Alexander E. Anderson (December 1942), Maj. Gen. Harris M. Melasky (4 January 1943 – December 1945), Maj. Gen. Paul J. Mueller (January 1946 – April 1946), Maj. Gen. Herman F. Kramer (April 1946 – July 1946), Maj. Gen. Harry F. Hazlett (July 1946 to inactivation) Returned to U.S.: 17 June 1945, from the ETO, "the first combat division to return from the European theater." Overseas: 24 August 1945 Deactivated: 30 December 1946 on Leyte, Philippine Islands Order of battle Headquarters, 86th Infantry Division 341st Infantry Regiment 342d Infantry Regiment 343d Infantry Regiment 86th Infantry Division Artillery Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 331st Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) 332d Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) 404th Field Artillery Battalion (155 mm) 911th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm) 311th Engineer Combat Battalion 311th Medical Battalion 86th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized) Headquarters, Special Troops, 86th Infantry Division Headquarters Company, 86th Infantry Division 786th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company 86th Quartermaster Company 86th Signal Company Military Police Platoon Band 86th Counterintelligence Corps Detachment Combat chronicle In early January 1945, General Dwight D. Eisenhower was alarmed over the swift progress the Germans had made during the waning Battle of the Bulge and was concerned that the Germans could move additional reinforcements to the west from the Eastern Front. He requested additional divisions over and above those already earmarked for the European theater. The 86th and 97th Infantry Divisions, allocated for service in the Pacific, were ordered to the European Theater of Operations instead for the final assault on Germany. The division arrived in France, 4 March 1945, and moved to Cologne, Germany, taking over defensive positions near Weiden, 24 March, in relief of the 8th Infantry Division. After a short period of patrolling on both sides of the Rhine, the division was relieved, and moved across the Rhine to Eibelshausen, Germany, 5 April. In a rapid offensive advance, the 86th moved across the Bigge River, cleared Attendorn, 11 April, and continued on to the Ruhr uniting with the Ninth Army, taking part in the Ruhr pocket fighting. On 21 April, the division moved to Ansbach and continued to advance, taking Eichstätt on the 25th, crossing the Danube at Ingolstadt on the 27th, securing the bridge over the Amper Canal, 29 April, crossing the Isar and reaching Mittel Isar Canal by the end of the month. The division was ordered to take Wasserburg, 1 May, and leading elements had