introduction

Activated in April 1941, the 4th Armored Division entered combat on 17 July 1944 as part of General George Patton's Third Army. From its early involvement in Operation "Cobra," the breakout from the Normandy Bridgehead, it was clear that the division was well trained and well motivated, and it would go on to become one of Patton's elite units.

Perhaps the division's finest hour was during and after the Ardennes campaign. After a 19-hour, 150-mile march through Belgium, the 4th Armored Division relieved Bastogne, the focus of German attacks. Following the Battle of the Bulge, the 4th Armored Division struck east chasing the enemy over the Mosel, Rhine, Main, Werra, and Saale rivers, ending the war in Czechoslovakia.

A brief bit about the author, George Forty: "George Forty OBE spent 30 years as a British army officer in the Royal Tank Regiment before becoming curator of the Bovington Tank Museum, where he was the inspiration for its growth in the 1980s and 1990s. His first book was on the Desert Rats (with whom he served postwar) and was published by Ian Allan Publishing in 1976; since then he has written over 50 more, including Patton's Third Army at War and handbooks of the World War II armies of Britain, Japan, and the United States."

Review

This 128-page soft cover book takes a close look at the make-up, operations, and performance of the 4th Armored Division at the head of battle. It focuses on the portions of war that most narrative histories omit; the logistics and supply lines, communications, battlefield terrain, and command and control. Included are a brief history of the unit, its theater of operations, and the combat situations it faced when first spearheading Patton’s Third Army in its race across France, then leading the attack to relieve the embattled 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne, and finally into the heart of the Reich itself, crossing into Czechoslovakia by VE Day. The book covers every aspect of the 4th Armored Division's role in the war, from training and strategic planning to engineering and execution. It is abundantly illustrated with photographs, tables, organizational diagrams, and tactical and individual unit markings. It is a very detailed account of the "real deal" behind the actions of the 4th Armored Division in World War II.

The book is broken down into seven main chapters:

Origins & History - covers the roll of armor, their activation, the camps they trained at, and their final preparations for war.

Ready For War - covers their organizational make-up and equipment they had.

In Action - their initial combat, Operation "Cobra," the Brittany ports, the "gallop across France," and the actions in Germany and finally into Czechoslovakia.

Insignia, Clothing, & Equipment- briefly covers the divisional patch, coats-of-arms, vehicle camouflage, vehicle markings, clothing, and the equipment used by the various 4th Armored Division units (Armor, Infantry, Artillery, and Cavalry).

The People - discusses the divisional commanders and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.

Assessment - covers the 4th Armored Division's opinion of itself and why along with a French and German viewpoint of the division.

Conclusion

A very detailed look at the 4th Armored Division during WWII, from their activation in 1941 to the end of the war in Czechoslovakia. This book is an exceptional reference to the history of the 4th Armored Division in WWII.