Combat History of the Second Infantry Division in World War II

First published just a year after the end of the war, this is the story of the Second Infantry Division in World War II. It is the story of innumerable acts of fortitude and courage, of individual sacrifice and devotion to duty under fire, by a fighting division which has served with honor in two world wars.

“Closely following actual combat operations, brief editions of our participation in World War II were published. With the passage of time, the need for a more authentic and comprehensive history of this period has become evident. This book is designed to meet that need.

“This history shows that from D+1 to V-E Day our Division, in the face of repeated fanatical enemy action, was employed constantly as a spearhead shock division, and that in this role it maintained unblemished its proud record of never having failed to take its objective nor of having relinquished ground so gained. During operations we were concerned with our immediate task. Now in the light of subsequent events and broader perspective, the importance to the nation and to our army of our successes becomes increasingly evident.”—W. M. Robertson, Major-General, U.S. Army