UNITES STATES ARMY ARMORED DIVISIONS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR: Images of War Series

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Includes 250 color & black and white images.

The routing of the British and French Armies in May and June 1940 by the Wehrmacht's armored divisions caused a major rethink by the US Army's senior leadership. The result was the formation of the two armored divisions in July 1940; the first named 'Old Ironside' and second designated 'Hell on Wheels'.

In 1941, a further three armored divisions were created; the third (Spearhead), the fourth (remained unnamed) and the fifth called 'Victory'. The following year seven more were created, the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth. The final two armored divisions formed in 1943 numbered the sixteenth and twentieth. All but one of these powerful formations went on to see service in the European Theater of Operation (ETO); the exception being the 1st Armored Division that served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.