 106th Infantry Division in WWII: -St. Vith, Lion in the Way. By R. Ernest Dupuy. Just 10 days after landing in France, the green and untested 106th Infantry Division with its attached units near the Siegfried Line at St. Vith was surrounded by two German ARMIES. Fighting until they were out of ammo, vastly outnumbered, and out of hope, the 106th Division became America's largest surrender in history. 471 KIA 1,278 WIA, 53 Died of Wounds, 6,697 Captured/POW.
Originally published in 1949 by the Infantry Journal Press. Details on the unit are as follows. Activated: 15 March 1943. Overseas: 10 November 1944. Campaigns: Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace. Days of combat: 63. The 106th Infantry Division arrived in England, 17 November 1944, and trained briefly, then moved to France, 6 December. It relieved the 2d Infantry Division in the Schnee Eifel on the 11th. The Von Rundstedt attack was thrown in force at the 106th on 16 December. The 422d and 423d Infantry Regiments were encircled and cut off from the remainder of the Division by a junction of enemy forces in the vicinity of Schonberg. They regrouped for a counterattack but were blocked by the enemy and lost to the Division, 18 December. The rest of the Division withdrew from St. Vith on the 21st under constant enemy fire and pulled back over the Saint River at Vielsalm, 23 December.
On the 24th, the 424th Regiment attached to the 7th Armored Division fought a delaying action at Manhay until ordered to an assembly area. From 25 December 1944 to 9 January 1945, the Division received reinforcements and supplies at Anthisnes, Belgium, and returned to the struggle, securing objectives along the Ennal-Logbierme line on the 15th after heavy fighting. After being pinched out by advancing divisions, the 106th assembled at Stavelot on the 18th for rehabilitation and training. It moved to the vicinity of Hunningen, 7 February, for defensive patrols and training. In March, the 424th advanced along tile high ground between Berk and the Simmer River and was again pinched out at Olds on the 7th. A period of training and patrolling followed until 15 March when the Division moved to St. Quentin for rehabilitation and the reconstruction of lost units. For the remainder of its stay in Europe, the 106th handled prisoners of war enclosures and engaged in occupational duties.
Nickname: Golden Lion Division. Shoulder patch: A golden lion's face on a blue circular background encircled by white and then red borders respectively
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