WW II Second Army Maneuvers in Louisiana, 1941

The invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 demonstrated the effectiveness of Blitzkreig tactics and accelerated the mechanization of the U.S. Army. The first extensive mechanized maneuvers were held in 1940 followed by similar large-scale maneuvers in Louisiana in 1941 held September 15-20 and September 24-28. Over 350,000 U. S. soldiers and 50,000 U. S. Army vehicles took part in the greatest mock battle in U. S. history to that time.

Among may other units, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment participated with the Second Armored Division in the maneuvers in Louisiana, September 1941. In this photo, horses with the 2nd Cavalry are going into the woods with a new armored M3 Scout Car in the foreground. This scene took place near the end of the transition of the U.S. Military from horses to mechanized vehicles.

Today in WW II: 17 Sep 1939 Soviet troops invade Poland from the east. More ↓

17 Sep 1944 Thousands of Allied planes begin airborne assault on Holland, Operation Market Garden.
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