![]() The parachute drops went to plan and accomplished their aims quickly. The artillery and air bombardment for Plunder was so heavy and effective that the German defences were quickly breached. He reverted to his usual approach: meticulous planning and building up of overwhelming forces. This event became the focus of historical attention and was the subject of the only Hollywood film on the period.įield Marshall Montgomery had learned lessons from his hastily planned and ultimately unsuccessful attack on Arnhem in September 1944. ![]() It involved 1000s of American troops too but the Americans had already crossed the Rhine 2 weeks earlier having captured a bridge at Remagen. This was the crossing of the river around Wesel using amphibious tracked landing craft, Bailey bridges, and paratroop landings. Perhaps to historians by 1945 there was an inevitability to the German defeat and also it was not actually a single battle but a series of separate advances.įor the British, including the Guards tank brigades, the emphasis was on Operation Plunder which started 23rd March. Yet despite being a major assault in terms of manpower and equipment, and a complete success, it is not as well known as D-Day, Arnhem or the Battle of the Bulge. For both sides it would mark the end game on the western front. ![]() To the allies it had to be crossed, and to the Germans it had to be held. It was the last major barrier to the allies’ advance from the West, and was both a physical and psychological line. ![]() In March 1945 the allies crossed the River Rhine and began their final assault on Germany. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |