Reginald Sawyer 9th Armored Division

The 9 th Armored Division (the "Phantom Division") was an armored division of the United States Army in World War II. The division was activated on July 15th 1942, at Ft. Riley, KS. it arrived in England Sep. 1 st 1944 and landed in France September 1944. The 9th Armored Division spent the time from October 1944 until March 1945. Moving from France, into Luxembourg, Belgium and finally into Germany. The 9th Armored Division returned to Hampton Roads, VA Oct. 13th 1945 and was inactivated the same day at Camp Patrick Henry, VA The 9th Armored Division consisted of two light and four medium tank battalions. The division was organized with two combat command headquarters, popularly known as Combat Commands CCA, CCB and CCR: These were added for mission flexibility. 9th Armored Division Combat Summary: The division landed in Normandy, France and initially patrolled the quiet sector along the Luxembourg-German frontier. The German Ardennes Counteroffensive struck the Division on Dec. 16, 1944 and Combat Command “B” (CCB) was ordered to St. Vith as the division lost ground, Combat Command “R” (CCR) moved into positions along the Bastogne-Trios Vierges road on Dec. 17 and the German drive breached the division’s lines the following day. Fighting was widely scattered. Combat Command “A” (CCA) defended areas near Ermsdorf on Dec. 20 and CCB withdrew from St. Vith on Dec. 22. Meanwhile, remnants of CCR were employed in the defense of Bastogne under the control of the 101s t A/B Div. The remainder of the division was ordered to reserve at Sedan on Dec. 30. The division rehabilitated in January 1945 and trained in February 1945. It attacked the Roer River in the Soller region. CCA clearing strong opposition at Wollersham and Langendorf on Mar 45 reached the Roth River and established a bridgehead at Friesheim, and CCR captured Niederberg. 9th Armored Division Display The next day CCB reached the Erft River at Lommersum and was joined along the river by CCA and CCR in the Euskirchen vicinity on March 4, 1945. The division then opened its offensive across the Erft River toward the junction of the Rhine and Ahr Rivers on March 5. CCB overcame light resistance to seize the Ludendorff Railroad Bridge at Remagen, which was damaged and prepared for demolition, but still standing intact on March 7. It quickly crossed to establish a firm bridgehead across the Rhine and was joined there the next day by CCB as CCA defended the Ahr River Line. After consolidation the Division attacked March 22 to clear the region between the Rhine and Wied Rivers and secured a bridgehead across the latter. The division renewed its offensive on March 26 and attacked through the 2nd Inf Div; CCA reached the Lahn River at Diez and CCB at Limburg. It assembled along the Lahn as CCR drove to contact Third Army on the Cologne-Frankfurt Autobahn north of Idsein on March 28. The division attacked on March 29 and by March 31 had established a bridgehead across the Diemel River in the Warburg area which was then maintained against counterattacks. The division started an assembly area east of the Weser River Apr 8, and attacked through the 2nd and 69th Div. on Apr 10 to spearhead the drive to the Saale River, which it reached by Apr 12. On Apr 13 CCA reached the Weisse-Esler River near Pegau and consolidated. After heavy combat in the Borna area and through factory districts at Deutzen the CCR reached the Mulde River and seized bridges in the Colditz-Lastau region on Apr. 15, 1945. The next day they crossed and cleared Colditz. The division the mopped up along the Mulde River until moved to the Borna-Taucha region in reserve on 2019 9 Armored Division Page 5 Apr. 21. It guarded utilities and factories at Rotha Apr 22 until moved near Jena on Apr 29. CCA was detached to the 1st Inf Div on 3 May 3 for the drive to Karlsbad, and attacked May 6 down the Cheb-Falkov Road. It was at Rudolec when hostilities were declared ended on May 7, 1945.