| 69th Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
 Shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | 1943 – 1945 1954 – 1956 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname | "Fighting Sixty-Ninth" |
| Engagements | |
The69th Infantry Division, nicknamed the "fighting 69th,"[1][2] was aDivision of theUnited States Army formed during World War II. It is distinct from the69th Infantry Regiment (New York) (the "Fighting 69th").
Theshoulder sleeve insignia of the division was designed by its then commander Maj. Gen. Charles L. Bolte with the red, white, and blue being the colors of theUnited States forming a "6" and a "9".[3]
| US Infantry Divisions | ||||
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The 69th Infantry Division arrived in England, on 12 December 1944, where it continued its training.
It landed inLe Havre, France, on 24 January 1945, and moved to Belgium to relieve the99th Division, on 12 February, and hold defensive positions in theSiegfried Line. The division went over to the attack, on 27 February, capturing the high ridge east ofPrether to facilitate use of theHellenthal-Hollerath Highway.
In a rapid advance to the east, the 69th tookSchmidtheim andDahlem, 7 March. The period from 9 to 21 March was spent in mopping up activities and training. The division resumed its forward movement to the west bank of the Rhine, crossing the river and capturing the fortress ofEhrenbreitstein, on 27 March.
It relieved the80th Division inKassel, 7 April, seizedHannoversch Münden on the 8th andWeissenfels on the 14th against sharp opposition, and capturedLeipzig, 19 April, following a fierce struggle within the city.Eilenburg fell, 23 April, and the east bank of theMulde River was secured.
Two days later, division patrols in the area between the Elbe and the Mulde Rivers contacted elements of the Soviet5th Guards Army at Strehla, in the vicinity ofRiesa and again atTorgau onElbe Day. UntilVE-day, the 69th patrolled and policed its area. Occupation duties were given to the division until it left for home and inactivation on 7 September.
In 1954 the 69th Division was reactivated underMajor GeneralCornelius E. Ryan as atraining division atFort Dix, New Jersey replacing the9th Infantry Division that was sent to Europe. the 69th was deactivated in March 1956.[5] The shoulder patch of the 69th was worn by the actors playing soldiers onThe Phil Silvers Show.
