A Brief History
The 30th Infantry Division was nicknamed “Old Hickory” in honor of Andrew Jackson. It’s emblem is an oval monogram OH for Old Hickory. Inside the OH are the Roman numerals XXX in Royal Blue that stand for 30. Originally the patch was worn horizontally, but it was fixed in the mid 1920s.
The Division was first formed from National Guard units from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee in October of 1917.
Events of World War II
Maj. Gen. Leland S. Hobbs
The 30th Infantry Division was activated on September 16th, 1940 in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. They arrived in England on February 22, 1944 and trained until June. They arrived in France on June 14th. The first elements entered combat on June 15th and the entire division was there by July 15th. The commanding general for the 30th was Major General Leland S. Hobbs.
The unit arrived on Omaha Beach and their first mission was to secure the the Vire-et-Taute Canal, which they did. The north bank was clear by June 17th. They crossed the Vire River on July 7th and continued as far as St. Jean-de-Day.
Beginning on July 25th the 30th Division spearheaded the attack on St. Lo. There were 10,000 men killed, but they took the city and it is known as one of the most memorable actions of the war.
Beginning on July 25th the 30th Division spearheaded the attack on St. Lo. There were 10,000 men killed, but they took the city and it is known as one of the most memorable actions of the war.
August 19, 1944
Heavy weapons Co. 2nd Bn.
120th Inf., 30th. Div.
Their next major obstacle began on the 6th of August. They relieved the 1st Infantry Division near Mortain. They were attacked by five German armored divisions. The Germans were trying to split the Allied First and Third armies with a drive to the sea at Avranches. At first, they were so hard-pressed that the whole 30th Division was thrown into action. They finally broke the enemy spearhead after a week of violent struggle. The battle lasted from August 7th-12th.
They took the city of Reuilly also in August and soon after crossed the Seine River.
The 30th went east through Belgium and crossed the Meuse River at Vise and Liege. They crossed on September 10th and entered Holland on the 12th. Maastricht fell on September 13th.
The 30th went east through Belgium and crossed the Meuse River at Vise and Liege. They crossed on September 10th and entered Holland on the 12th. Maastricht fell on September 13th.
30th Infantry Division-
November 5, 1944
The 30th attacked the Siegfried Line on October 2 and a breach was made on October 3rd. They were successful and made contact with the 1st Division on October 16th and they completed the encirclement of Aachen. The 30th Division was solely responsible for the XIX Corps' role in the encirclement. Except for the 30th and the 2nd Armored Division, all the rest of General Corlett's forces were concerned with the north flank west of the West Wall. Aachen was a major city for the Nazis. It, at one time, was the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, and the birthplace of Charlemagne. In time, the city had become important to German nationalism and the secular part of the universal church. German nationalism had become the religion of National Socialism. To strike at Aachen was to strike at the Nazi faith.
After the Siegfried Line was breached, the 30th had a rest period until November 16th when they took out an enemy salient northeast of Aachen. They pushed to the Inde River at Altdorf on November 28th and then moved to rest areas.
After the Siegfried Line was breached, the 30th had a rest period until November 16th when they took out an enemy salient northeast of Aachen. They pushed to the Inde River at Altdorf on November 28th and then moved to rest areas.
They proceeded into Germany and when Von-Runstedt attempted his breakthrough on December 17, 1944, the 30th was rushed to the area of Malmedy-Stavelot-Stoumont. They helped block the enemy drive in the Battle of the Ardennes. After the fighting there, the Germans gave the 30th the nickname, “Roosevelt’s SS Troops.” The 30th was also known as the "Workhorse of the Western Front."
They launched a counteroffensive on January 13, 1945 and made it 2 miles south of St. Vith by January 26th. They then left the Battle of the Bulge, moved to Lierneux on the 27th, and then to another assembly area near Aachen to prepare for the Roer offensive.
Feb 23, 1945. Platoon of GIs crossing the Roer River.
The 30th Infantry Division crossed the Roer River on February 23, 1945, near Julich. They were moved back for training and rest on March 6th. On March 24th, they crossed the Rhine River and were one of the first divisions to break out from the bridgehead. The 30th led the dash to encircle the Ruhr, which was successful in trapping thousands of Germans.
The 30th cleaned up small pockets of resistance across Germany. They took Hamelin on April 7th, Braunscheweig on April 12th, and helped to reduce Madgeburg on April 17th. They were stationed in Madgeburg, Germany at the end of the war. They arrived home on August 21, 1945 at the New York Port of Embarkation. They were sent to train at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, until their deactivation date, November 25, 1945.