What are some military units who served with distinction during WWII?
2 Answers
American Units that served with distinction in World War 2.
Explanation:
5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) (Merrill's Marauders)
Probably the only American ground forces fighting in Burma/China Theater of Operations. It was eventually disbanded and replaced.
101st Airborne Division, "Screaming Eagles" was part of D-Day, Market Garden and Bastogne.
82nd Airborne Division, was part of Sicily landing, D-Day, Market Garden, The Battle of the Bulge.
442 Infantry Regiment Highly decorated Japanese American unit. Fought in Italy.
First Special Service Force, a Canadian/American Unit. Fought very well in Italy. It was disbanded in Southern France in late 1944.
1st, 9th, 34th, 36th, 45th Infantry Divisions all spent long excellent service in Europe during the World War 2.
I've missed many particularly in the Pacific. These are all Infantry outfits and there was Air, Navy and Armored Units that did excellent service.
The question has changed a bit with the American part now missing so we can go on with more allied units.
Explanation:
The Polish Army had particular difficultly during the war being defeated at the beginning and those that were captured by the Soviets were sent to the Gulag, many of their officers were killed and then the ranks were shipped to the west through Iraq after Hitler attacked Russia. Many others made their way separately to England.
When they got their chance to fight the Germans they made the best of it. The Polish RAF 303 Fighter Squadron had the highest numbers of enemy planes shot down of the Hurricanes but also the best kills to loss ratio.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._303_Polish_Fighter_Squadron
The Poles fought in North Africa, Italy, and North West Europe. Notably at Casino in Italy.
Many Commonwealth Units served well. The Canadian Navy eventually took over all Naval escorting duties in the North Atlantic.
The 1st Canadian Corps fought well in Sicily, Italy and North West Europe. The Canadian Army had a Beach on D-Day and liberated Holland and much of the Atlantic coast of France and Belgium.
The 1st Canadian Parachute Regiment was part of the British Paratroopers who landed on D-Day. To the Canadians also fell the task of the "Raid" on Dieppe.
The New Zealand Division was well respected in North Africa and Italy.
The Free French Troops including Colonial troops fought well in North Africa, Italy and North West Europe. Notably they did very well at Bir Hakim during the disastrous Gazala Battle.
The South Africans fought in many parts of Africa, North Africa, and Italy.
The 5th Indian division fought well in Ethiopia, North Africa and against the Japanese in Burma.
Australians fought in North Africa and against the Japanese and much prejudice from British troops.
In Russia the Guards name had to be earned. The Guards units including Air force units tended to be more aggressive than others. The Soviet Air Force Guards Units made the German Air Force rather more cautious about attacking Soviet formations since they good record of shooting down Germans.
https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Little-Secrets-World-War/dp/0688122884
