Combat in France and Germany 32nd Infantry Division (United States)

operations of 32nd infantry division in world war in crossing hindenburg line.

the 32nd division arrived on western front in february 1918. 32nd sixth u.s. division join american expeditionary force (aef), under general john j. pershing. unit s morale temporarily lessened when learned assigned create depot corps train replacement soldiers. major general haan reminded commanders every soldier s duty contribute best war effort, including training replacements. however, haan lobbied pershing , after several stormy sessions, convinced him 32nd hold own division. point of war had been stalemate, fought static trench lines on same few kilometers of terrain. on next 6 months, division under constant fire, 10 days rest. division took leading role in 3 important offensives, fighting on 5 fronts, suffered more 14,000 casualties, captured more 2,000 prisoners, , never yielded ground enemy.

major general james parker had re-assumed command on 7 december 1917, , lead unit alsace in may 1918, attacking 19 kilometres (12 mi) in 7 days. during battle of marne, captured fismes. american unit in french general charles mangin s famous 10th french army, fought between moroccans , foreign legion, 2 of best divisions in french army in battle of oise-battle of aisne offensive. 10th army took juvigny. in five-day battle against 5 german divisions, 32nd suffered 2,848 casualties.

on 18 may 1918, 4 battalions of 32nd division replaced decimated french troops on front line @ haute alsace, along 17 miles (27 km) front aspach-le-bas swiss border. division s units conducted combat patrols germany itself, gaining distinction of being first troops set foot on enemy soil in world war i.

moving out of trenches, division fought continuously 20 days during meuse-argonne offensive. division front line element of third u.s. army. germans dug in after 4 years of trench warfare , had orders hold line @ costs. on 14 october @ 5:30 am, division broke through maze of barbed wire , took line of trenches forming hindenburg line , moved on last german stronghold @ kriemhilde stellung, reached meuse river. 32nd first allied army unit penetrate hindenburg line. captured côte dame de marie, key defenses in area. next 5 days division continued advance while under constant machine gun , artillery fire. 32nd division defeated 11 german divisions in argonne fighting, including fearsome prussian guards , german army s 28th division, known kaiser s own. offensive cost division 5,950 casualties.

their next objective flank germans @ metz , marched 300 kilometres (190 mi) rhine river. there occupied center sector in koblenz bridgehead 4 months, during held 400 square kilometres (150 sq mi) , 63 towns.