69th Infantry Division Pictorial History

“Recorded on these pages is a review of the accomplishments of this Division, of its preparation to fight and its fight against Germany.”

The quote above, attributed to Major General E.F. Reinhardt, can be found in the forward dated July 20, 1945 – just over a month after V-E Day proclaimed Germany’s final defeat. The following pages provide a textual and photographic summary of the campaign of the Fighting 69th Division across the European Theater.

Activation, training in England, attacking the Siegfried Line, crossing the Rhine, the Battle for Leipzig and more are covered in intimate detail. A list of the division’s fallen soldiers, decorations, and attached units can be found in the back, reflecting the volume’s dedication to comrades lost during the war. “To those then, who Sleep and those who bear the scars of WAR, we dedicate this, the history of the “Fighting 69th Infantry Division.”

The book is also accompanied by a folding pictorial map (separated) that vibrantly illustrates the highlights of the campaign from disembarkation to linking up with the Red Army. Numerous vignettes show a variety of interesting, and often humorous, scenes that reflect the direct experiences of the division’s soldiers.