Before World War II, the divisions of the U.S. Army, including those that would comprise the 103rd Infantry Division, were organized in a “square” design. This square organization meant that each division had four infantry regiments, which were the foundations of each infantry division. The reason the Army chose to organize its divisions in this fashion from World War I to just before World War II is that it allowed for the division to be easily separated into two brigades that consisted of two infantry regiments respectively. The term square division organization literally came from the way in which a division would look on paper when it was separated and it had two brigades each containing two infantry regiments, thus forming the “square.” This is demonstrated in the illustration below, which highlights an average Infantry Division’s construction in 1921.

With the world of warfare changing in the months leading up to the United States being thrust into World War II, American military leaders recognized that the divisional organization of the United States Army had to change to survive and thrive in the age of high mobility warfare. To do so, the Army experimented with and adopted the “triangular” division structure after a series of war games held in 1939 and 1940 proved the effectiveness of this new method of organization. Under the new triangular method of organization, the number of infantry regiments in the division was reduced from four to three. This allowed for all of the regiments to be controlled under one brigade, or by the division commander. The consolidation of command under one authority led to better organization and coordination between the infantry regiments. The triangular structure also helped when additional units or support units were folded into the ranks to provide additional firepower or men to achieve certain objectives. Finally, this newer method of divisional organization meant that the divisions individual infantry regiments were better manned. It also allowed for the formation of more infantry divisions as World War II progressed and the Army had to continuously build and replenish new units to fight. The illustration below shows how the 103rd Infantry Division was organized during World War II.

In the “triangular” organizational chart for the 103rd Infantry Division, symbols denote each different unit in the division. The black “X” on the blue background represents the various infantry units. The red square with a large black dot in the middle symbolizes the artillery units. The red flag that has what looks like an “M” or a capital “E” on its side signifies the medical battalion of the division. A white cross on a purple field is the designation of the engineer battalion. Under “Special Troops” there are a few additional symbols. The box that has the diagonal line over a circle with a field of red and white is representative of the signal company. Immediately to the right of the signal company symbol is a box with a solid gold circle and a flame coming out the top. This is meant to symbolize the ordnance company. On the next level down, there is a “Q” with a light blue background, and this is symbolic of the quartermaster company. To the right of that is a lightning-bolt line one a yellow field, signifying the reconnaissance platoon. The next row down has the letters “HQ” set against a dark blue background, designating the headquarters unit of the division. To the right of this is a box with the white letters “MP” on a green backdrop to represent the military police platoon. Finally, the last symbol is a white musical note set against a dark blue field, which symbolizes the 103rd Infantry Division's band.

Along with the infantry units that were the foundation of the new triangular organization that became the standard for the U.S. Army during World War II, there was a litany of support units that played crucial roles for the infantrymen on the frontlines. Among these support units were medical battalions, artillery batteries, signals units, and others. From caring for the wounded, to the engineers who helped to navigate both man-made and natural obstacles, to the supply soldiers who kept the troops fed and armed, the soldiers of the support units were essential to helping keep their respective divisions on the move. These support units also provided valuable additional manpower when reinforcements or replacements were not available, and the need for riflemen was critical for the infantry units on the front. One other important, if oftentimes overlooked, job of some support soldiers was to boost the morale of the soldiers of their respective divisions. To help with this, the 103rd Infantry Division, along with many other divisions, had a band that would travel behind and sometimes close to the front to provide musical entertainment for the soldiers of the division. This welcome reprieve from the horrors of combat was oftentimes celebrated by the men of the division and served as a connection to their lives and loved ones back home.

If you would like to learn about the specific units of the 103rd Infantry Division, please click on the links below.