History of the 34th Infantry Division 1940s
History of a great old U.S. Army Unit, the Red Bull, the 34th Infantry division from the mid-west states of America. Shows the combat training under live fire conditions in the United States, on a troop transport ship on the way overseas, and more training in Ireland.
The Tunisian Campaign was the first combat for the 34th in WWII. Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa. Night scenes of soldiers loading into landing crafts, night naval bombardment, landing craft racing toward the beach, and hitting the beach as the fronts of the landing barges drop. Soldiers running in shallow water onto the beach. The 34th moves toward Tunis with tank support. Scenes from inside a tank as tank crew fires gun.
The Germans mounted a counter-attack at Sbeitla and push through Kasserine Pass with a 3-prong attack. Scene of Rommel the German General known as The Desert Fox sitting in a Scout car. The German advance was stopped and the 34th advanced toward Tunis. Shows the battle for Hill 609 guarding the passage to Tunis and its deep water ports. Shows surrender of German troops with hands raised.
After North Africa the U.S. Army 34th Infantry Division became part of the invasion force that hits the beach in Italy and the start of the Italian Campaign. Shows carnage on the beach and as the 34th push inland across the Volturno River battling the weather and the enemy. Shows the battle for Cassino and the bombing of the Cassino Monastery.
The 34th, after a short rest, moves to the Anzio beachhead and became part of the forces fighting from one village after another toward Rome. Shows wounded American and enemy soldiers. Shows the 34th Infantry Division entering Rome to the cheers of the Italian people. The drive and fighting continues north.
Shows General Clark speaking to and presenting the Presidential Citation to the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, the first all Japanese American Nisei military unit also known as the Purple Heart Battalion.
Shows the long winter holding action in the Italian Campaign. Winter scenes of men in the snow and trucks and jeeps skidding on icy roads. The Italian Campaign continued for the 34th until the entire 34th German Division surrendered intact to the 34th American Division. Victory in Italy followed and the war for the Red Bull Division was over.
Shows the United States family of medals for heroism and the history of each me