WWII Stimson Inspects 2nd Armored, July 1945

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This photo was taken 20 July 1945, near Berlin, Germany. Secretary of War Henry Stimson and other dignitaries from the U.S. are riding in the lead M3 halftrack conducting an inspection of the 2nd Armored Division. The tanks are M4 Shermans with M2 .50 cal. machine guns on top of the turret.

In April 1945, in the last weeks of the Second World War in Europe, the 2nd Armored Division was part of the Ninth US Army that reached the Elbe River where it halted, under orders, as the war came to a close. On 3 July, under control of Seventh US Army, the Division marched 100 miles to Berlin, where it became the major unit for occupation of the U.S. zone in the former enemy capital city.

2nd Armored Division provided guards for the President and his party at Potsdam, during the Big Three Conference there in July 1945. The standing review pictured on this page took place during the Potsdam conference. The Division's combat vehicles and personnel were aligned on the Autobahn in the outskirts of Berlin. In addition to Secretary of War Stimson,, they were reviewed by President Truman, Prime Minister Churchill, the Chiefs of Staff, Field Marshal Montgomery, Sir Harold Alexander, the French, British and Russian commanders in Berlin, and General Patton, their former commander. This was General Patton's last appearance with the Division, before his accidental death in December 1945.

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