The Decoy Doughboy Souvenir Edition -- Printed in Czechoslovakia May 23, 1945. -- Publishes by and for the men of the 18th Combat Team. -- First Infantry Division, U. S. Army.
Headquarters 1st U. S. Infantry Division APO 1, U.S. ARMY 8 May 1945. On 8 November 1942, The Devision began to carry the war to Germany as it landed in the vicinity of Oran, Algeria, Africa. On 7 May 1945, it was still forcing the fight near Karlsbad, Czechoslovakia, in the last battle when, at 0815, the order was received to cease all offensive action. The war with Germany had ended. And it had ended as it begun, with The Division carrying the fight to the enemy. During its 444 days of combat as a division, it maintained the highest traditions of the United States Army. It was a great single source of disaster to the Axis. It captured over 120,000 prisoners, destroyed an untold amount of equipment, and thoroughly defeated every enemy organization that it met in battle. Upon several occasions its contribution was critical. A short resume of highlights of these 444 days may be of interest to all. The successful landing and capture of Oran. The succeeding period of detached operations in Tunisia was not under Divison control. From the 27th of January 1943 to the end at Mateur on the 8th of Maxx the division participated in the defense of Oisseltia, the smashing of Rommel's drive through Kasserine Pass, the capture of Gafsa, El Guettar (where Rommel's prize 10th Panzer Division in its full power met its first defeat) and the following push to link up with the British. Then came the great forced march to Beja and the Division launched the attack that carried it to Hills 350, 575, 532, Djebel Anz, Oued Tyne, and many more places, to the collapse of Axis resistance in Africa. The Sicilian campaign was bitter. The landing at Gela and the rout of the enemy massed counterattack the next day was a critical operation. Then followed the steady pursuit through Mazzarino, Gangi, Enna, and other towns to the exhausting battle of Troina where the keystone of enemy resistance was smashed. Next, The Division made history on 6 June 1944 at Omaha Beach. The steady battle to the Caumont position left it well ahead of any other units and upset German defense plans. The breakthrough at xxiarigny opened the way for the pursuit across France. In the vicinity of Mons, The Division practically destroyed an enemy corps and prevented an orderly manning of the Siegfried Line. The enemy made Aachen a test case. Masterly fighting by TheDivision resulted in the loss of the first great German city and the handwriting was on the wall. The Division breached the Siegfried Line in two widely separated operations. The Hurtgen Forest fight was followed by the rush to the Elsenborn area to seize and hold the entire northern hinge of the German bulge where it again decisively defeated an all-out German drive. Then, as the Allied offensive was resumed The Division attacked in bitter winter weather and breached the Siegfried Line a second time. The push from the Roer to the Rhine ended in the capture of Bonn. The last phase began as The Division entered the Remagen Bridgehead and at once started to expand it. In ten days of vicious relentless attack, The Division met and smashed the last German major attempt to counterattack. It opened its share of the line to permit the armor to get free. With no pause it swept the enemy into the Rose Pocket on a front of 60 miles where it was relieved for mopping up by three other divisions, and turning eastward, continued the pursuit, driving to the Harz Mts. I There it cornered approximatey 100,000 enemy. After ten days of severe fighting, The Division broke the German resistance and captured about 34,000 prisoners including three Corps Commanders. The last few days found The Division forcing the fight on a 53,000 yard front where the resistance varied from none to groups of fanatical Nazis who would not give up. We consider the many units that have been attached as members of The Division during the days that they participated in our victories. The days ahead will not be easy. As you have proven yourselves unsurpassed in battle, you must maintain equally high standards now that the fighting has ceased. You and the many who have fought with us in the past and have passed on, made the First Division what it is. You have my unbounded admiration and repect for what you have done in battle and I am certain that you will continue to maintain the outstanding reputation of The Division in the days ahead. Under weather conditions from favorable to appalling; through deserts, forests, mountains, plains, heat, drought, rain, and blizzards, on the offensive most of the time, holding the post of honor when the defense was necessary, The Division lived up to its motto "No Mission Too Difficult. No Sacrifice Too Great." CLIFT ANDRUS Major General, US Army, Commanding
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