84th Infantry Division From Activation 15 Oct 42 to V-E Day 9 May 45

Cartographic representation of the WWII campaign of The Railsplitters.

The 84th Infantry Division can trace its heritage back to an Illinois militia company in which a young Captain Abraham Lincoln fought during the Blackhawk War of 1832. The unit’s nickname, The Railsplitters, is a homage to his legacy and the state of Illinois, which hosted the divisional headquarters and contributed numbers of young men to its ranks.

This map shows the WWII campaign of the 84th, from activation in October of 1942 at Campe Howze, Texas to V-E Day in May of 1945, near Brandenburg, Germany. (Note: V-E Day is typically celebrated on May 8th, but because of the time change, the Railsplitters celebrated on May 9th). The main map shows the march from Paris, across the Roer and Rhine, through Hannover, and up to the Elbe, while inset maps depict action along the Siegfried Line and the Battle of the Bulge. A list of contribution units to the division, the Railsplitter insignia, and the tally of prisoners captured are provided in the lower right.

The image was drawn by T/4 George Harvey of the 84th Infantry Division and reproduced by the 663rd Engineer Topographic Company. This particular example was owned by Franklin Koepke, a member of Company D, 20th Battalion. Included with the map are a combat citation, immunization record, customs declarations, I Am A Doughboy, and More.