About this Unit
The 106th Infantry Division, known as the "Golden Lion Division," was activated in March 1943 during World War II. It deployed to Europe in late 1944 and entered combat during the Battle of the Bulge, where two of its regiments were encircled and forced to surrender in December 1944, marking one of the largest American mass surrenders of the war. Despite this setback, the remaining units of the division regrouped and continued to fight through the final months of the European campaign. The division was inactivated in October 1945 after returning to the United States.
Historical Facts
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Activated in 1943: The 106th Infantry Division, nicknamed the "Golden Lion Division," was activated on March 15, 1943, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
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Late Arrival to Europe: The division arrived in Europe during late 1944, just in time for the Battle of the Bulge, making it one of the last U.S. divisions deployed overseas in World War II.
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Inexperienced Yet Deployed: Many of the division's soldiers were replacements with little combat experience, as seasoned troops had been transferred to other units before deployment.
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Battle of the Bulge Disaster: During the opening days of the Battle of the Bulge (December 16–19, 1944), two of the division’s three regiments (the 422nd and 423rd) were surrounded and forced to surrender, resulting in one of the largest mass surrenders of U.S. forces in World War II.
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Over 6,000 Captured: Approximately 6,000 soldiers from the division were captured, making up the largest single loss of an entire division in U.S. Army history.
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Resilience and Recovery: Despite these losses, the remaining elements of the division regrouped, absorbed replacements, and continued to fight through the Ardennes and into Germany.
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Heroic Actions: Several members of the 106th performed acts of extraordinary heroism, including Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Riggs, who led a breakout from encirclement and was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
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Surviving the Siegfried Line: After reorganization, the division participated in breaching the Siegfried Line and captured several German towns in early 1945.
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POW Experiences: The division’s captured soldiers endured harsh conditions in German POW camps, with many stories of survival, escape, and resilience later published in memoirs and documentaries.
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Memorial and Legacy: The 106th Infantry Division Association, formed by veterans, actively preserves the division’s history, and memorials to the Golden Lions exist in Belgium and the United States.
