The Battle History of the First Armored Division: "Old Ironsides"

by George F. Howe

1954 Hardbound

471 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1986

About the author

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Reviews

[Gary Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding summary of the 1st Armored Division from birth (July 1940) to the end of World War II (1946). After a brief introduction to the formation and pre-War training, the book spends almost two hundred pages recounting the division's exploits in North Africa. These pages (pgs. 24-251) were my favorite part of the book; detailed with great stories from each of the division's regiments (1st and 13th Armored Regiments, 6th Armored Infantry Regiment, and the 47th Field Artillerty Regiment) and combat commands [predecessors to the modern ABCT].

The second half of the book (pgs. 252-438) covers the division's campaign in Italy from Anzio to Northern Italy. Unfortunately, this half of the book doesn't have the same depth of details, which leads to more of a listing of dates and facts and less storytelling as compared to the first half of the book about North Africa.

This is a must read for anyone interested in the history of the 1st Armored Division, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 13th Cavalry Regiment, 6th Infantry Regiment, and 47th Field Artillery Regiments.