12th "Dirty Dozen" Virginia Marine Division
Formed after the Second American Revolution, the 12th saw action during the Confederate-Mexican War where it received the most citations for the Southern Naval Cross for Distinguished Service in the history of the Confederate Navy.
Later in the early 20th century the 12th was one of the first Confederate Division to land feet first in France and the very first to be placed into the trenches. The division was responsible for numerous breakthroughs among the German lines but also suffered a 145% casualty rate. During the first world war the Germans would often refer to the Confederate Marines as Teufel-Hunde or Devil Dogs. The crossed battle-axes of the 12th were often stolen from captured marines as a souvenir for German soldiers.
In the inter-war period the 12th was station in Fort Charleston "Crazy Horse" Lee on the Mexican Border.
When the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics invaded Germany in 1941 the Confederate States of America took a solid neutral stance, until the Red Army crossed the Rhine and drove towards Paris. Once again the 12th was ordered up to defend France. Under the direct command of Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest III (who would later be known to the Germans as Krieg-Jadghund) the 12th fought in Eastern France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Poland and finally Russia.
During the Second World War the 12th (who had become its own echelon among the Confederate Armed Forces) earned more medals than any other Marine unit in the history of the Confederacy, again setting a record for the Marine Cross of Honor and Excellence.
After the war the 12th was disbanded once again and since then has only been called upon one time during the Mexican Civil War in the 1970's, during which time the Divisions heroic reputation was bismirched by war-crimes against communist rebels.
Today the "Dirty Dozen" lives on in countless memorials and statues across Europe and the Confederate States of America. Along with an entire (but small) wing in the Confederate Musuem of War in Atlanta.