The rifle companies, of which there were four in a battalion, were more than 250 strong. American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) divisions consisted of two infantry brigades of two regiments each three artillery regiments, two of medium and one of heavier artillery an engineer regiment plus the various housekeeping units of supply, transport (some truck but mostly horse-drawn), medical, sanitation, supply, and signal. They numbered more than 28,000 men and were more than twice the size of those of the other Allies or Central Powers. The first real divisions of America’s armed forces were those sent to France in 1917-1918. The Development of the Modern Army DivisionĪlthough the Civil War armies and the army sent to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines in 1898 had units called divisions, they were mainly infantry or cavalry and lacked the other organic elements that constitute a modern division. These three legs- maneuver, fire support, and logistics-enable a division to conduct sustained combat operations. The last includes motor transport, engineer, maintenance, supply, medical, and communications units. Tanks, for instance, were suited to the plains of Europe but of less use in the steaming jungles of New Guinea.Ī division has been defined as “a major administrative and tactical unit/formation which combines in itself the necessary arms and services for sustained combat, larger than a brigade/regiment and smaller than a corps.” Inherent in such a definition is that a division is a combat unit that contains maneuver elements, infantry, or armor fire support elements, mainly artillery but also tank or antitank units and logistical or service support elements. Although a standard division might be desirable, it was not always viable.

Manning of American divisions even varied as the war progressed, and reorganizations were made to ensure the most efficient use of manpower and to reflect the tactical deployment in the various theaters of the world. The number of men in an American division also varied depending on the type of division, for example, infantry, airborne, light, mechanized, armored, or Marine Corps.

The number of men in Allied and Axis divisions during World War II varied considerably. Not all divisions, however, have been of the same size. The definitive combat unit of comparable strength among the forces of the world during the 20th century was the division.

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