Book Description

Black Hawks Across the Danube, first published in 1954, is an account, based on the author's service in the Division and official Army records, of the formation and deployment of the 86th Infantry Division during World War II. The 86th Division, known as the Black Hawks, was notable for a number of reasons: 1. The 86th Division was the first allied division to cross the Danube River; 2. The 86th Division captured some 53,354 German soldiers; 3. The Black Hawks conquered over 220 miles of enemy territory in the Ruhr Pocket and in Bavaria and Austria; 4. The division liberated over 200,000 allied prisoners of war, including over 110,000 in one camp near Moosburg; 5. The Black Hawks made several important river crossings, with amphibious assaults of the Danube, Bigge, Altmühl, Isar, Mittel-Isar, Inn, and Salzach; 6. The Division Served in actual combat with four different American armies (the only Division to set this record on the western front); 7. Later the Black Hawks became the first division to serve in both the European and Pacific theaters of operation (only one other division actually served in the Pacific after European duty). Author Richard Briggs was an infantryman in the 86th Division for over two years, including its service in the Philippines following the European campaign. Included are 15 pages of maps and photographs.