The 8th Armored Division was activated on April 1, 1942, like many Armored Divisions, at Fort Knox Kentucky. The primary mission of the 8th Armored when they were activated was to train the thousands of soldiers entering the fast growing armored forces preparing to head for Europe. The 8th Armored also had the honor of being the official guardian for the United States gold reserve.

In early 1943, the Division was relieved of its training mission and ordered to prepare themselves for overseas movement. The Division entered an intense training cycle that took them from Fort Knowx to Camp Campbell and on to numerous other sites for a wide variety of training missions. By September 1944, the Division was ready for deployment and headed for their embarkation points in New York and New Jersey.

The 8th Armored arrived in the European Theater of Operations in November of 1944 and immediately set about a final training program designed to familiarize the Division with what they could expect to encounter across the channel on the European mainland. Two months later, the 8th Armored left England and landed in France on January 5, 1945.

On January 22, the Division was ordered forward to support the 94th Infantry Division as they drove the Germans back across the Saar river. 1 week later, the 8th Armored was ordered to join the 9th Army in Holland to support their drive for the Rhine River.

February found the 8th Armored in support of the 35th Infantry Division and the 84th Infantry Division in their drive to the east. Against stiff resistance, the 8th Armored captured several key towns and road junctions. One month later, on March 26, the 8th Armored crossed the Rhine river. In early April, the Division spearheaded an attack west into the Ruhr pocket that destroyed several German division who had been holding out and preparing a counter-offensive.

The 8th Armored was then placed in support of the XIX Corps who were pushing towards the Elbe River. The Division was moved to the east and encountered heavy opposition from the 11 Panzer Army near the Harz mountains. After several days of fierce fighting, the 11th Panzer could no longer function as an effective fighting uniot and the XIX Corps flank was secure. The 8th Armored continued to mop up German resistance in and around the Harz.

After Germany surrendered, the 8th Armored was orered into Czechoslovakia to process POWs and displaced persons. They also guarded several key installations in Austria. In September 1945, the Division returned to France for embarkation for the United States and the Division was deactivated on November 13, 1945.

The 8th Armored Division spent a total of 63 days in combat. 260 soldiers of the Division were killed and 1,015 were wounded. The Division captured some 35,000 POWs.