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The 17th Airborne Division was a division in the United States Army during World War II.
It was activated on April 15, 1943 and arrived to Britain in August 1944. It was stationed there from August 25 to December 23, 1944.
From December 23 to December 25, elements of the Division were flown to the Reims area in France in spectacular night flights. These elements closed in at Mourmelon . After taking over the defense of the Meuse River sector from Givet to VerdunVerdun is the name of several communes in France: Verdun, in the Meuse departement site of the Battle of Verdun during World War I. Verdun, in the Ariege departement Also part of the name of: Verdun-en-Lauragais, in the Aude departement Verdun-sur-Garonne, 25 December, the 17th moved to Neufchateau, BelgiumFor alternate meanings, see Belgium (disambiguation). Belgian redirects here. For the horse breed commonly used as a draft horse, see Belgian. The Kingdom of Belgium ( Dutch: Belgi French: Belgique German: Belgien is a country in Western Europe, bordered, then marched through the snow to Morhet , relieving the 28th Infantry Division, 3 January 1945.
The Division entered the ArdennesThe Ardennes is a region of extensive forests and rolling hill country (its highest point is under 700 m), primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France (lending its name to the Ardennes departement and the Champagne-Ardenne region and G campaign, 4 to 9 January, at the Battle of Dead Man's Ridge . It captured several small Belgian towns and entered Flamierge , 7 January, but enemy counterattacks necessitated a withdrawal. However, constant pressure and aggressive patrolling caused the enemy to retreat to the Ourthe River . On 18 January, the Division relieved the 11th Armored Division at HouffalizeHouffalize is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. On January 1st, 2004 Houffalize had a total population of 4,624 (2,330 males and 2,294 females). The total area is 166. 58 kmē which gives a population density of 27. 76 inhabitan, pushed enemy remnants from the Bulge, and seized Wattermal and Espeler , 26 January. Coming under the III Corps, the 17th turned toward Luxembourg, taking Eschweiler and Clervaux and clearing the enemy from the west bank of the Our River . Aggressive patrols crossed the river to probe the Siegfried Line defenses and established a limited bridgehead near Dasburg before being relieved by the 6th Armored Division, 10 February.
A period of reequipment and preparation began. Taking off from marshalling areas in France, the 17th dropped into Westphalia in the vicinity of Wesel, 24 March. Operation Varsity was the first airborne invasion over the Rhine into Germany itself. On the 25th, the Division had secured bridges over the Issel River and had entrenched itself firmly along the Issel Canal . Moving eastward, it captured Haltern , 29 March, and Munster, 2 April. The 17th entered the battle of the Ruhr Pocket , relieving the 79th Infantry Division. It crossed the Rhine-Herne Canal , 6 April, and set up a secure bridgehead for the attack on Essen. The "Pittsburgh of the Ruhr" fell, 10 April, and the industrial cities of Mulheim and Duisburg were cleared in the continuing attack. Military government duties began, 12 April, and active contact with the enemy ceased, 18 April. The Division came under the XXII Corps 24 April. It continued its occupation duties until 15 June 1945 when it returned to France for redeployment.
It was inactivated on September 16, 1945, but reactivated on July 3, 1948.