On this day in 1945, lead elements of the US 9th and 1st armies linked up and secured the most successful US encirclement of World War II.
By early Spring 1945, it was clear the war was coming to its inevitable end and the defeat of Hitler's reich was beyond doubt. That said, the formidable forces of Model's Army Group B supported by the 5th Panzer Army guarding the Ruhr and the 15th Army watching over the bridgehead at Remagen stood in their way. Field Marshal Walter Model, 'Hitler's Fireman' to his troops, was known for his tenacity and willingness to fight to the bitter end. Army Group B's 400,000 troops could cause mass casualties and hamper allied efforts to end the war quickly if confronted head on.
Ike needed a plan ...
🪖Germany's industrial heartland in the West, the Rhur, had always been on the allied operational 'to do' list.
🪖It's vast array of cities, factories and millions of civilians had the potential to become a supercolossal Stalingrad style blood bath.
🪖Eisenhower, often criticised for being a dull 'broad-front' strategist, had always planned to encircle the Rhur.
🪖The lucky break at Remagen provided the opportunity for a classic pincer movement.
🪖The 1st Army would cross the Rhine at Wesel as part of Monty's multi-army operation Varsity-Plunder while the 9th would break out of the Remagen bridgehead on March 25.. Luck was on the allies side with perfect conditions for air support for the Rhine crossing and the breakout.
Progress was initially slow for the 9th army because of dogged German resistance and tough terrain, but the 1st army achieved its textbook breakout by noon on the first day of operations. On April 1, Easter Sunday, the pincers snapped shut around Model's forces, trapping them all in an ironically egg-shaped pocket, 30 by 75 miles in diameter.
Over the next 7 days, the pocket would be squeezed tighter and tighter and then sliced in half at Hagen. On April 14, with mass surrenders in full swing, over 317,000 prisoners were taken. Field Marshall Model however could not surrender and shot himself in Duisburg on April 21, one day after the Fuhrer's last ever birthday.
The battle of the Rhur marked a decisive victory for the allies and demonstrated the hard won maturity of US forces and their ability to wage effective manoeuvre combined arms warfare.