The "Blue Devils" of World War II

The 88th Infantry Division—famously nicknamed the "Blue Devils"—holds a distinctive place in American military history as the first all-selective service (conscripted) division to enter combat during World War II. Activated in late 1942, the division deployed to the Mediterranean Theater in late 1943 and was committed to the brutal Italian Campaign in early 1944. Operating in the rugged Apennine Mountains, the 88th quickly dispelled any doubts about the fighting capabilities of draftee units. They played a crucial role in breaking through the German Gustav and Gothic Lines, capturing key objectives during the liberation of Rome, and driving relentlessly north toward the Po Valley. By the time the war in Europe ended in May 1945, the division had endured 444 days of front-line combat and suffered over 13,000 casualties, earning a reputation among both Allied commanders and Axis adversaries as one of the most elite and aggressive fighting forces in the Italian theater.