Two days after the capture of the Ludendorff Rail Bridge at Remagen by US First Army on 7 March 1945, Field Marshal Montgomery, issued an order to his 21st Army Group – who were further north, opposite Wesel.
“Cross the Rhine north of the Ruhr and secure a firm bridgehead with a view to developing operations to isolate the Ruhr and to penetrate deeper into Germany.”
It was not expected to be easy, given the recent bitter fighting they’d encountered during the Battle of the Rhineland. The Allies had suffered 96,000 Allied casualties in the Reichswald. However, it would be a psychological boost to be across the formidable Rhine River and closer to Germany’s defeat.
The Plan
The plan was for 21st Army Group to cross the Rhine River in two phases. Operation PLUNDER; an amphibious crossing to be launched on 23 March and Operation VARSITY; a supporting airborne assault by US XVIII Airborne Corps launched the following day.
The German Defence
For the German defenders, the Rhine represented the main obstacle to the Allies from penetrating into the heart of Germany and their last remaining industrial base, the Ruhr.
The defenders were a mixture of Volkssturm – the old and sick, Hitler Jugend – the indoctrinated youth and the dogged Fallschirmjäger – in this case 1st Parachute Army, who would provide the main fighting force. Armoured support was provided by 15th and 116th Grenadier Divisions, XLVII Panzer Corps, consisting primarily of PzKpfw IVs and Assault Guns.
OPERATION PLUNDER, 23 MARCH 1945
Two assault divisions were given the task of capturing the low-lying terrain east of the river. 51st Highland Division (XXX Corps), following a massive four-hour artillery bombardment, would begin its assault on the left flank towards Rees and Haldern at 2100 hours. This would be followed an hour later by 1 Commando Brigade whose objective was Wesel.
The LVT IV Buffaloes of 4th RTR and Northamptonshire Yeomanry (79th Armoured Division) would ferry the infantry across. Navigation was by a series of green lights laid to show entry and exit points to the river. Until, the ferries could operate, the infantry’s only armoured support would be from the Sherman DDs of the Staffordshire Yeomanry.
Four hours later, at 0200 hours, 15th Scottish Division (XII Corps) then launched its assault on the right flank between Bislich and Vynen, in turn supported by XVI US Corps to their right, with the objective of crossing the Rhine and securing the bridges across the Issel River.
Buffalo support for the infantry crossing was provided by 11th RTR and East Riding Yeomanry (79th Armoured Division). The Sherman DDs of 44th RTR would provide the crucial assault tank support here.
Once ferried by the Buffaloes across the Rhine, the infantry of 51st Highland, 15th Scottish Divisions and 1 Commando Brigade pushed on over the mud flats of the eastern bank, engaging the defenders in entrenched and urban areas like Wesel. Armed with plenty of Panzerfausts and Machine Guns, the Fallschirmajäger in particular proved difficult to clear, especially the built-up areas,
However, the generous provision of artillery as well as the supporting firepower of the DD Shermans 75mm guns proved too powerful and the Allies were able to overwhelm and make significant gains.
To be continued…
