bigpigeon.us webpage WW II - Germany > ETO > Central Europe, updated by RAC 23 Jul '19.
Most of Germany lies east of the Rhine River in central Europe. The Central European Campaign denotes the final weeks of Allied operations in the European Theater of Operations, beginning with the various Rhine crossings in March and ending with the cessation of hostilities on 8 May.
Links to the WW II - Central European Campaign subordinate webpages
Central Europe, Mar - May '45. (updated 23 Jul '19)
- Crossing the Rhine, Mar '45 (almost done)
- Central Germany, Mar - May '45 (almost done)
The first Allied troops entered central Europe when they crossed the Rhine over the bridge at Remagen late on 7 March. The major Rhine crossing occurred downstream in the Wesel area starting late on 23 March. Around six other US Rhine crossings occurred upstream from Remagen in late March.
Casualties were heavy early in April as the US First and Ninth Armies overran the Ruhr industrial area. During the last month of the war, Allied troops sped eastward meeting little German resistance. Some Allied units reached their assigned destinations two weeks before the War with Germany ended.
Although German resistance lessened as the Allies moved across west Germany, overall casualties during the Central European Campaign were still high. I have seen a figure of around 15,000 American deaths.
Casualties were heavy early in April as the US First and Ninth Armies overran the Ruhr industrial area. During the last month of the war, Allied troops sped eastward meeting little German resistance. Some Allied units reached their assigned destinations two weeks before the War with Germany ended.
Although German resistance lessened as the Allies moved across west Germany, overall casualties during the Central European Campaign were still high. I have seen a figure of around 15,000 American deaths.
Sources for the WW II - Central European Campaign webpage
The beautiful webpage header photo View of the Rhine Gorge was found at en.wikipedia.org and is courtesy of Alexander Hoernigk. Looking upstream, it shows Burg Katz with the Lorelei Rock in the background. It was here that the 89th Infantry Division crossed the Rhine on 26 March 1945. Nine days later this division liberated the German concentration camp at Ohrdruf.