In 1944, the 4th Armored Division played a central role in one of the more remarkable campaigns in American military history-Third Army's pursuit across France, which was capped off by the encirclement and capture of Nancy. In the course of this campaign, the 4th Armored Division practiced a mode of warfare that has since become known to the Army as AirLand Battle. Inasmuch as the encircle ment of Nancy is one of the few historical examples that shows American mechanized forces waging war in accordance with the tenets of AirLand Battle, anyone seeking a deeper appreciation of today's doctrine would do well to study this campaign carefully. The 4th Armored Division in the Encirclement of Nancy originated at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College as an introductory class for a course on modern division-level operations. It is a companion piece to The Lorraine Campaign: An Overview, September-December 1944, published in February 1985.

Paths of Armor, first published in 1950, is the account of the historic 5th Armored Division from the time of its formation in October 1941, until the end of the World War II in May 1945. Included in this kindle edition are more than 100 pages of photographs and maps. Because of the secrecy of its missions and the speed at which it moved, the Division was also known as "Patton's Ghosts" (the division was part of Patton's Third Army), and because of its many successes, as the "Victory Division." Following training in the U.S., the Division transferred to England, and landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on July 24, 1944. Then followed months of combat as the Division moved across northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and into Germany. In December 1944, the Division took part in the fierce fighting in the Hurtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge.