Mailed Fist

Formed in 1940, the British 6th Armoured Division was in the thick of the action in North Africa from December 1942 in the climactic encounters with the Deutsches Afrika Korps. It received its baptism of fire in the battles after Operation 'Torch', the Anglo-American amphibious landings. Following Rommel's bloody defeat of the Americans at the Kasserine Pass in February 1943, 6th Armoured Division stabilized the Allied front line and pushed the Germans back into the path of the advancing Eighth Army. The division went on to take the surrender of Rommel's famous 90th Light Division and participated in the round up and capitulation of all Axis forces in North Africa in May 1943. Joining Allied forces in Italy for the great Operation 'Diadem' attack in May 1944, 6th Armoured Division took part in the fourth battle of Cassino. The division played a key role in the mighty River Po offensive of April 1945, which brought about the rapid collapse and surrender of all Axis forces in Italy. Combining eye witness accounts, unit war diaries and unpublished sources, this is the first history of this distinguished division, composed of battalions from several of the British Army's most famous regiments.