8 February – 6 March 1945
Allied Advance toward the Rhine
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:
Rhineland

Campaign Map:
The Rhineland Campaign, 8 February – 10 March, 1945

Personal Accounts:
Rutgers Oral History Archive: Interview with Raymond Mortensen
Rutgers Oral History Archive: Interview with Raymond A. Shipley
Rutgers Oral History Archive: Interview with Maurice Meyers

Photograph:
Canadian Infantry of the Regiment de Maisonneuve, moving through Holten to Rijssen, Netherlands, April 9, 1945