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What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:58 pm
by KG Erwin
This one is easy for me, personally. The most highly-decorated and legendary division in the entire US military establishment is the 1st Marine Division , "The Old Breed" as they were called in WWII. They served at Guadalcanal, New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa in that war, then in Korea, Vietnam and both Gulf Wars, with countless other actions in between those major engagements.
In every SPWaW USMC long campaign I play, I put names of units and commanders of the Old Breed into my core force. It adds to the immersion level, and when a historic figure falls , you feel remorse that a promising career was cut short--conversely, it is encouraging when one of the posthumous MOH winners somehow survives the conflict under your command.
This is my favorite division, and any other division of any other nation would be hard put to match their record.
What do you guys think?
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 1:09 am
by BruceAZ
In the Pacific its gotta be the 1st Marines [&o] and in the ETO, 82nd Airborne. [X(]
Recon
Semper Fi
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 4:39 am
by historyis
Since I am Canadian, I have to pick the 3rd Canadian Infantry with their Caen do attitude.

RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 5:07 am
by Paranormalix
Finnish "Jalkaväkirykmentti 7" "JR 7" (7th Infantry regiment) It did well in WWII and is now posted just few miles from where I live. I also served my military service there. Well, its not called JR 7 anymoore but anyway...
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 5:46 am
by KG Erwin
OK, let me stir up some controversy with my second-favorite division of all time. That would be the 2nd SS "Das Reich" Panzer Division. Its members earned 72 Knights Crosses during the course of WWII, more than any other SS Division. Its units fought mostly against the Americans and Russians, but its combat record was stained by some war-time atrocities. These blemishes make them a very distant second to my first choice.
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 5:49 am
by Goblin
101st AB Division! No explanation needed!
I also would have to add the 28th Infantry, because they are PA boys, and really held up the Germans at The Bulge.
Goblin
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 5:51 am
by M4Jess
you from mod? [8|]
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 5:57 am
by KG Erwin
ORIGINAL: Goblin
101st AB Division! No explanation needed!
I also would have to add the 28th Infantry, because they are PA boys, and really held up the Germans at The Bulge.
Goblin
Yes, my friend--I fully understand that choice--I'd place the "Screaming Eagles" at the top of the US Army's division list in WWII for best trained and motivated.
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 6:32 am
by Orzel Bialy
ORIGINAL: M4Jess
you from mod? [8|]
LOL...Jess made a funny. All the same I'd have to second that! [:'(]
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 9:41 am
by Wuotan
I am only able to speak for the german divisions: 16. ID (mot.)/"Windhund"-(Greyhound)-Division.... members have seen the "Kaspische Meer" (casparian sea?) and raided the railway to Astrachan... it was reborn as "116. Panzerdivision".
But, with my lack of knowledge about all those soviet/japanese/allied... divisions, this may be a "weak" choice...!
Greetings!
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 2:10 pm
by plloyd
The US 89th Infantry. They liked to put captured German vehicles back into service for their own use. Being the sort who has "special" PC projects and loves Monster Garage type shows, I can very much appreciate a band who referbs panzers for themselves.
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 2:41 pm
by m10bob
U.S. Army,29th I.D.(Omaha Beach,1st wave,St Lo,Cherbourg,Operation Cobra,Le Mans,Paris,Aachen,Rhineland),in constant combat every day,ETO and one of the highest attrition rates of any U.S. Division).
NG units from Va,Md and Pa...
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 3:12 pm
by Hexed Gamer
Can't really offer a specific division.
I am going to put in my vote for the FSSF (Devil's Brigade).
But...
The German HG and GD often gave a good account of themselves.
I would like to hear what you guys would say were the better Russian units.
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 3:57 pm
by Poopyhead
The "Big Red One". I was assigned to the 1st ID when I was stationed in Wuerzburg.
As for Russian units, I think that the Guards and Shock units were Veterans that had distinguished themselves in battle. None of the unit numbers come to mind since we have totally neglected the incredible sacrifices of the Russians in all of our history books. I have some books at home that I will check.
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 5:03 pm
by pappasmurf
4th Armored the Breakthrough Divsion. No german panzer unit was able to stop it. It was patton's lead divsion and when it cut a path into bastonge the defenders had more tanks in side the city than the releives did but couldn't get thier head sout of the noose. The unit was also home to the greatest American tanker of allo time Creighton Abrams.
2nd Armored Divsion (Hell on Wheels) St. Lo Brigade because I am alumini withthe unit.
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 9:32 pm
by TomBell
[:)]They were all pretty awesome. I can't say which is favorite because all of them, allies and axis alike, had some fine moments and then again they had some very bad ones.

RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 10:40 pm
by BruceAZ
ORIGINAL: Goblin
101st AB Division! No explanation needed!
I also would have to add the 28th Infantry, because they are PA boys, and really held up the Germans at The Bulge.
Goblin
What was the movie quote: "The 101st is a good division Captain but keep your hands on your wallet at all time." (Or something like that...[:D])
Recon
Semper
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 3:45 pm
by BryanMelvin
I would say the US 82nd "All American" was pretty good too [;)]
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 3:59 pm
by historyis
ORIGINAL: BruceAZ
What was the movie quote: "The 101st is a good division Captain but keep your hands on your wallet at all time." (Or something like that...[:D])
Recon
Semper
The quote was from A Bridge Too Far about the 82nd
RE: What is your Favorite WWII Division, and Why?
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:53 pm
by KG Erwin
ORIGINAL: historyis
ORIGINAL: BruceAZ
What was the movie quote: "The 101st is a good division Captain but keep your hands on your wallet at all time." (Or something like that...[:D])
Recon
Semper
The quote was from A Bridge Too Far about the 82nd
That quote was attributed to John Gavin, CO of the 82nd (played by Ryan O'Neal in "A Bridge Too Far")