The story
On February 14 the Rainbow received its orders to move into the front lines and relieve the 45th Infantry Division in an area near Wimmenau and Wingen in the Hardt Mountains northwest of Haguenau. Two days later the Division began its move into the lines and it was completed without incident. At midnight on February 17 the command of the sector passed to Major General Harry J. Collins and the Rainbow Division began its first day of combat as a unit in World War II.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.