It's not just maps that motivate my creative impulses, I also dabble in "info-graphics".... The unique organization of the 2d AD and 3d AD make them a rich source of challenging discovery. Beside their "heavy" armored division T/O and their odd re-organization in Normandy --where tank battalions consisting of two medium tank companies and one light tank company were established-- the constant changes in the composition of the Combat Commands and task forces have lead to many errors in the printed material. One must be extra careful when reading any account of their combat record. Since I sorted out the assignment of tank companies in the tank battalions, I have read a number of unit reports and veteran accounts to verify my "work". This often required sorting out the composition of Combat Commands and task forces which were also unevenly documented and had many gaps. Unfortunately I cannot resolve all issues, particularly those of the support units of engineers and medical. These units just don't get enough mentions to verify their location and assignment. The attached graphic only covers the major combat elements of the Combat Commands and task forces formed by the 3d AD starting 18 December 1944. (I like to "click" the SAVE button on the Attachment Viewer, which opens the file in a separate tab/window, then I can flip back and forth as I read the posts) The graphic illustrates the evolution of the Task Forces from the time the 3d AD received the order to move south to their early commitment to battle. While not clear from the many texts, the graphic shows the orderly dividing of each command into three or two -- generally equal -- parts. The 3d AD had two Combat Command HQ's (A and B) plus they could hold a division reserve though they had no formal HQ for it. With only orders to make three forces and move south, they sensibly made each with two tank, one infantry and one field artillery battalion(s) -- left side of the chart. Upon reaching their area of operations they further divided to accomplish their orders given the terrain and enemy situation (which was generally unknown) -- middle column. With the battle joined the task forces were further modified as reserves were switched to recover from defeats or fill-in the gaps -- right side of chart. Organic and Assigned Units of the 3d AD (my best guess) HHC, 3d Armored Division Service Company, 3d Armored Division -- Military Police Platoon, 3d Armored Division HQ Det, Combat Command A HQ Det, Combat Command B 36th Armored Infantry Regiment 32d Armored Regiment 33d Armored Regiment 83d Armored Reconnaissance Battalion 23d Armored Engineer Battalion 143d Armored Signal Company HQ Det, 3d Armored Division Artillery Command 391st Armored Field Artillery Battalion 67th Armored Field Artillery Battalion 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion HHC, 3d Armored Division Trains Ordnance Maintenance Battalion Quartermaster Supply Battalion 45th Armored Medical Battalion
I wanted to include this report from a US Army "field" historian. These were US Army officers who may have been academic historians or journalists before the war. From this sample it is hard to say if they got any different information than a unit after-action report. http://home.earthlink.net/~crcorbin/Orr.html sketch map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Ardennes/maps/USA-E-Ardennes-3.jpg
Personal stories for the 3d AD in the Ardennes that I found interesting: CCR in Hotton http://home.earthlink.net/~crcorbin/Hotton.html "Task Force Brewster" http://www.battleofthebulgememories.be/fr/stories/us-army/563-what-really-happened-belle-haie-belgium.html Closing the Bulge NCO's story http://home.earthlink.net/~crcorbin/Cullen1.html Officer's story http://home.earthlink.net/~3adspearhead/Stallings1.html
US 3rd Armored Division websites of note: http://3ad.com/ Veteran Interviews: (Vimeo Channel) Photos: http://www.soldiersmuseum.com/pages/ww2/shreck-gallery/ https://www.facebook.com/3ADduringWW2 https://www.facebook.com/pages/3rd-Armored-Division/38138170876