   the 69th infantry division was a formation of the united states army formed during world war ii. it is distinct from the 69th infantry regiment (new york)(the "fighting 69th"). the shoulder sleeve insignia of the division was designed by its then commander maj. gen. charles l. bolte with the red, white and blue being the colours of the united states forming a "6" and a "9".http://www.wartimepress.com/archives.asp?tid=038%2069th%20infantry%20division&mid=infantry%20divisions&q=368&fid=89 ==world war ii== *activated: 15 may 1943. *overseas: december 1944. *campaigns: rhineland, central europe *days of combat: 86. *awards: ** distinguished service cross-1 ** distinguished service medal (army)-1 ** ss-105 ** lm-3 ** soldier's medal-12 ** bsm-2,253 ** am-33. *commanders: **maj. gen. charles l. bolte (may 1943 â september 1944), **maj. gen. emil f. reinhardt (september 1944 â august 1945), **brig. gen. robert v. maraist (august 1945 to inactivation). *returned to u.s.: 13 september 1945. *inactivated: 16 september 1945. ==combat chronicle ==  the 69th infantry division arrived in england, 12 december 1944, where it continued its training. it landed in le havre, france, 24 january 1945, and moved to belgium to relieve the 99th division, 12 february, and hold defensive positions in the siegfried line. the division went over to the attack, 27 february, capturing the high ridge east of prether to facilitate use of the hellenthal-hollerath highway. in a rapid advance to the east, the 69th took schmidtheim and dalhem, 7 march. the period from 9 to 21 march was spent in mopping up activities and training. the division resumed its forward movement to the west bank of the rhine, crossing the river and capturing the fortress of ehrenbreitstein, 27 march. it relieved the 80th division in kassel, 5 april, seized hannoversch mÃ¼nden on the 8th and weissenfels on the 14th against sharp opposition, and captured leipzig, 19 april, following a fierce struggle within the city. eilenburg fell, 23 april, and the eas
Infantry_divisions_of_the_United_States_Army Military_units_and_formations_disestablished_in_1945 Military_units_and_formations_established_in_1943 United_States_Army_divisions_during_World_War_II