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8 February – 6 March 1945 Allied Advance toward the Rhine |
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As the Allies pushed toward the Rhine, the Ruhr Valley—home
to most of Germany’s heavy industry—became a primary target. In keeping with his strategy of the “broad
front,” however, Eisenhower ordered that the region be enveloped from two sides. Montgomery, commanding
the 21st Army Group, was to approach the Rhine in the north, while General Omar Bradley’s 12th
Army Group was to come up from the south. In February the II Canadian Corps headed east from the
Netherlands, but soon became embroiled in bitter fighting in the Reichswald, a heavily forested
area in western Germany. Nevertheless, they were able to join up with the U.S. Ninth Army, and
the combined U.S.-Canadian forces finally cleared the Reichswald of enemy troops. The Allies had
now reached the Rhine, but as yet they had no means of crossing the river.
History: Campaign Map: Personal Accounts: |
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