City of Rokycany

Czech Republic

2^nd Infantry Division Memorial

"Indian Head"

8 May 2008

Museum of the Demarcation Line

http://www.klub-vm.eu/

Military Museum Army of the Czech Republic

Rokycany, Czech Republic

As part of the build up for Operation Overlord Normandy invasion, the 2^nd Infantry Division was transferred from Fort Sam Houston Texas to Ireland in October 1943.

On June 7, 1944, D Day +1, the division stormed ashore at bloody Omaha Beach, while other units of the invading forces were stalled by the determined German resistance, the Indianhead’s blasted through the hedgerows of Normandy.

After a fierce, 39-day battle, the 2^nd Infantry Division took the vital port city of Brest, which was liberated on September 18, 1944, from positions around St. Vith, Belgium, and throughout the battle of the Bulge, the 2^nd Infantry Division held fast preventing the enemy from seizing key roads leading to the cities of Liege and Antwerp.

Resuming the offensive on Feb. 6, 1945, the 2^nd Infantry Division joined the race to annihilate the fleeing Wehrmacht. The 2^nd Infantry Division transferred from the First Army to that of General George Patton’s Third Army, the Indianhead’s would spend their last days of World War II in a dash into Czechoslovakia.

May 1 – May 3 1945, the 2^nd Infantry Division moved into positions along the German-Czechoslovakia border near Schonsee and Waldmunchen to where they would relieve the 97^th and 99^th Infantry Division

On May 4, 1945 the 2^nd Infantry Division crossed over into Czechoslovakia and attacked in the direction of Pilsen to where they would meet up with the Russian Red Army at the Demarcation Line located outside the town of Rokycany.

Pilsen and Rokycany became a meeting point between invading armies from the east the Soviet Red Army and the American and allied armies from the west.

It was in Pilsen and Rokycany that the soldiers of the 2^nd Infantry Division first met the Soviet Red Army who represented the forces of Communism that they would face so often in the future, as adversaries.

Major General, Walter Melville Robertson

June 15th, 1888 - November 22nd, 1954

Line of Demarcation Russian sector (left) American sector (right)

Czech War veterans from Československá Obec Legionářská, Czech Veterans Association and Society of the Fifth Infantry Division, US Army placing a wreath.

Line of Demarcation 1945

(Left) Soviet Red Army (right) American army sector

(Right) Hal Hedges, Veterans of Foreign Wars (white blazer)

Next in the middle the Minister of Justice, Mr. Pospíšil

Veterans from Ceskoslovenska Obec Legionarska

Czech Veterans Association

On May 6, 1945, at the very end of World War II, Pilsen was liberated from Nazi Germany by General Patton's 3rd Army in the liberation of the city were elements of the 16^th Armored Division, 97th Infantry and 2nd Infantry Divisions with other units that made up Patton’s Third Army that liberated major portions of Western Bohemia.

Memorial 2^nd Infantry Division

Pilsen

The rest of Czechoslovakia was liberated from German control by the Soviet Red Army. Elements of Third Army remained in Pilsen until late November 1945 assisting the Czechs with re-building from the war. After seizing power in 1948, the Communists undertook a systematic campaign to suppress all acknowledgement of the U.S. Army's role in liberating the cities of Western Bohemia.

Major General, Walter Melville Robertson

Commander, 2nd Infantry Division "Indian Head" U.S.Army

Major General, Walter Melville Robertson was presented the Distinguished Service Cross by the President of the United states for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while Commanding the 2d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 17 December 1944, in Belgium.

Distinguished Service Cross

Upon the initial thrusts of a full-scale German counter offensive that threatened the right flank of his division, Major General Robertson, was fully aware of the urgency of the situation, personally assumed command of the defense of a vital road junction to delay the enemy long enough for his troops to take up defensive positions.

Within an hour the first hostile tanks appeared 600 yards away and were immediately taken under fire on Major General Robertson's orders. Braving intense artillery and direct tank fire, he remained in complete observation of the enemy to supervise the disposition of his troops and to direct the fire of his own tanks and tank destroyers. After two hours of vicious fighting, many German tanks and vehicles were destroyed and the armored thrust in this sector was thwarted.

As reinforcements arrived, Major General Robertson proceeded immediately to a second critical area where another salient was threatening two villages along the main route of the enemy advance.

He organized troops from his own command and stragglers from elements overrun by the powerful attack and, for a period of seven hours, heroically led them in deterring the advance. Constantly exposed to intense fire from tanks, machine guns and small arms, Major General Robertson, by his personal direction and his calm and collected demeanor, successfully rallied his men to hold their ground tenaciously.

His presence among the foremost elements of his command, his exemplary courage and his self-assurance were primarily responsible for knitting the scattered troops into a cohesive fighting force and checking the forward drive of the enemy spearhead.

Major-General Walter M. Robertson was also awarded the Bronze Star for his gallant leadership, personal bravery spirited defense in front of Elsenborn Ridge during the Battle of the Bulge and his zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 2d Infantry Division, and the United States Army

Bronze Star

Society of the Fifth Division, US Army

(Left) Miroslav Kraus, Associate Life member

(Right) G. J. Toole, Life Member

US Army Ambassador, Freedom Team Salute

US Army Ambassador, Freedom Team Salute presenting mail- in cards to Major Craig Normand, US Embassy, Prague

US Army representatives American Embassy, Prague (Center)

(Bottom Right) Hal Hedges, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Col. Husinec (Left end of table)

Czech War Veterans

SSG Peter Bláha (Left) Col. Husinec (middle) G.J. Toole, SOTFDUSA Freedom Team Salute Army Ambassador (Right)

(Left) Hal Hedges, VFW, Col. Husinec (middle) SSG. Peter Bláha (right)

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