The 99th Infantry Division during World War II
In 1985, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the US Army Center of Military History began a program to honor US Army divisions that took part in the Allied liberation of Nazi camps. The US Army Center of Military History defines a liberating division as one whose official records show its presence at a camp within 48 hours of the first soldier’s arrival. The 99th Infantry Division is among the 36 US divisions that have been recognized to date.
Key Facts
-
1
US, British, Soviet, and Canadian troops encountered concentration camps and other sites of Nazi crimes as they advanced across Europe in 1944 and 1945.
-
2
The Allied soldiers liberated sick and starving camp prisoners from Nazi tyranny. They also provided them with food, clothing, and medical aid.
-
3
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the US Army Center of Military History have recognized 36 US divisions for their role in the liberation of Nazi camps.
99th Infantry Division Campaigns during World War II
The 99th Infantry Division was formed in 1942 and deployed overseas in 1944. The "Checkerboard" or "Battle Babies" division landed at the French port of Le Havre and proceeded northeast to Belgium. During the heavy fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, the unit suffered many casualties, yet tenaciously held its defensive position. In March 1945, the 99th advanced into the Rhineland, crossing the Rhine River at Remagen on March 11. After fighting in the Ruhr area, the unit moved southward into Bavaria, where it was located at the end of the war.
The 99th Infantry Division and the Liberation of Dachau Subcamps
On May 3–4, 1945, as the 99th moved deeper into Bavaria, it liberated one of a number of Dachau subcamps near the town of Mühldorf. The unit reported on May 4, that it had "liberated 3 labor camps and 1 concentration camp." The concentration camp was one of the "forest camps" (Waldlager) tied to the Mühldorf camp complex. The 99th Infantry's report stated that 1,500 Jews were "living under terrible conditions and approximately 600 required hospitalization due to starvation and disease."
Recognition as a Liberating Division
The 99th Infantry Division was recognized as a liberating unit by the US Army's Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1992.
99th Infantry Division Battle Casualty Figures
The following are tentative battle casualty figures for the 99th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations:
- Killed: 1,130
- Wounded: 3,954
- Missing: 421
- Captured: 598
- Total battle casualties: 6,103
99th Infantry Division Nickname and Insignia
The 99th Infantry Division gained the nickname the "Checkerboard" division from the division's insignia. The design of the insignia is based on the division's historical connection to Pennsylvania. The 99th was planned to be a Pennsylvania unit. In 1921, it was headquartered in Pittsburgh. The division’s insignia is in the shape of a shield. Across the middle of the shield, there is a blue and white checkerboard of 3 rows and 6 columns. The checkerboard is based on the coat of arms of William Pitt the Elder (1708-1778). Pitt was the British statesman and prime minister for whom Pittsburgh is named. The black background of the patch represents the iron produced in Pennsylvania.
The 99th was also known as the "Battle Babies" during 1945. This moniker was coined by United Press correspondent John McDermott when the division was first mentioned in press reports during the Battle of the Bulge.
Footnotes
-
Footnote reference1.
Casualty figures as of February 2024 according to the US Army Center of Military History
Critical Thinking Questions
What challenges did Allied forces face when they encountered the camps and sites of other atrocities?
What challenges faced survivors of the Holocaust upon liberation?