The 30th Infantry Division consisted of the existing National Guard units from the states of North and South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee at the beginning of WWII. During WWII, the 30th Infantry Division served in Europe with distinction, and was designated the #1 infantry division in the European Theater by General Eisenhower's chief historian, Colonel S.L.A. Marshall.
Although the 30th Infantry Division was not involved in the actual invasion of Normandy, they served valiantly at St. Lo and Mortain, France and were the first infantry division to enter Belgium and The Netherlands. The 30th was also instrumental in breaching the Siegfried Line in October 1944, with the capture of Aachen, Germany, the first large German city taken by the Allies in WWII.
The 30th made a rapid advance around the north side of the Ruhr industrial pocket, capturing Brunswick and finally seizing Magdeburg on the Elbe River on 17 April 1945.
Here, the 30th Infantry Division met the Russians and remained in occupation of Magdeburg throughout the month of May, when the Russians claimed permanent occupation, per agreement with the Americans. This was the end of the war for the 30th Infantry Division.
After a brief occupation of an area on the Czech border, the 30th were ordered to return to the United States for deployment to the Pacific. However, enroute to the U.S.A., the war in the Pacific ended with the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan and the 30th returned to Ft. Jackson, SC, where it had originated. The unit deactivated on 25 November 1945.
The 30th infantry Division was proudly called "Old Hickory" after Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States.
Although the 30th Infantry Division was not involved in the actual invasion of Normandy, they served valiantly at St. Lo and Mortain, France and were the first infantry division to enter Belgium and The Netherlands. The 30th was also instrumental in breaching the Siegfried Line in October 1944, with the capture of Aachen, Germany, the first large German city taken by the Allies in WWII.
The 30th made a rapid advance around the north side of the Ruhr industrial pocket, capturing Brunswick and finally seizing Magdeburg on the Elbe River on 17 April 1945.
Here, the 30th Infantry Division met the Russians and remained in occupation of Magdeburg throughout the month of May, when the Russians claimed permanent occupation, per agreement with the Americans. This was the end of the war for the 30th Infantry Division.
After a brief occupation of an area on the Czech border, the 30th were ordered to return to the United States for deployment to the Pacific. However, enroute to the U.S.A., the war in the Pacific ended with the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan and the 30th returned to Ft. Jackson, SC, where it had originated. The unit deactivated on 25 November 1945.
The 30th infantry Division was proudly called "Old Hickory" after Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States.