About this Unit
The 63rd Infantry Division (63ID), known as the "Blood and Fire" division, was activated in 1943 during World War II. It was deployed to the European Theater, where it participated in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns, advancing through France and Germany. The 63ID played a significant role in breaching the Siegfried Line and capturing key German towns, contributing to the Allied victory in Europe. After the war, the division was inactivated in 1945 but was later reactivated as part of the Army Reserve, continuing its legacy of service.
Historical Facts
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Origins: The 63rd Infantry Division (63ID) was constituted on 15 June 1942 and activated on 15 June 1943 at Camp Blanding, Florida, as part of the United States Army during World War II.
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Nickname: The division was nicknamed the "Blood and Fire" division, referencing its distinctive shoulder patch—a sword cutting through a flaming red background.
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Combat Debut: The 63rd Infantry Division entered combat in France in January 1945, as part of the Seventh Army's push into the Rhineland.
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Rhineland Campaign: The division participated in the fierce fighting of the Rhineland Campaign, including the crossing of the Siegfried Line and the capture of several German towns.
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Significant Engagement: The 63rd played a key role in crossing the Rhine River and clearing the Black Forest region of Germany, helping to hasten the end of the war in Europe.
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Casualties: During World War II, the division suffered over 1,400 killed in action and more than 6,200 wounded.
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Prisoner Liberation: The 63ID helped liberate several POW camps in Germany, freeing hundreds of Allied prisoners of war towards the end of the conflict.
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Postwar Service: After WWII, the division was inactivated in 1945 but was later reactivated as part of the Army Reserve in 1952, serving in various training and support roles for decades.
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Veteran Recognition: The division's veterans formed the 63rd Infantry Division Association, which holds reunions and preserves the unit's history.
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Legacy: The 63ID's lineage and traditions are carried on by the 63rd Readiness Division, headquartered in Mountain View, California, supporting Army Reserve units throughout the western United States.
