35th Infantry Division

Shoulder insignia, of Second World War origin, of the 35th Infantry Division.

The 35th Division was reactivated on December 23, 1940, left for Europe on May 12, 1944, arrived in England on the 25th and landed in France, at Omaha Beach from July 5 to 7, 1944.

From July 11, 1944, it fought, north of Saint-Lô, in the Battle of the Hedges. It repelled 12 German counterattacks then entered Saint Lô on July 18, then took part on August 2 in the offensive which pushed the German forces out of the Cotentin, on the Vire.

From August 7 to 13, it was responsible for ensuring the protection of the Mortain-Avranches road and helping to rescue the 30th DIUS which had been badly damaged during Operation Lüttich.

It then crossed France via Orléans and Sens, entered Moselle on September 13, liberated Nancy on September 15 and secured its positions at Chambrey on October 1, 1944. It then advanced to the German border and occupied Sarreguemines on December 8, established a bridgehead on the Blies on December 12, and was put to rest on December 19 in Metz.

The 35th DIUS was moved to Arlon, then engaged in the Battle of the Bulge from December 25, 1944, repelling the attacks of 4 German divisions, then retaking Villers-la-Bonne-Eau and then Lutrebois on January 10, 1945, after 13 days of fighting.

On January 18, 1945, it returned to Metz, before establishing itself, on February 22, in defense along the Roer. On February 23, it attacked and broke through the Siegfried Line and reached the Rhine at Wesel on March 10, which was crossed on March 25. The 35th DIUS failed to cross the Herne Canal but reached the Ruhr River in early April.

On April 12, the division moved towards the Elbe, covering nearly 500 km in 2 days. On April 26, it was in the Colbitz and Angern region before occupying Hanover on May 8, 1945.

On September 5, 1945, the 35th DIUS embarked at Southampton and arrived in New York on September 10.