National Archives and Records Administration

ARC Identifier 2569729 / Local Identifier 111-TV-472

Big Picture: The Seventh Army Story

Today the major American ground force in Europe is the Seventh Army. It is a combat-ready fighting force--with traditions and standards of which it can be proud. In telling its story, THE BIG PICTURE goes back to July 1943, when the Seventh was one of the great armies formed to crack the walls of fortress Europe. Film viewers will see the Seventh born at sea, on the way to its first campaign--the invasion of the not-so-soft underbelly of Europe. Its target-- Sicily. Commanded by General Alexander M. Patch--a soldier who roamed his front lines--the Seventh anticipated the German operation "Northwind" which came on New Year's Eve 1944 and continued for 23 days. Today, in exercises such as WINTERSHIELD in Germany, the Seventh trains with other NATO forces. The training emphasis is on combat readiness, and the training continues in terrain and under weather conditions as rugged as any Seventh Army encountered during World War II. Today this Army stands ready--a pyramid of fighting strength--to resist aggression.

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