U.S. 20th Armored Division
| 20th Armored Division | |
|---|---|
Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 20th Armored Division.
|
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| Active | 1943–1946 |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Army
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| Type | Armored |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname(s) | Armoraiders or Liberators |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Orlando Ward Roderick R. Allen |
| U.S. Armored Divisions | |
|---|---|
| Previous | Next |
| 16th Armored Division (Inactive) | 25th Armored Division (Phantom) |
The 20th Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army that fought in World War II. It was activated on 15 March 1943 at Camp Campbell in Kentucky. The division has no real nickname although it did associate itself with the nickname "Armoraiders" while in training at Camp Campbell.
After certification as a liberating division by the Center of Military History on 28 October 1988, and the awarding of a Liberation Certificate by the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, veterans of the division adopted the name Liberators as a division motto.
Overall organization of the 20th Armored Division consisted of the following:
Combat Command A (CCA): CCA Headquarters Battalion, 9th Tank Battalion, 8th Armored Infantry Battalion, 412th Armored Field Artillery Battalion.
Combat Command B (CCB): CCB Headquarters Battalion, 20th Tank Battalion, 65th Armored Infantry Battalion, 413th Armored Field Artillery Battalion.
Combat Command R (CCR): Reserve Command, 27th Tank Battalion, 70th Armored Infantry Battalion, 414th Armored Field Artillery Battalion.
Divisional Troops included: Headquarters, 160th Armored Signal Company, 33rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (mechanized), 220th Armored Engineer Battalion, 220th Armored Medical Battalion, 138th Armored Ordnance Battalion, Division Administration, Division Trains, Division Artillery, Division Band, and a Military Police (MP) Platoon.
The 20th Armored Division departed Boston on 5 February and arrived at Le Havre, France, 18 February 1945. On arrival it was sent to Buchy for a month's assembly, preparation, and additional training. It then moved through Belgium to Langendernbach, Germany, 10 April. After considering breaking up the new division to provide replacements for the veteran armored divisions under his 12th U.S. Army Group, General Omar N. Bradley, sent the unit to Marktbreit, where the division was attached to the III Corps; 20 April. Three days later, it was detached and reassigned to the XV Corps, Seventh Army, at Würzburg, Germany.
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