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April 1945, the 17th Fuselier Battalion in Kassel. |
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| June 1945, the 17th Fuselier Battalion in Nürnberg |
THE 17TH FUSELIER BATTALION
1945 - 1946
SHORT HISTORY
The 17th Fuselier Battalion was raised at Péruwelz, Belgium, on January 15th 1945.
On March 3rd
1945 the 17th Fuselier Battalion is assigned to the 1st US Army,
and comes under the operational command of the 3rd Tank Destroyer
Group of the 5th US Army Corps.
The battalion enters Germany on March 11th 1945, and on March 25th 1945, the Rhine is crossed at Hönningen.
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April 1945, the 17th Fuselier Battalion in Kassel. |
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| June 1945, the 17th Fuselier Battalion in Nürnberg |
On April 28th
the 17th Fuselier Battalion reaches Leipzig, and is transferred
to the 3rd US Army,
together with the 5th US Army Corps.
On May 5th
1945 the battalion captures the entire Staff of the 9th German
Luftwaffe Army,
in the woods near Bayreuth.
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May 8th 1945, liberation of Pilsen, Czechoslavakia. |
The 17th
Fuselier Battalion reaches the Czech border on May 8th 1945
and advances into the city of Pilsen, where it helps to liberate
the city.
During the
whole campaign in Germany elements of the 17th Fuselier Battalion
reinforced
the 16th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad APO 230 US Army.
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Above
: standard donated by the town of Péruwelz, Belgium |
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Letter
of congratulations, signed by Major HAZARD, |
On July 11th
1945 the battalion is transferred to the 21st Army Group,
and returns to Belgium where it arrives at Leopoldsburg on July
13th 1945.
From now on,
the 17th Fuselier Battalion mainly guards POL depots and lines of
communications in Belgium,
until its disbandment on March 31st 1946.
Commanding
officers ;
Major HAZARD
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Commanding Officer Major HAZARD |
FORMATION BADGES
Initially the battalion wore the formaton badge of the US Tank Destroyer Groups.
After the liberation of Pilsen the battalion created its own formation badge.
The "Perron"
of the city of Liège, symbol of liberty, flanked by 2 tank
destroyers,
under the "perron" a black capital "V" from
Victory, and the colours of Czechoslovakia white-blue-red.
The whole in a yellow circle with black border.
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Formation Badge of the 17th Fuselier Battalion |
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Formation
Badge of the US Tank Destroyer Groups |
Other model |
Beginning 1946 a breast pocket badge was made and worn.
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Breast Pocket badge of the 17th Fuselier Battalion |
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Lapel badge worn on civilian clothing |
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Smaller Lapel Badge, metal colour |
