Map History of the 1st Armored Division

Double sided WWII map of often-overlooked peripheral theaters.

Appropriately, the 1st Armored Division (nicknamed “Old Ironsides”) was the first American armored unit to see combat in WWII, on the banks of North Africa near Oran. This initial action can be seen in a small inset on this map of the Italian and African theaters.

One side, which provides very little actual geographic information, is focused on highlighting a simplified route of the divisions’ maneuvers through Africa between November of 1942 and May of 1943. Dated routes of advance, roads, and enemy lines/counter attacks are identified within the legend; and numbered narratives accompany many of the major events experienced by the 1st Armored.

The opposite side of the sheet uses the same style to illustrate the campaign through central and northern Italy. It also contains a “Box Score” which outlines the statistical achievements of the division through the entirety of the war. This includes prisoners killed/captured (over 100,000) , vehicles destroyed (almost 5,000) , months of combat (30) , miles of pursuit (over 1,000) and a list of the contributing units.