European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 26, 1950, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes sunday i 1950 Back on duty is the red and Gold 7stepped triangular Patch of the 7th three divisions of the 6th army under it Gen Jacob followed by seven French spearheaded Between Cannes and Toulon the second Landing in South of France Normandy forces had been rejoined by the allies on Britain wartime Premier Winston Churchill was against the invasion of Southern but Gen Dwight Eisenhower overruled carrying the attack to German forces on the East Bank of the Rhine the 7th army crossed under an artificial fog rain and overcast during the Early blurs of March 7th army carrying 75mm Rolls Down the Rhine photo in in april troops of the 7th army 44th div were advancing in the sweep towards the Brenner pass for the linkup with units of the both army in after Clearing out enemy resistance in the tyrolean Here they Cross a the Alps in the photo 7th to list i Patt Keyes Are units past commanders by Arthur notes staff correspondent you glorious men of the 7th our efforts and exploits Are not unrecognized in our to you who have done the 1 Send my deepest and most patriotic this was the final wartime order of the Day issued to the 7th it was issued on May two Days after be by it Gen Alexander Patch and brought to a close 22 months of combat the under Gen George made the first Allied Landing on enemy held Europe when it stormed ashore on Sicily with the British 8th conquered the Island and so Shook the italian government that Musso Lini toppled from his position of the 7th under Patton showed the same Confidence and morale that was later evidenced in his More publicized command of the 3d great divisions served in army Patch took command of the 7th following the Sicily Campaign and led the army in its successful assault on Southern France on when As part of the 6th army under it Gen Jacob it swept ashore Between Marseille and Nice in an Effort to Force a Junction with the and British troops driving South from some of the great combat units of the War have served under the 7th the Sicily Campaign was fought by the 3d and 45th inf dive and the 2d army and 82d an the at the time of the Southern France was composed of the i which included the 3d and 36th inf dive and the 1st an task Force the French army which included a ii corps made up of the 1st div blinded and smaller French units and army units including the 1st special service the French group of and the French naval assault French 1st army on South flank French units remained with the 7th until late in when the original objectives of the Southern France invasion had been then the French units were reformed As the French 1st commanded by Gen Jean de latter de and fought on the Southern flank of the 7th in the drive into As the 7th pushed North across the Rhone River to Lyon and Dijon it was reinforced with additional it reached its greatest strength in the last Days of the War As it pushed South from Germany into the austrian the Honor Roll of combat divisions with the 7th along with the 45th and 36th inf dive and the 2d army and 82d an dive the 100th and 103d inf dive the 101st an div and the 6th and 13th army these units served either under the Xiv or xxi on 7th army he in received a message which interrupted a four month period of comparative inactivity since the end of the sicilian Cam Gen George was a lieutenant general when he commanded the 7th in the Success Fol invasion of it was a Telegram from Allied Force he an estimate is required As a matter of urgency As to the accommodations which you would re quire for your planning staffs should you be asked to undertake the planning of an operation of a similar size to husky husky had been the code name Given the sicilian invasion and the 7th he knew that again they were to be called upon for a major con since the capture of Mes Sina on 17 which terminated the Battle of the 7th had been reduced from a tactical Force to a Headquarters with a Skeleton Force of Only a few remaining service As the preparations for the invasion of Italy were being most 7th army units had been Given to the 5th while other units had been sent to England where they were undergoing training for the contemplated Cros Schannel in planning begins for invasion soon the first Allied Force he message was followed by general direction and objectives under the code name a target Date had been set for a in Vasion of the Southern coast of in conjunction with the overlord invasion of Northern Anvil was to establish a Mediterranean Bridgehead and sub sequently to exploit toward Lyon and the forces to be involved were to be both and although strength or proportion was not yet Patton was relieved from com Mand of the 7th As of 1 for a Short time before Patch assumed Gen Mark 5th army held the com Mand of the Patton went to England to take Over the 3d on March Patch took Active command of the he was at the time a newcomer to the euro pea african theater of operations but was Well known for his Guadal canal Campaign in the More recently he had commanded the in corps on training duties in the Little opposition made to landings the Southern France invasion was tied in with the Cros Schannel inva Sion arid As dates to the North were they had to be changed in the on april 12 word was received that the Anvil operation would not be launched before late the plans were held up still further with the italian invasion demanding most supplies and the name of the operation was changed to the landings in Southern France famous in for South Frame a invasion were made with Little and the 7th faced its first Phi Battle on the  the Vosges from Berviller South to two weeks in warfare Ujj practically Static As supplies brought up and planning but then the 7th broke through gateways into the Alsace Byj of the Belfort arid Saverne Gap the vineyards and forests Longfe Moselle the 240mm artist that was shelling positions in f Many Sank deeper and deeper the German withdrawal forced in Vosges the 7th worked closely i tic French 1st army in the Camp to liberate the on Pmj the French 1st launched an Sive which turned the Geri flank in the Vosges and Force general withdrawal in front of 7th which was towns of Ger Ardmer and trolled the passes to the the germans attempted to if the corridor extended by the it forces in their drive to the Kuji North of repulsed by the 7th in a Tail then the 7th pushed nog Westward through Hagenau j into Germany in the Vicinity a where the Sieg ii defences North of that town w penetrated to considerable depot Battle of bulge j changes picture then it was the Date germans launched the von ref Stedt counteroffensive in the Dennes although this a Iii was hundreds of Miles above 7th army it had a effect on the Progress of the u All available supplies Airpower were diverted to Theofel pressed 1st Pattai 3d army was ordered to make i famous March North to relieve when the 3d Pulle Diu troops the 7th had to draw its units from Germany Toi to a paper thin line which extent Over some of the old 3d Aisi the although an intensive attack to the took advantage of the thin line in the South and attempted i counteroffensive to m i 4 it Gen Alexander cd of the 7th army f of the landings in Sou to the end of the Saverne the German Given was to army forces in to secure a juncture Man 19th the copied an 84mile Rhine to a Point a of Saa Brucken Ancl the Rhine North and the enemy fury of its drive at area from Blies Brul but the div Nordwind Strasbourg Hel on sheaf Ore it Gen Geoffrey Keyes needed Patch As 7th army Mander and was with it was deactivated on March Keyes was later Ufa command0 As the Battle of the and the 7th continue defensive lines alow the army found strength to be Suffy everywhere on a str was necessary to pre Pate successive Renej various blur artillery fire and reserves into could limit the area the 6th army i flaws in the 7th and Retreat from a Alsace appeared Devers Strasbourg would the withdrawal and i manding pay no attention political or to hold Stra Souil Devers was still sheaf changed it recognize of the French orders were change drawl to mag inc the Low Vosges Rhine and to Hole i Are captured the germans attack across the late but Tensive area and a in 7th army steer attack to fail gained the initiative for the rest of the task facing the 7th out its front and in of departure for a the 7th began a which regained the eluding land wit along the Siegfr by the end of i As Well As the 31 were the intent of Clearing and by the Middle army had breach line and Captur Neinkirchen and 7th moved across