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WWII Hub

bigpigeon.us webpage  WWII Germany > The ETO > Central Europe > Central Germany, © 2026 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 5 Jan 2026

Between 4 and 18 April 1945, elements of the US Ninth and First Armies reduced the Ruhr Pocket, leading to a massive German surrender. ​

Reduction of the Ruhr Pocket

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Other elements moved eastward through central Germany towards the prearranged ETO-Soviet border on the Elbe and Mulde Rivers. Third Army, on the First Army's right flank, initially moved east before pivoting to the south and entering southeastern Germany.

​The accompanying map summarizes ETO ground operations from 4 April to 18 April 1945.

Reduction of the Ruhr Pocket and Advance to the Elbe and Mulde Rivers

Scalable Version of the above Map

Sources for Big Pigeon's WWII Germany > The ETO > Central Europe > Central Germany webpage:

• Reduction of the Ruhr Pocket, Map 5 by R. Clinton, was found at https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Last/maps/USA-E-Last-5.jpg. 
• Reduction of the Ruhr Pocket and Advance to the Elbe and Mulde Rivers, https://history.army.mil/brochures/centeur/p24-25(map).jpg - Central Europe: 22 March--11 May 1945, by Edward M. Bedessem.
• https://www.abebooks.com/maps/Western-Europe-Reduction-Ruhr-Pocket-Advance/31136636525/bd#&gid=1&pid=1

Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - WWII Germany > The ETO > Central Europe > Central Germany:

• Access full individual records through bigpigeon.us > WWII Dead > Roster Records.

03-08 - WWII Germany > The ETO > Central Europe > Central Germany: (four dead, updated 8 Nov 2025)
​ † Gee, Norris Bradford, SN 0-1-174-575, US Army, Marion Co.​

• 202nd Field Artillery Group, Ninth Army; observation plane pilot; DNB 7 May 1945 Uetze, NE of Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
• WWII Germany > The ETO > Central Europe > Central Germany

† Henderson, Max Orville, SN 37-485-581, US Army, Pott. Co. & Thayer Co., NE

• Co. K, 406th Inf. Regt., 102nd Inf. Div., XIII Corps, Ninth Army; KIA 18 Apr 1945 east of Hanover near the Elbe River, Germany.
• WWII Germany > The ETO > Central Europe > Central Germany

† Hickman, Kenneth Lotten, SN 37-734-831, US Army, Adams Co. ​

• Co. K, 9th Inf. Regt., 2nd Inf. Div.; V Corps, First Army; KIA 11 Apr 1945 near Seega, Thuringia, Germany.
• WWII Germany > The ETO > Central Europe > Central Germany

† Joens, Harold Martin, SN 39-575-838, US Army, Crawford Co. & Los Angeles Co., CA​

• Co. H, 414th Inf. Regt., 104th Inf. Div., VII Corps, First Army; KIA 17 Apr 1945 near Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
• Military Note: posthumous Silver Star recipient.
• WWII Germany > The ETO > Central Europe > Central Germany