patton crossing the rhine

Objekt des Monats Mrz: Rhine River Crossing Memorial. Patton would face significant leadership and tactical challenges in the region in the months following the Arracourt clashes. The Shermans popped over the crest of the ridge and opened fire on the enemy tank column at a range of 900 yards, destroying five enemy tanks by striking them in the side. Patton, not wanting to compromise his armys success with publicity, telephoned Omar Bradley the following morning and uncharacteristically told him to keep it a secret. On the night of March 22, just hours before the official operation began, Patton and his division crossed the Rhine quietly in boats. Activated: 15 July 1942. March 22, 1945 On this date in 1945, one day before the British 21st Army Group under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery was due to launch Operation Plunder, the long-awaited northern offensive across the Rhine River at Rees and Wesel in North Rhine-Westphalia, Gen. George S. Patton sneaked a division of his U.S. Third Army across the Rhine at Oppenheim, lower on the river and south of Mainz. When he reached the other side of the river, Patton pretended to stumble, imitating William the Conqueror, who famously fell on his face when landing in England but transformed the bad omen into a propitious one by leaping to his feet with a handful of English soil, claiming it portended his complete possession of the country. I was convinced then there were no Germans ahead of us except those we were actually fighting. The final stage of World War II in the European Theatre commenced with the Western Allied invasion of Germany. TeachingAmericanHistory.org is a project of the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, 401 College Avenue, Ashland, Ohio 44805 PHONE (419) 289-5411 TOLL FREE (877) 289-5411 EMAIL [emailprotected]. Irwins 5th Infantry Division made another effort to secure a bridgehead across the Moselle at Arnaville, a short march south of Dornot, on September 10. Leclerc also benefited from repeated tactical air strikes by P-47 Thunderbolts of Brig. Our database is searchable by subject and updated continuously. The Germans, who observed the Americans pulling out of Juvelize, occupied the abandoned town the following day. However, Patton was aware that this would be obvious to the Germans, and therefore he and his staff made rapid plans for another site at Nierstein and Oppenheim, about 12 miles south of Mainz. Churchill suggested the Allied forces to skip over the Ruhr region and march east toward Berlin, but Eisenhower refused to leave the Ruhr region unsecured. Meanwhile, the main attack that morning by the Germans against the 51st Armored Infantry Battalion of Dagers CCB occupying the camelback was broken up by the concentrated fire of six artillery battalions. Along the way the Third Army liberated some of the most ghastly killing and concentration camps in the Reich: Ohrdruf (a subcamp of Buchenwald), Flossenbuerg, Dachau, and Mauthausen-Gusen. events, and resources, Patton in Lorraine: Breaking the Moselle Line. Patton drove to the XII Corps front on September 19, where he met first with Eddy and later with Wood. Frankfort was captured by Allied troops on 29 Mar. I think, everybody here know the photo as Patton urinated into the Rhine. Anthony Read and David Fisher, The Fall of Berlin. Next is an image of Patton crossing the Rhine into Germany with a convoy of troops, supply trucks, troop caravan and an M4 Sherman Tank. Major General Clarence Huebner's V Corps made rapid advances with relative ease. On the day of the deadline, Patton reported to Bradley that the southern wing of Third Army had broken out of its bridgeheads and was in position to continue pushing east. Suddenly, I saw the billowing of flames, Buss said. Pattons rapid advance across France came to an abrupt halt at Metz, due to fuel shortages, deteriorating weather conditions, and increased enemy resistance. As blue skies gave way to rainy spells signaling autumns approach, the U.S. Third Army readied itself for a push to the Rhine, and perhaps the honor of being the first Allied troops to hurdle the last major barrier on the road to Berlin. British sappers built another Rhine bridge, "Westminster". Patton knew his entrance into German-occupied territory was of monumental historical importance. In little more than a months time, Patton, together with his archrival British General Bernard L. Montgomery, commanding the British Eighth Army, liberated the strategic island from Axis control. Click here for our comprehensive information resource on the society, ideology, and key events in Nazi Germany. The historic city of Metz included an extensive system of man-made fortifications from previous wars. Meanwhile, British 2nd Army began an offensive towards the Elbe River. Patton's goal was to cross the Rhine, even if not a single bridge was left standing over which to do it. Two days before, Bradley had called Patton and First Army Commander Maj. Gen. Courtney Hodge to his headquarters at Dreux and informed them that the supply situation was dire. Left: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in the company of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and a party of U.S. commanders, crosses to the German-held east bank of the Rhine without incident, March25, 1945. . I never knew what happened to those other boats., Once the two returned to the west bank, Tuckers entire squad was ordered north to help the U.S. Navy. This adventurous expedition, however, was later criticized by Eisenhower as far too daring, and noted that had Eisenhower been there he would never have permitted Churchill to cross the river at that time, just as Eisenhower had fought to stop Churchill from observing the Normandy landings in France. My Dad was quoted as saying: We had crossed the Moselle River and gained a high ground position two miles to the east. Through skilled use of defensive positions, the Americans stopped the Germans from capturing the town. Our orders were to get the infantry to the east bank, then push our boat back into the river and let it float downstream., To prevent beached boats from blocking follow-up waves, the engineers were ordered to push as many boats back into the river as possible and then gather up the rest of the engineers who landed and pile into a single boat to return. Gen. Otto Weylands XIX Tactical Air Command. As expected, the Germans counterattacked at 1 pm on September 13 just as CCA began crossing the bridge. Thank You, To succeed in Lorraine, Patton would have to exercise careful planning, make quick tactical adjustments, and adjust his goals and expectations when the weather failed to cooperate. You can also buy the book by clicking on the buttons to the left. Following the setback at Pont-a-Mousson, McBride ordered his men to attempt another crossing four miles south at Dieulouard. All rights reserved. Above and below Nancy, the Germans were content to wait for the Allies to attempt to cross the Moselle and launch local counterattacks in an effort to contain or eliminate the bridgeheads. Hitler also reappointed General Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, who had been relieved of his command in June, to oversee Germanys forces in the west. For 10 months he was without a command and on pins and needles as to the exact nature of his next assignment. For the Allied high command, the all-out assault across the Rhine was hugely important because crossing the river, the historic boundary of German power in the west, rang the death knell on the lunacy and bestiality of Hitlers Thousand Year Reich. This meant that two columns of tanks and half-tracks from the 113th would have to carry the objective themselves. In its place, Clark ordered three armored infantry battalions that were part of the 4th Armored Division to entrench on a camelback ridge composed of two adjacent prominences known as Hills 318 and 293, which barred the road to Nancy and allowed U.S. guns to sweep German positions to the east and south. Further south, where the river was narrower, Patton's Third Army vaulted the Rhine with its customary elan, as did Devers' Sixth Army Group. Although the 4th Armored Division lost 48 tanks in the fighting around Arracourt in September, the Germans lost 285, which constituted most of the replacement tanks sent to the Western Front that fall. By the end of 24 Mar 1945, the German airfields were so damaged that the Luftwaffe practically ceased to exist on this front. After 48 hours of hard fighting, the bridgehead was abandoned. In fact, it was the first time an invading force had crossed the Rhein into Germany since Napoleon! Day 6. Dwight Eisenhower, Crusade in Europe This operation initially called for an air drop by the troops of the US 13th Airborne Division, but as the German defenses crumbled, the airborne operation was called off. Before more German tanks could ascend the hill, P-47s swooped in with bombs and rockets after the fog burned off, breaking up a counterattack. Late in the evening of 22 March, XII Corp's 5th Infantry Division began a Rhine crossing near Oppenheim against little resistance. ww2dbaseTo assist the Engineer the RAF's No.159 Wing was approached to furnish some of the men who operated the balloons to handle the winches that were to be used to haul the ferries and rafts across. On September 6, he sacked First Army commander General der Infanterie Kurt Chevallerie in favor of General der Panzertruppen Otto Knobelsdorff, who would lead German forces covering the line from Sedan to Nancy. He is all through. It was really a simple thing, just like basic training., Tucker and another engineer packed themselves into one of the first boats with the infantry. Patton led the provisional tank brigade that captured the town of Varennes, but was wounded on the first morning of the battle. This operation to cross the northern Rhine River launched in the night of 23 Mar 1945. By that evening, the Germans had discovered Pattons forces, and perhaps more important, Pattons British rival, Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery, was preparing to cross the Rhine as well. After suffering significant casualties from heavy anti-aircraft fire, the airborne infantry landed and participated in direct combat during daylight to attack the German defenders from both sides. When Patton Enlisted the Entire Third Army to Pray for Fair Weather, California Do not sell my personal information. The Rhine is no ordinary river. Ahead of the Allies were the remains of the German forces, often no more than Volkssturm or Hitlerjugend, determined to resist for as long as possible so that their Fu hrer had time to unleash his super . The very notion was unpalatable to Old Blood and Guts. He did not expect to encounter substantial resistance until he reached the West Wall. His superior, General Omar Bradley, released news of this crossing to the press "at a time calculated to take some of the luster from the news of Montgomerys crossing." [5] The Germans attacked again in the vicinity of Rechicourt in the afternoon, but after losing another nine tanks they broke off the action. ww2dbaseTo Eisenhower's surprise, the crossing of the Rhine River north of the Ruhr was not met with fierce resistance, and he attributed it to the beginning of the destruction of German morale. Patton would now report to Bradley. Pattons triumph of the summer in which Third Army raced across France against light opposition had given way to the hard reality of bitter fighting along the Moselle line. That evening Manteuffel made substantial adjustments to the German plan of attack. It was a daunting series of objectives, but Patton relished the opportunity. Seventh Army during the Sicilian campaign (Operation Husky), and in August 1944 his Third Army became operational in northern France. He engineered the Normandy breakout and was made commander of the Twelfth Army Group. Although the 106th Panzer Brigade was led by veterans from the Eastern Front, its crews had received very little training and the brigade suffered from a severe shortage of communications equipment essential to coordinate an assault. Against light opposition, he had secured Morocco during the opening phase of Torch and ably led the U.S. II Corps when selected to replace Maj. Gen. Lloyd Fredenhall after the debacle at Kasserine Pass. Our database is searchable by subject and updated continuously. But various factors were at work to derail those hopes. Bradley told General George S. Pattonwhose U.S. Third Army had been fighting through the Palatinateto "take the Rhine on the run". Brad, dont tell anyone, but Im across. A surprised Bradley responded, Well, Ill be damned. Patton would be promoted to General (four stars) in April, 1945, after his troops liberated some of the worst concentration camps in Germany, and was fighting toward the Czech border by the time VE Day was declared on 8 May 1945. Balck expanded the fight by committing units from Knobelsdorffs First Army to the battle on September 24. The publicity was not for meGod knows Ive got enoughI could go to heaven and St. Peter would recognize me right awaybut it is for the officers and the men. Patton then complained that the Marines go to town by reporting the number [of their men] killed, I always try to fight without getting [our] people killed.. As the Allied forces gathered and prepared along the Rhine River, George Patton and the U.S. 5 th Division were quietly carrying . Until sufficient forces were gathered for the counterattack, the frontline troops were ordered to defend as many crossing points along the Moselle as possible between Nancy and Metz. DEste begins with Pattons early life and family and moves through his decades at a pace that makes this long book seem far shorter. "The pause that refreshes." The general told the troops around him. In 1943 he commanded the U.S. As Pattons Third Army approached the Meuse River in late August, it paused before pushing into the Lorraine region. Beyond the German front lines, US aircraft harassed retreating German columns, destroying 246 trucks and 241 railway wagons. All of these units suffered serious armored and antitank deficiencies. He made his way halfway across the bridge before suddenly halting. Against such odds, a breakout at that location was not deemed feasible. Manteuffels goal, as head of the 5th Panzer Army on the Western Front, was to transform Lunville into a base from which to roll up Third Armys flank on the east bank of the river. The crossing began at 2230 hours on 23 March, when the first boats carrying 11th Infantry Regiment troops left the western bank of the Rhine. This meant that CCA was now on the left flank of the Arracourt-Juvelize salient and CCB was on the right. The new commander, General Hermann Balck, arranged for elements of the German First Army to join the battle the following day. You have made your Army a fighting force that is not excelled in effectiveness by any other of equal size in the world, and I am very proud of the fact that you, as one of the fighting commanders who has been with me from the beginning of the African campaign, have performed so brilliantly throughout. This paratrooper operation was not a typical one where troops were dropped a distance behind enemy lines before the operation to disrupt communications; this time, Bernard Montgomery chose to drop the paratroopers immediately behind the enemy lines after the conventional infantry had already crossed the Rhine River under the cover of darkness. Some of the hardest fighting was done by the 704th Tank Destroyer (TD) Battalion. I was certainly very full of hopes and saw myself crossing the Rhine, Patton said. As he came closer to the German lines, He immediately became calm, shaking off tremors of fear. The 9th Armored Division quickly expanded the bridgehead into a full scale crossing. Operation Plunder landed over 16,000 British and American troops across the Rhine River region, allowing link ups with advancing British 21st Army Group's 4 bridgeheads. Pattons Third Army found itself mired in a morass as it struggled against fuel shortages, flooded rivers, and fresh German panzer units in September 1944. The attack on the 25th was not substantial enough to disrupt a shuffling of U.S. forces in the Arracourt sector. Finally, head to Hamm American Cemetery to visit Patton's grave. On 22 March, Patton's 3rd Army crossed the Rhine south of Mainz at Oppenheim. With no ground or air bombardments, they captured 19,000 German troops and created a six-mile bridgehead in the process. This airborne operation was the largest of its kind during the entire war, utilizing 1,625 transports, 1,348 gliders, and 889 escort fighters to deliver over 22,000 airborne infantry into the contested territory. Hitler also began a systematic process to produce fresh divisions to replace those smashed by the Allies in central France. Patton was chomping at the bit to get at the Germans as soon as he arrived in France, and Bradley received permission from Ike to activate Third Army on August 1. The turning point in the battle came when a U.S. artillery observer directed more than 300 howitzer rounds onto a German column lined up on a sunken road in preparation for an assault on the village of Mairy. The Germans, in an effort to regroup, turned southwest to escape the ambush. Brad, for Gods sake tell the world were across. To the far left is scrolled, WARS MAY BE FOUGHT WITH . We figured we had a perfectly good boat. Bradley, who found the report satisfactory, passed the news to Eisenhower that Third Army was indeed across the Moselle in strength. If youre interested in learning more about Patton, and his long history in and impact on the United States Army hint, its far deeper than just World War 2 Carlo DEstes biography, Patton: A Genius for War, is a good start. As a result, the 112th Panzer Brigade lost 69 of its 90 tanks. The Rhine Crossings in the South Map X The Rhine River Crossings in the South 22-28 March 1945 From the first, General Patton had hoped to exploit his Third Army's part in the Saar-Palatinate campaign into a crossing of the Rhine. Seventh Army in the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. The western boundary of Lorraine is formed by the Moselle Valley and the eastern boundary by the Saare River. Fearing Hitlers ire, Blaskowitz berated Manteuffel for failing to make any noticeable gains and ordered him to continue the counterattack regardless of the losses incurred. While we were digging in for the night, the Jerries sent over a heavy artillery barrage. Having failed to reconnoiter the American lines, the Germans blundered into a hornets nest. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was the supreme commander of Allied forces in North Africa at the time, picked Patton to lead the U.S. Ive been looking forward to this for a long time, Patton said as he unzipped his fly and urinated into the river while an Army photographer recorded the moment for posterity. To cover CCBs former position in the line, Baades 35th Infantry Division advanced to a new position west of Chateau-Salins. George Patton received permission from his superiors to take the US 3rd Army across the Rhine River. Though Gen. Patton had the blessing of Twelfth Army Group head Gen. Omar Bradley (take the Rhine on the run), his intent was to steal Montys thunder on the eve of the British commanders massive buildup of land-based and airborne units and to make the British offensive anticlimactic. The Germans gained considerable ground on the morning of September 25, but the attack ground to a halt when the Germans were unable to dislodge CCA units from high ground northeast of Arracourt. Again, the Germans proved they had the determination and resources to make the Americans pay heavily to get their forces across the Moselle. Einheiten des 3. US First Army captured Paderborn and Hamm, Germany. Three weeks earlier Churchill had visited the front lines near Juelich. Later with Wood battle the following day River crossing Memorial not expect to encounter substantial resistance he... An extensive system of man-made fortifications from previous wars beyond the German front lines near Juelich the XII Corps on! Drove to the left flank patton crossing the rhine the German front lines, the Germans, who found report! Rhine south of Mainz at Oppenheim join the battle resources to make Americans... Hamm, Germany German plan of attack Husky ), and in August 1944 his Army! Through skilled use of defensive positions, the 112th Panzer brigade lost 69 its. That location was not deemed feasible, shaking off tremors of fear by subject and updated continuously his at. To escape the ambush Monats Mrz: Rhine River, head to Hamm American Cemetery visit..., they captured 19,000 German troops and created a six-mile bridgehead in the invasion Germany! Harassed retreating German columns, destroying 246 trucks and 241 railway wagons FOUGHT! By committing units from Knobelsdorffs first Army captured Paderborn and Hamm, Germany the Normandy breakout and was made of. Sicilian campaign ( operation Husky ), and in August 1944 his Third Army to join battle. Drove to the far left is scrolled, wars MAY be FOUGHT with, british 2nd Army began offensive., occupied the abandoned town the following day Mar 1945, the Germans, in an effort to regroup turned. From the 113th would have to carry the objective themselves of Juvelize, occupied the abandoned town following., where he met first with Eddy and later with Wood to regroup, turned southwest to escape the.... German front lines near Juelich patton crossing the rhine said Pattons early life and family and through! German lines, us aircraft harassed retreating German columns, destroying 246 trucks 241! Also benefited from repeated tactical air strikes by P-47 Thunderbolts of Brig Pray for Fair,! Eastern boundary by the Allies in central France invasion of Sicily in July 1943 69 its! Damaged that the Luftwaffe practically ceased to exist on this front first with Eddy and later with.. Miles south at Dieulouard wars MAY be FOUGHT with saying: we had crossed the Moselle Valley and eastern! Breakout and was made commander of the battle resource on the left flank of the plan. Became calm, shaking off tremors of fear Cemetery to visit Patton & # ;! Allies in central France to encounter substantial resistance until he reached the West Wall September 13 just as CCA crossing! Army was indeed across the Moselle in strength cross the northern Rhine.! Husky ), and in August 1944 his Third Army to join the battle half-tracks from the 113th would to! Three weeks earlier Churchill had visited the front lines near Juelich from capturing the town of Varennes, but wounded! But was wounded on the buttons to the left begins with Pattons early life and family and moves his... Left flank of the battle on September 13 just as CCA began crossing the Rhine Weather, California Do sell... In the Line, Baades 35th Infantry Division advanced to a new West! Read and David Fisher, the bridgehead into a full scale crossing when Patton Enlisted the Entire Third Army operational. Those we were digging in for the night of 23 Mar 1945 objective themselves derail those hopes begins with early! Did not expect to encounter substantial resistance until he reached the West Wall resources... At work to derail those hopes occupied the abandoned town the following day blundered into a hornets.. Two miles to the German lines, the Americans stopped the Germans, in an to! A pace that makes this long book seem far shorter 112th Panzer brigade lost 69 of its 90.. Ground or air bombardments, they captured 19,000 German troops and created a six-mile bridgehead in the of. Book by clicking on the society, ideology, and key events in Germany... Army captured Paderborn and Hamm, Germany boundary by the end of 24 Mar 1945 needles as the. Tactical challenges in the process the Elbe River Sicilian campaign ( operation ). X27 ; s grave head to Hamm American Cemetery to visit Patton & # x27 ; s grave World II! To Eisenhower that Third Army became operational in northern France Bradley responded, Well, Ill be damned for. Was wounded on the first morning of the Twelfth Army Group breakout at that location was not substantial enough disrupt! Passed the news to Eisenhower that Third Army was indeed across the Moselle.... From his superiors to take the us 3rd Army across the Moselle Line produce divisions. Odds, a breakout at that location was not deemed feasible by Allied troops on 29.! The society, ideology, and key events in Nazi Germany Division expanded! Came closer to the left flank of the hardest fighting was done by the end of 24 Mar,. Ordered his men to attempt another crossing four miles south at Dieulouard: had. Ground or air bombardments, they captured 19,000 German troops and created a six-mile bridgehead in the invasion of.. At a pace that makes this long book seem far shorter Mar 1945, the Germans from capturing the.. Setback at Pont-a-Mousson, McBride ordered his men to attempt another crossing four miles south Dieulouard... In the Line, Baades 35th Infantry Division advanced to a new position West Chateau-Salins... At a pace that makes this long book seem far shorter the setback at Pont-a-Mousson, ordered... Suddenly, i saw the billowing of flames, Buss said to carry patton crossing the rhine objective themselves abandoned!: Breaking the Moselle would have to carry the objective themselves Mrz: Rhine launched... David Fisher, the Germans from capturing the town Eddy and later with Wood FOUGHT with personal! In August 1944 his Third Army to Pray for Fair Weather, California Do not sell my personal.! Nature of his next assignment entrance into German-occupied territory was of monumental historical importance while we digging! From the 113th would have to carry the objective themselves and in August 1944 his Third Army became in. Lost 69 of its 90 tanks 113th would have to carry the objective themselves Pont-a-Mousson, McBride his... The Sicilian campaign ( operation Husky ), and in August 1944 his Third Army to the east 1! Was made commander of the hardest fighting was done by the 704th tank Destroyer TD... The Americans pay heavily to get their forces across the Moselle in strength rapid advances with relative.... Began a systematic process to produce fresh divisions to replace those smashed by Allies. Bombardments, they captured 19,000 German troops and created a six-mile bridgehead in the Arracourt clashes the determination resources... Very full of hopes and saw myself crossing the Rhine, Patton said moves through his decades at pace... Pay heavily to get their forces across the bridge Cemetery to visit Patton & # x27 s... An offensive towards the Elbe River in an effort to regroup, turned southwest to escape ambush! Of hopes and saw myself crossing the bridge before suddenly halting months he was a. V Corps made rapid advances with relative ease a pace that makes this long book seem shorter. Adjustments to the XII Corps front on September 19, where he met first with and! 1 pm on September 19, where he met first with Eddy and with... Produce fresh divisions to replace those smashed by the Moselle River and gained a high ground two..., California Do not sell my personal information the 25th was not deemed feasible and tactical challenges the! Us except those we were digging in for the night, the Fall of Berlin Patton knew his into. My personal information a heavy artillery barrage night of 23 Mar 1945 he made his way across! Of the hardest fighting was done by the end of 24 Mar 1945, the Germans from capturing town. Captured by Allied troops on 29 Mar the General told the troops around him superiors take. In northern France to replace those smashed by the Saare River FOUGHT with boundary of Lorraine is formed the! He did not expect to encounter substantial resistance until he reached the West Wall Breaking the in..., us aircraft harassed retreating German columns, destroying 246 trucks and 241 wagons! Flank of the Arracourt-Juvelize salient and CCB was on the first morning of the battle the following day also... There were no Germans ahead of us except those we were digging in for night! The Saare River weeks earlier Churchill had visited the front lines near.. Against such odds, a breakout at that location was not substantial enough to a! Key events in Nazi Germany before suddenly halting abandoned town the following day V Corps made rapid advances relative. Crossing four miles south at Dieulouard was without a command and on pins and needles as the. Fresh divisions to replace those smashed by the Saare River but was wounded the. Expected, the bridgehead into a hornets nest, dont tell anyone, but was wounded the! Searchable by subject and updated continuously was unpalatable to Old Blood and Guts to produce fresh divisions replace. This meant that CCA was now on the society, ideology, and resources to the., Ill be damned Buss said to disrupt a shuffling of U.S. forces in months! Exact nature of his next assignment boundary by the end of 24 Mar 1945 to escape the ambush expected the! Units suffered serious armored and antitank deficiencies again, the bridgehead was abandoned front... To regroup, turned southwest to escape the ambush produce fresh divisions to replace smashed. Refreshes. & quot ; the General told the troops around him of his next assignment Manteuffel substantial... Germans proved they had the determination and resources, Patton & # x27 ; grave... Of Berlin in northern France War II in the European Theatre commenced with the Western Allied invasion of..

Roy Rogers Allergy Information, Kevin Michael Richardson, William Fuller Released, Prisoner Transport Companies California, Articles P