II Corps (United States)

II Corps
Shoulder sleeve insignia of the II Corps.
Active	24 February 1918 – 1 February 1919 (U.S. Army) 29 July 1921 – 15 August 1927 (U.S. National Guard) 15 August 1927 (U.S. Army) 1 August 1940 – 10 October 1945 March 1958 – 5 June 1970
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Corps
Garrison/HQ	Camp Kilmer, New Jersey (after 1958)
Engagements	World War I World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Mark W. Clark Lloyd Fredendall George S. Patton Omar Bradley

The II Corps was a corps-sized formation of the United States Army that was active in both World War I and World War II. It was originally formed and fought on the Western Front during World War I and was also the first American formation of any size to see combat in North Africa or Europe during World War II.

II Corps was organized on 24 February 1918 and first saw significant action in Europe as a part of the main assault beginning the 1918 Second Battle of the Somme, while attached to the British Third Army. The initial secondary attack to begin that battle became known as the Third Battle of Albert, launched by the New Zealand Division. The attacks developed into an advance, which pushed the German 2nd Army back along a 50-mile (80 km) front line. On 22 August, the New Zealand Division took Albert, with the British and Americans advancing on Arras. On 29 August, Bapaume fell into British and American hands, which resulted in an advance by the Australian Corps, who crossed the Somme River on 31 August and broke the German lines during the Battle of Mont St. Quentin. Ultimately, the overall battle resulted in the German Army being pushed back to the Hindenburg Line, from which they would launch their spring offensive. The corps was demobilized 1 February 1919.