The Louisiana Maneuvers and Military Museum
The famous maneuver exercises of 1940 and 1941 did mush to prepare the US Army for its inevitable involvement in World War II. The 35th Engineers participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers of 1941. This exercise invoved more than 400,00 troops and was the largest training event conducted by the army until that time. The Louisiana Maneuvers Museum, located at Camp Beauregard, LA, is dedicated to maintaining the history of the maneuvers. The photos below are courtesy of the staff of the museum.
35th Engineer (Combat) Battalion
Northern France - Rhineland - Ardennes/Alsace - Central Europe
The blue denim work uniform was commonly worn by soldiers during the maneuvers.
The maneuvers tested many new war-fighting concepts and saw the end of the famed horse cavalry.
The threat. The German army conducted similar exercises in the 1930s, prior to the onset of the war.
The large-scale use of armored units was tested during the maneuvers.
The maneuvers covered much of the state of Louisiana and extended into Texas.
Camps such as Camp Beauregard were vital centers of mobilization as the army grew rapidly in the years just prior to the war.
Pictured here are some of the common weapons and equipment used by soldiers in World War II.
The M1917A1, .30 caliber machine gun.
Engineers construct a pontoon bridge on the Red River during the maneuvers of 1940.
Civilian cars encounter light tanks during the maneuvers of 1940.
A soldier practices for a chemical attack during the Louisiana Maneuvers.
