Three regiments of the 66th Infantry Division arrived in Dorchester, England on 26 November 1944, and the rest of the Division joined them on 12 December 1944. They trained and prepared for deployment until 24 December 1944, then transferred to Southampton before crossing the English Channel to Cherbourg, France. Two transport vessels,
SS Cheshire and the Belgian
Leopoldville carried the 66th across the English Channel. However, only 5 miles from the port of Cherbourg, the
Leopoldville was torpedoed by a German U-Boat and sunk, taking the lives of 14 officers and 748 enlisted soldiers. The U.S. Navy later announced the sinking of the
Leopoldville to be the second-largest loss of life from the sinking of a troop transport ship in the entire European Theater. Primarily involved with destroying the German troops left behind in port cities in western France such as
Lorient,
St. Nazaire,
Royan and
La Rochelle following the retreat during the summer of 1944, the 66th Infantry Division relieved the
94th Infantry Division of control of the Brittany-Loire area on 29 December 1944, and collaborated with French forces as well. The 66th carried out its objective by harassing German installations, conducting limited objective attacks, and running reconnaissance missions to gather intelligence. The use of artillery shelling many German positions also played a major part in the advancement of the 66th through the region. Notably, a heavy German attack near La Croix was repulsed on 16 April 1945 and several strongly fortified enemy positions were taken from 19 to 29 April 1945 in a series of counterattacks. The remaining German soldiers surrendered to 66th Infantry Division officers and French officials in a small cafe near Cordemais on 8 May 1945. Ordered to change to an occupation-oriented mission on 14 May 1945, the 66th made a 700-mile trek into Germany where the Black Panthers occupied 2,400 square miles of territory and the city of
Koblenz. As a security force, the division was charged with establishment of a military government and control of all German affairs. Tasks included the discharge of prisoners of war, inventorying of ammunition and supplies, and organizing civilians. After spending time in Germany, the 66th returned to the French coast to aid with the allied withdrawal from the European Theater. During this time, the composition of the division was changed by the beginning of the inactivation process, until it returned to the U.S. and was formally inactivated, sailing for home 27 October 1945.
Order of battle The division consisted of these units: • Headquarters, 66th Infantry Division • 262d Infantry Regiment • 263d Infantry Regiment • 264th Infantry Regiment • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 66th Infantry Division Artillery • 721st Field Artillery Battalion (155 mm) • 870th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) • 871st Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) • 872d Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) • 266th Engineer Combat Battalion • 366th Medical Battalion • 66th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized) • Headquarters, Special Troops, 66th Infantry Division • Headquarters Company, 66th Infantry Division • 766th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company • 66th Quartermaster Company • 566th Signal Company • Military Police Platoon • Band •
66th Counterintelligence Corps Detachment The 422d and 423d Infantry Regiments (from the 106th Infantry Division) were attached to the division from 15 April to 15 May 1945.
Casualties •
Total battle casualties: 1,452 •
Killed in action: 795 (Includes
SS Léopoldville disaster) •
Wounded in action: 636 •
Prisoner of war: 21 ==Assignments in European Theater of Operations==