84^th Infantry Division

The 84th Infantry Division arrived in northwest Europe in November 1944 and attacked into the Geilenkirchen salient on November 18, supported by British flail tanks and searchlights. The 334th Infantry Regiment won the Battle of Mahogany Hill by surprise assault on November 22 while the 335th Infantry reached Lindern, repulsed counterattacks, and took Beeck by November 30. Both Wurm and Müllendorf fell on December 18, completing the salient's reduction west of the Roer.

Campaign map image

World War II Campaign Map of the 84th Infantry Division. Map courtesy of HistoryShots.

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When the German Ardennes offensive struck in December, the division moved to Marche, Belgium, and organized a perimeter defense. German assaults pierced its lines at Verdenne on December 24, but the town was recovered the next day and the pocket between Verdenne and Bourdon was cleared by December 27. The division then followed the 2nd Armored Division toward Houffalize, clearing successive objectives and taking La Roche on January 11, 1945.

Crossing the Roer at Linnich on February 23, the 335th Infantry captured Krefeld on March 2-3 and the division reached the Rhine days later. After crossing the river in April, its regiments forced the Weser south of Neesen and seized an intact bridge over the Leine at Gümmer before capturing Hannover in sustained street fighting on April 10. The division reached the Elbe on April 14, relieved armored forces already there, and made contact with Soviet forces near Below and Abbendorf on May 2. USHMM recognizes the division as a liberating unit at Ahlem and Salzwedel — episodes that close a campaign running from Geilenkirchen through the Ardennes to the Elbe.