We were not able to completely confirm the owner of this uniform, it came as one set to us and has period applied insignia and a faint laundry number. Deserves further research.   The 4th Armoured Division The division was organized as a full Armored Division in May and June 1942 under the command of Major General John Shirley Wood. It left Pine Camp for Camp Forrest for the Tennessee maneuvers in the Cumberland Mountains held in September and October. In mid-November, it was transferred to the Camp Ibis Desert Training Center (DTC) in the California-Arizona maneuver area and was the first Armored Division to occupy Camp Ibis near Needles, California in the Mojave Desert, which was close to the Arizona and Nevada borders. On 3 June, the 4th AD arrived at Camp Bowie, Texas, an armored training center located in central Texas near Brownwood, for more maneuvers until about December when it departed for Camp Myles Standish in Massachusetts for winter training. On 29 December, the 4th AD departed Boston to conduct training in England in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. France After training in England from January to July 1944, the 4th Armored Division landed at Utah Beach, on 11 July, over a month after the initial Normandy landings, and first entered combat on 17 July; on 28 July, battle action as part of the VIII Corps exploitation force for Operation Cobra, the 4th AD secured the Coutances area. The 4th AD then swung south to take Nantes, cutting off the Brittany Peninsula, 12 August 1944. Turning east, it drove swiftly across France north of the Loire, smashed across the Moselle 11–13 September, flanked Nancy and captured Lunéville, 16 September. The 4th AD fought several German panzergrenadier brigades in the Lorraine area including the SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49 and SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 51 at this time, defeating a larger German force through superior tactics and training. After maintaining a defensive line, Chambrey to Xanrey to Hénaménil, from 27 September to 11 October, the 4th AD rested briefly before returning to combat 9 November with an attack in the vicinity of Viviers. The 4th AD cleared Bois de Serres, 12 November, advanced through Dieuze and crossed the Saar River, 21–22 November, to establish and expand bridgehead and took Singling and Bining, then Baerendorf 24 November, before being relieved 8 December. The 4th Armored Division received the following unit awards from France: Croix de Guerre with Palm (27–29 July 1944), Croix de Guerre with Palm (12–29 September 1944), and French Fourragere in the colors of the Croix de Guerre. Battle of the Bulge Two days after the Germans launched their Ardennes Offensive, the 4th AD entered the fight (18 December 1944), racing northwest into Belgium, covering 150 miles in 19 hours. The 4th AD, spearheading Patton’s Third Army, attacked the Germans at Bastogne and, on 26 December, was the first unit (Company C, 37th Tank Battalion led the 4th Armored Division column that relieved Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge)[8] to break through at Bastogne and relieve the besieged 101st Airborne Division. Six weeks later the 4th AD jumped off from Luxembourg City in an eastward plunge that carried it across the Moselle River at Trier, south, and east to Worms, and across the Rhine, 24–25 March 1945. Advancing all night, the 4th AD crossed the Main River the next day, south of Hanau, and continued to push on. Lauterbach fell 29 March, Creuzburg across the Werra on 1 April, Gotha on 4 April – where the 4th AD liberated Ohrdruf concentration camp, the first Nazi camp liberated by U.S. troops.[9] By 12 April the 4th AD was across the Saale River. Pursuit of the enemy continued, and by 6 May the division had crossed into Czechoslovakia and established a bridgehead across the Otava River at Strakonice, with forwarding elements at Písek. The 4th AD was reassigned to the XII Corps on 30 April 1945. The 4th AD received the following Letter of Commendation: To: Maj. Gen. Hugh J. Gaffey The outstanding celerity of your movement and the unremitting, vicious and skillful manner in which you pushed the attack, terminating at the end of four days and nights of incessant battle in the relief of Bastogne, constitutes one of the finest chapters in the glorious history of the United States Army. You and the officers and men of your command are hereby commended for a superior performance. Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., Commander, Third U.S. Army The 4th AD’s second commander, Major General John Shirley Wood, (known as “P” Wood to his contemporaries, the “P” standing for “Professor”, and “Tiger Jack” to his men) who took over the division officially on 18 June 1942, trained the 4th Armored Division for two years before he personally led it into combat in France, on 28 July 1944, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. On 1 August, Gen. George Patton’s U.S. Third Army became operational and the 4th AD became the spearhead of the Third Army. The British military armor theorist and historian, Capt. Basil Henry Liddell Hart, once referred to General Wood as “the Rommel of the American armored forces.” Like Rommel, Wood commanded from the front, and preferred staying on the offensive, using speed and envelopment tactics to confuse the enemy. General Wood often utilized a light Piper Cub liaison aircraft flown by his personal pilot, Maj. Charles “Bazooka Charlie” Carpenter, to keep up with his rapidly moving division, sometimes personally carrying corps orders from headquarters directly to his advancing armored columns. On 3 December 1944, General Wood was relieved as division commander. The division was then led by Major General Hugh Gaffey through the Battle of the Bulge until March 23, when Brigadier General William M. Hoge was awarded command. Major General Fay B. Prickett commanded during the occupation period. Major General Archibald R. Kennedy commanded the division after the war. Among the most famous members of the 4th AD during World War II was…

  1) Patches including two 81st Divisional Shoulder Sleeve Patches, Corporal Chevrons, Infantry Specialty Patch, Gold Overseas Strip and finally a Red Discharge Stripe. 2) Studio portrait of Kenneth D. Eastman 3) Buttons cut from his uniform as well as his cap device 4) Collar Disk including two Crossed Rifles Infantry Disk, USNA and US Collar Disks and 321 Infantry G Disk. 5) Dog Tags Named to Kenneth D. Eastman 6) Medals including Victory medal with two bars Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector. Oregon State Victory Medal, Brotherhood of Fireman & Enginemen Medal for Service in the World War, Expert Rifleman Badge and lastly his Discharge lapel Button. The 81st Division was organized as a division of the United States Army in August 1917 during World War I at Camp Jackson, South Carolina. The division was originally organized with a small cadre of Regular Army, in addition to Officers Reserve Corps and National Army officers, while the soldiers were predominantly Selective Service men drawn from the southeastern states of Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. During October 1918, most of the enlisted men were transferred to other units, but additional drafts from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee replenished the strength of the division. After finishing training, the 81st Division, commanded by Major General Charles Justin Bailey, deployed to Europe, arriving on the Western Front in August 1918. Elements of the 81st Division first saw limited action by defending the St. Dié sector in September and early October. After relief of mission, the 81st Division was attached to the American First Army in preparation for the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. In the last days of World War I, the 81st Division attacked a portion of the German Army’s defensive line on 9 November 1918, and remained engaged in combat operations until the Armistice with Germany at 1100 hours on 11 November 1918. The division sustained 461 casualties on the last day, 66 of them killed. After the cessation of hostilities, the 81st Division remained in France until May 1919; after which the division was shipped back to the United States and inactivated on 11 June 1919.

Soldbuch issued in January 1942 with a training unit. To, Karl zötl born in 1921 in Munich Germany, worked as a hair dresser before the war, of catholic denomination. Frontlien Unit: Grenadier Regiment 690 Grenadier Regiment 688 ( Machine Gun Company) The 337th Infantry Division (German: 337. Infanterie-Division) was a German Army infantry division in World War II. It was formed on 16 November 1940 in Kempten. The division was destroyed on the Eastern front in July 1944 and formed the staff and core personnel of Divisionsgruppe 337 on 7 August 1944 which later was the basis of the 337th Volksgrenadier-Division.   Issued Field Rations Iron, Camo Uniform, New Tog Tag, as well as diverse winter kit. Karl was hit with Grenade Shrapnel in the face left eye and nose and lost his left leg, , it seems this would knock him out of the war completely – for which he was also upgraded awarded the Wounds Badge in Silver and the Iron Cross Second Class.

Baublitz served with the 83rd Infantry Division, he was wounded in Normandy in July 1944 by a Pistol bullet in the leg, he rejoined his unit and was wounded once again in December n the Ardennes with  grenade splinters.   Enlistment Name Harry P Baublitz Race White Marital Status Single, without dependents (Single) Rank Private Birth Year 1919 Nativity State or Country Pennsylvania Citizenship Citizen Education Grammar school Civil Occupation Unskilled occupations in manufacture of furniture, n.e.c. Enlistment Date 30 Sep 1942 Enlistment Place Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Service Number 33241471 Branch Branch Immaterial – Warrant Officers, USA Component Selectees (Enlisted Men) Source Civil Life Height 68 Weight 119 Hospital Entry Record  Name Harry P Baublitz Race White, includes Mexican (White) Rank Enlisted Man Admission Age 25 Birth Date abt 1919 Admission Date Jul 1944 Discharge Date Aug 1944 Military Branch Infantry, General or Unspecified Diagnosis FirstLocation: Leg; SecondDiagnosis: Cellulitis; SecondLocation: Leg; ; CausativeAgent: Bullet, Pistol or Revolver Type of Injury Casualty, battle Medical Treatment Removal of foreign bodies from extremity Injured in Line of Duty In line of duty Type of Discharge Duty Length of Service 1 Year(s), 9, 10 OR 11 MONTHS Month(s) Service Number 33241471 Hospital Entry Record  Name Harry P Baublitz Race White, includes Mexican (White) Rank Enlisted Man Admission Age 25 Birth Date abt 1919 Admission Date Dec 1944 Discharge Date Jan 1945 Military Branch Infantry, General or Unspecified Diagnosis FirstLocation: Buttock and hip; SecondLocation: Arm; ; CausativeAgent: Artillery Shell, Fragments, Afoot or unspecified Type of Injury Casualty, battle Medical Treatment Closure of wound, delayed (suture, secondary to wound) (delayed closure) Injured in Line of Duty In line of duty Type of Discharge Duty Length of Service 2 Year(s), 5 Month(s) Service Number 33241471 The 83d Infantry Division arrived in England on 16 April 1944. After training in Wales, the Division landed at Omaha Beach, 18 June 1944, and entered the hedgerow struggle south of Carentan, 27 June. Taking the offensive, the 83d reached the St. Lo-Periers Road, 25 July, and advanced 8 miles against strong opposition as the Normandy campaign ended. After a period of training, elements of the Division took Chateauneuf, 5 August, and Dinard, 7 August, and approached the heavily fortified area protecting St. Malo. Intense fighting reduced enemy strong points and a combined attack against the Citadel Fortress of St. Servan caused its surrender, 17 August. While elements moved south to protect the north bank of the Loire River, the main body of the Division concentrated south of Rennes for patrolling and reconnaissance activities. Elements reduced the garrison at Ile de Cezembre, which surrendered, 2 September. The movement into Luxembourg was completed on 25 September. Taking Remich on the 28th and patrolling defensively along the Moselle, the 83d resisted counterattacks and advanced to Siegfried Line defenses across the Sauer after capturing Grevenmacher and Echternach, 7 October. As the initial movement in operation “Unicorn,” the Division took Le Stromberg Hill in the vicinity of Basse Konz against strong opposition, 5 November, and beat off counterattacks. Moving to the Hurtgen Forest, the 83d thrust forward from Gressenich to the west bank of the Roer. It entered the Battle of the Bulge, 27 December, striking at Rochefort and reducing the enemy salient in a bitter struggle. The Division moved back to Belgium and Holland for rehabilitation and training, 22 January 1945. On 1 March, the 83d advanced toward the Rhine in the operation “Grenade,” and captured Neuss. The west bank of the Rhine from North of Oberkassell to the Erft Canal was cleared and defensive positions established by 2 March and the Division renewed its training. The 83d crossed the Rhine south of Wesel, 29 March, and advanced across the Munster Plain to the Weser, crossing it at Bodenwerder. As opposition disintegrated, Halle fell on 6 April. The Division crossed the Leine, 8 April, and attacked to the east, pushing over the Harz Mountain region and advancing to the Elbe at Barby. That city was taken on the 13th. The 83d established a bridgehead over the river but evacuated the area to the Russians on 6 May 1945.   Last two photo for reference only from the web.