer Company

522nd Field Artillery Battalion

125th Field Artillery Battalion

151st Field Artillery Battalion

175th Field Artillery Battalion

185th Field Artillery Battalion

Headquarters, 34th Infantry Division

34th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop

34th Reconnaissance Troop 

109th Engineer Battalion

109th Medical Battalion

34th Division Special Troops

Headquarters, Special Troops

34th Infantry Division HQ Co.

34th Infantry Division Band

Military Police Platoon, 34th Division

34th Quartermaster Company

34th Signal Company

734th Ordnance (Lt Maint) Co.