The 12th Army Group was formed on July 14th, 1944 from
the former First U.S. Army Group with Lt. General Omar Bradley
in command.

The 12th was given command over the First and Third
U.S. Armies but was under the operational control of the British
21st Army Group.

On September 1st, 1944, the 12th was placed directly under
the control of Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force
(SHAEF), Days later the Ninth U.S. Army was assigned to the Group.

During the Battle of the Bulge, elements of the 12th were
assigned to the 21st British Army Group until the defeat of
the German forces at St. Vith in January of 1945.

On July 31st, 1945, operational control of all US Forces
in Germany was transferred to the United States Forces, European
Theater, and the Group was inactivated. During its existence,
the Group had command control over 39 Infantry and Airborne
Divisions and 15 Armored Divisions the largest command ever
organized in U.S. military history.

The basic design of the 12th Group patch is an arrowhead pointed
downwards. The arrow head suggests striking power and the colors
red, white, and blue are the National Colors.

The patch was approved for wear on July 29th, 1944.