105th ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION


30th Infantry Division
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History of the 105th Engineer Combat Battalion:
This is only a brief history of the 105th. For additional material on the 30th Division visit our bibliography page. There aren't any books specifically devoted to the 105th ECB, but you can see how engineers operated in WWII by checking out the recommended selections.

The 30th Division landed at Omaha Beach, France on 10 June 1944. With them came their Divisional Engineers, the 105th Engineer Combat Battalion. The Engineer's duties were to clear mine fields, establish bridgeheads, and rig demolitions, often fighting as infantry. Anything to speed up the Ally's armies and slow down the Germans as the Allys advanced across Europe.

The 30th Division, supported by the 105th ECB, was involved in some of the most important battles in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). They fought in Operation Cobra, the drive to St. Lo, and the relief of the 1st Infantry Division near Mortain on 6 August 1944. The 30th further distinguished itself at Avranches and on into Belgium and the Bulge, crossing the Meuse River on 11 September 1944.

Following more heavy fighting in the Warden and Lohn sectors and holding against two well organized German counterattacks, the Division moved on to the Roer River. In response to the German Ardennes counteroffensive, the Division was rushed to the Malmedy-Stavelot sector on 17 December 1944. It held at Stavelot as the 105th destroyed the Ambleve River bridge. Clearing the sector north of the Ambleve between Stavelot and Trois Ponts, the 30th Division launched its offensive towards Malmedy with great success.

Halting only to regroup in preparation for the Roer River offensive, the 30th Division assaulted across the Roer River on 23 February 1945. Again with the engineer's support, the 30th made the crossing with three regiments abreast on 24 March 1945, linking up with the British 1st Commando. Fighting through the heavily wooded terrain the Division reached the Elbe River on 13 April 1945. After pushing past stiff defensive German positions in the Magdeburg sector, the Division made contact with the Soviet Army on 5 May 1945 and continued occupation duties until the end of hostilities was declared on 7 May 1945.

Spending over 200 days in combat, the 105th Engineer Combat Battalion brought honor and true meaning to its motto "Ever Dependable."

This page shows how the Army was structured during WWII as well as the chain of command and rank insignia.

Various statistics about WWII soldiers, production, and losses.


Member of the World War II Historical Re-enactment Society
HRS