Central Europe Campaign
The Central Europe Campaign began on 22 March 1945 with units of the
First U. S. Army across the Rhine in the Remagen area. On the night
of 22–23 March elements of the Third U. S. Army crossed the river
at Oppenheim. As the First and Third Armies crossed the Rhine the
Fifteenth U. S. Army took over the area west of the river from Bonn
to Neuss. On 26 March the Seventh U. S. Army crossed the Rhine north
and south of Worms and, after meeting stiff resistance on the river
bank, broke through the enemy and quickly expanded the bridgehead. The
Ninth U. S. Army crossed the river south of Wesel while the British
Second Army crossed north of the city. Elements of the First Allied
Airborne Army dropped east of the Rhine and linked up with the ground
troops east of the river. In many respects this was the most successful
airborne operation that had been carried out up to this time.
After the Allies were firmly established east of the Rhine the great
German industrial area of the Ruhr was encircled and the defending
troops captured. The advance through Germany was rapid and met with
little opposition except in scattered areas. The Russians drove into
Germany from the east and enemy troops in trying to escape capture
by the Russians surrendered by the thousands to the western Allies.
As the U. S., British, and Canadian troops in the north reached the
line where it was expected they would meet the Russian forces, they
halted. The Third and Seventh U. S. Armies continued their drives into
Czechoslovakia and Austria where a junction was also made with the
Russians.
On 2 May 1945 the German forces in Italy surrendered. Two days later
elements of the Seventh U. S. Army met those of the Fifth U. S. Army,
coming from Italy, at the Brenner Pass. On 9 May 1945 the surrender of
all the German forces became effective, marking the end of the war in
Europe.
[Illustration: GERMANY
TROOPS LOADING INTO AN LCVP to cross the Rhine (top). Engineers
constructing a pontoon treadway bridge over the Rhine (bottom).
A steel treadway bridge was completed by 1800 on 23 March 1945,
and the following day a heavy pontoon bridge was completed.
By noon on 25 March a second treadway bridge was completed.
The crossing of the Rhine in the Third Army area gained
complete tactical surprise and the enemy offered only scattered
resistance. By the evening of 24 March three divisions held a
bridgehead ten miles wide and nine miles deep. These divisions
were closely followed by two more, making a total of five on the
east bank of the Rhine.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
INFANTRYMEN BOARDING AN LCVP to cross the Rhine (top). An
assault boat raft ferrying a 90-mm. gun motor carriage M36
across the Rhine (bottom). Troops of the Third U. S. Army
first crossed the Rhine at Oppenheim on the night of 22–23
March. Utilizing assault rafts and attacking without artillery
or aerial preparation, six battalions were across the river
before daybreak with a loss of only twenty-eight men killed and
wounded. Following the assault boats were landing craft and
DUKW’s. The LCVP’s were manned by naval personnel who arrived at
the river an hour after the assault began.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
JEEPS AND TANKS CROSSING THE RHINE at Boppard, Germany. On 24
March 1945 a crossing in the rugged Rhine gorge north of Boppard
was made and by 25 March a bridgehead eight miles wide and
three miles deep was held. A treadway bridge was constructed at
Boppard.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
AN INFANTRYMAN COVERS A GERMAN as he surrenders. In the First
Army area an attack from the Remagen bridgehead was carried out,
and preparations were made to advance to the Kassel area.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
ARMORED TROOPS MOVING TO THE FRONT as prisoners are marched
along the autobahn to the rear (top). Infantrymen entering
Frankfurt (bottom). The bridgeheads along the Rhine were
expanded and on 26 March Third Army troops entered Frankfurt.
The advance moved northward toward Kassel. The Fifteenth Army
was instructed to take over the west bank of the Rhine from Bonn
to Neuss by 1 April, to assume command of the division which
was guarding the Brittany ports, and to be prepared to occupy,
organize, and govern the Rhine provinces as the 12th Army Group
attacks progressed eastward.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
FRANKFURT ON THE MAIN RIVER, showing the Frankfurt cathedral.
By 28 March Frankfurt had been half cleared of enemy troops and
Hanau completely cleared. Part of a large enemy pocket west of
Wiesbaden had been mopped up and contact was made between the
First and Third U. S. Army troops.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
CAPTURED FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOYS who were members of the “Air
Guard.” On 28 March First Army troops were closing up along
the upper Lahn River. Infantry divisions quickly followed the
armored spearheads to mop up enemy pockets of bypassed troops
and to clear the areas which had been taken in the rapid
advances. In six days the shallow Remagen foothold had been
expanded to a lodgement area sixty-five miles deep. The advance
to Kassel continued.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
CROSSING THE RHINE NEAR WORMS, GERMANY. U. S. Seventh Army
troops crossed the Rhine near Worms at 0230 on 26 March. These
forces met small arms and scattered mortar fire while crossing
and, after landing on the east bank of the river, met stiff
enemy resistance north of Worms. South of Worms the troops
reached the far shore with little opposition but as they moved
eastward the resistance increased. Two panzer counterattacks
were turned back during that morning. By evening of 26 March the
bridgehead had been expanded to an area of fifteen miles wide
and seven miles deep.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
A DUPLEX-DRIVE TANK (DD tank), with its flotation device raised,
entering the water (top); flotation device after being lowered
(bottom). The canvas flotation device made the tank vulnerable
to mines and objects floating in the water.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
GERMAN PRISONERS being marched westward across the Rhine as
troops of the Ninth Army move eastward into Germany (top).
Enlisted men at their .50-caliber Browning machine gun HB M2,
alert for enemy aircraft (bottom). The Ninth Army was to attack
south of Wesel with its main bridging area at Rheinberg.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: FRANCE
TOW ROPE BEING ATTACHED TO A GLIDER as the First Allied Airborne
Army prepares to take off for landings east of the Rhine in
the 21 Army Group area. The mission of this army was to break
up the enemy defenses north of Wesel and deepen the bridgehead
to facilitate the link-up with the ground forces. The airborne
troops took off from bases in England and France and converged
near Brussels. The troops began landing on 24 March 1945 at
1000 and during the next three hours some 14,000 troops were
transported to the battle area by over 1,700 aircraft and 1,300
gliders.]
[Illustration: FRANCE
PLANES AND GLIDERS loaded and waiting to take off for the
landings east of the Rhine (top). Aerial view of planes and
gliders before the take-off (bottom). Losses were comparatively
light for an operation of this size. Under 4 percent of the
gliders were destroyed and fifty-five aircraft were lost.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
LIBERATORS OVER THE RHINE shortly before they dropped supplies
to the airborne troops which landed east of the Rhine.
Immediately after the glider landings, a resupply mission was
flown in very low by 250 Liberators of the Eighth U. S. Air
Force. It met heavy flak and fourteen planes were shot down, but
85 percent of the supplies were accurately dropped.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
MEMBERS OF FIRST ALLIED AIRBORNE ARMY after landing near Wesel.
On the ground the airborne forces met with varying resistance.
Bridges over the Issel were seized and 3,500 prisoners were
taken. This airborne operation was the most successful carried
out to this time. The attack had achieved surprise and the
airborne troops reorganized quickly after landing. Ninth Army
troops held a bridgehead nine miles wide and three miles deep by
the end of the day (24 March).]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
A NINTH ARMY CONVOY on the highway leading to Muenster, Germany.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
SIGNALMEN ROLL A REEL ASHORE on the east bank of the Rhine after
laying a submarine cable on the bottom of the river from a DUKW
(top). Destroyed equipment left behind by the retreating enemy
(bottom). On 25 March the First Army broke out of their Remagen
bridgehead, the Third Army reached the Main River, and contact
was made between the British Second Army and the Canadian First
Army.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
WHITE FLAGS OF SURRENDER hang from buildings in a deserted
street of a German town (top). As infantry troops march through
a town, an old woman looks at a demolished building (bottom).
During the advance into Germany many towns surrendered to the
Allied troops and the buildings remained undamaged. However,
in some towns enemy troops offered resistance and fighting and
shelling ensued. In one week five Allied armies were on the east
bank of the Rhine and twenty-four bridges had been constructed
to replace those which were knocked out. During this period the
Allied casualties were much lighter than had been expected. The
last German line of defense had been shattered.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
TWO KNOCKED-OUT GERMAN SELF-PROPELLED GUNS (Pz. Jaeg. Tiger
with 12.8-cm. PJK 44). This vehicle, called a Jaegdtiger, was
the most formidable self-propelled antitank gun used by the
Germans during the war. It consisted of a 12.8-cm. PJK 44 (L/55)
(less muzzle brake) mounted on a Tiger B chassis. The gun could
penetrate 6 to 8 inches of armor at 1,000 yards. Weight of the
vehicle was 77 tons.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
MEDIUM TANKS M26 moving through Wesel on the way to the front.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
P-47 FORCED DOWN OVER GERMANY (top). B-24 which crash-landed in
Germany (bottom).]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
GERMAN V-BOMB found by the U. S. troops as they overran Germany
(top). An enemy jetpropelled fighter plane (bottom).]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
CIVILIANS WATCHING U. S. TROOPS as they advance through
Duesseldorf (top). A transportation corps train moving over
a bridge which was constructed across the Rhine at Wesel by
the engineers (bottom). With all three Allied army groups
established on the east bank of the Rhine plans were made to
encircle the Ruhr. By 1 April 1945 a trap was closed which
formed a 4,000-mile square pocket and included the Ruhr
industrial area.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
SEVENTH ARMY TROOPS ADVANCING after capturing the town of
Mergentheim (top). Engineers operating an assault ferry across
the Neckar River in Heilbronn (bottom). On 28 March the
Seventh Army launched its attack out of the Worms bridgehead.
The assault was halted on 4 April when strong resistance was
encountered at Heilbronn. On 31 March the French First Army
crossed the Rhine at Speyer and Germersheim and on 4 April
captured Karlsruhe.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
4.5-INCH MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHER T34 mounted on a medium tank.
The Germans stubbornly defended the industrial area of the Ruhr
even though an army group was caught in the trap with little
hope of escape. On the Allied flanks, advances were made as the
enemy began to disintegrate.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
C-47 TRANSPORT, carrying gasoline, lands on an airstrip in
Germany (top). Ten-ton semitrailers in Germany with four
750-gallon skid tanks loaded with gasoline (bottom). The
versatility of these tanks made it possible to use them on a
number of different types of vehicles. During the last months
of the war the rapid advances of all the Allied troops made
fuel supply a difficult problem. Fuel was transported by every
available means to assure the troops an adequate supply.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
LINEMAN of a Signal Corps construction battalion fastening
wire to an insulator on the top of a telephone pole at Bingen
on the Rhine (top). Liberated slave laborers help themselves
to food and supplies in a store in Hannover (bottom). With
the liberation of the slave laborers who had worked in German
factories many problems arose, and Allied Military Government
offices were established as quickly as possible to cope with
them.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
INFANTRYMEN AND TANKERS take time out for a short rest during
their rapid advance. On 4 April the Ninth Army was to start an
attack southward and the First U. S. Army was to drive to the
north. While these two armies were eliminating the Ruhr pocket,
the Fifteenth Army was to hold the line on the Rhine.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
MACHINE GUNNERS of a First Army division covering a road
intersection (top). Infantryman passes burning U. S. vehicles
that were ambushed by enemy troops (bottom). During the first
fighting in the Ruhr the enemy showed spirit. On 4 April
ten counterattacks were launched in an attempt to break out
of the pocket. Heavy fighting continued in many towns with
the civilians fighting alongside German soldiers. Dug-in
self-propelled guns supported the German infantry. The line was
drawn tighter by the Allies and on 10 April Essen, home of the
great Krupp armament works, was cleared by the U. S. assaulting
troops. By 13 April the mopping-up stage had been reached.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
PRISONER OF WAR ENCLOSURE. On 14 April the Ruhr pocket was split
in two, and prisoners arrived in such large numbers that Allied
facilities were taxed to the limit. On 16 April the eastern half
of the pocket collapsed and two days later the pocket ceased
to exist. There were 325,000 prisoners, including 30 generals,
counted as they were taken. This represented twenty-one
divisions as well as many nondivisional units.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
INFANTRYMEN PASS A DEAD GERMAN as they cross a stream (top).
Third Army troops climbing a steep hill in the mountainous
region (bottom). On 10 April the Ninth, First, and Third Armies
resumed the attack to the east with twenty-two divisions. Only
in the Harz Mountains was any serious organized resistance
encountered. The Germans had hurriedly assembled about 10,000
men to form an army which was initially to break through into
the Ruhr pocket. When that failed it was to break through to the
Thuringian pocket. This also failed and the small army which
represented the last of the German manpower was encircled by the
U. S. forces.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
VEHICLES OF AN ARMORED DIVISION passing through a burning
German town. On 18 April the three armies were along the Elbe
River-Mulde River-Chemnitz-Plauen-Bayreuth line which was a
restraining line established because of the probability of
contact with the Russian troops advancing from the east. In the
north the 21 Army Group was advancing on Bremen and the Elbe
between Wittenberge and Hamburg.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
ENGINEERS, building a bridge across the Saale River, pull a tank
across on one of the pontoon sections (top). Magdeburg, showing
the results of bombing (bottom).]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
TANK DESTROYERS moving through the destroyed town of Magdeburg.
Scenes such as this were found in many German cities by the
advancing Allied forces. Most of the buildings were reduced
to rubble by aerial attacks and artillery shelling, and many
streets had to be cleared before the troops and vehicles could
pass.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
TRAFFIC MOVING ACROSS THE MAIN RIVER at Wuerzburg (top). A
medium tank climbing the bank of a small stream after breaking
through the light wooden bridge (bottom). There was little
activity in the 6th Army Group between 4 and 18 April except on
the northern portion of the army area where the Third Army right
flank was covered. On 5 April Wuerzburg was cleared after three
days of heavy fighting.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
AN ARMORED COMBAT COMMAND moving toward Nuernberg (top). A
German civilian, waving a white flag in surrender, comes toward
a half-track which is about to enter Geisselhardt after shelling
buildings in that town (bottom).]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
INFANTRYMEN MOVING DOWN A STREET in Waldenburg during the
Seventh Army advance. The French First Army cleared Baden-Baden
and Pforzheim and by 15 April Kehl was cleared and preparations
for crossing the Rhine at Strasbourg were made.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
INFANTRYMEN CLIMBING OVER RUBBLE as they clear snipers out of
Nuernberg. By 18 April part of the Seventh Army was in the
battle for Nuernberg. Other troops of that army were halted for
nine days around Heilbronn and along the Neckar and Jagst Rivers.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
ENGINEERS MOVING PONTOONS TO THE DANUBE to start bridging
operations (top). Infantrymen crossing the Danube over a
footbridge (bottom). The Third Army advanced down the Danube
while the First and Ninth Armies held in place, having reached
the line where the meeting with the Russians was to take place.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
U. S. OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN MEET RUSSIAN TROOPS in Germany.
On 30 April a division of the Ninth U. S. Army made contact with
the Russians at Apollensdorf. Troops of the First U. S. Army had
met Russian troops earlier.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
MEN OF AN ARMORED DIVISION running through the smoke-filled
streets of a German town (top). Firing on an Austrian town
across the German border (bottom). Most of Czechoslovakia and a
large portion of Austria was left for the Russians to occupy,
but the advancing troops of the Third U. S. Army entered both
these countries during the last days of the war.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
GERMAN SOLDIERS. The First and Ninth Armies, during the latter
part of April and early May 1945, handled thousands of German
soldiers and civilians who were trying to escape the advancing
Russians by crossing the Elbe River into the American zone.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
CAPTURED U-BOATS in a submarine construction and repair yard in
Bremen harbor. Over forty submarines were found by the Allies in
this yard.]
[Illustration: FRANCE
SUBMARINE PENS AT SAINT-NAZAIRE, on the Brittany peninsula. No
attempt was made to capture these U-boat pens as the Allies
advanced through France and Germany, but they were surrounded
and contained until the end of the war.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: AUSTRIA
TANKS AND TRUCKS of a Third Army armored division fording a
stream during their advance into Austria. In the foreground is
a medium tank M 4A 3 (76-mm. long-barrel gun with muzzle brake)
with horizontal volute spring suspension and an improved, wider
track measuring twenty-three inches.]
[Illustration: AUSTRIA
MOVING INTO AUSTRIA.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GERMANY
GERMAN PRISONERS being marched to the prisoner of war enclosure
by Third Army military police. During the period from 22 April
to 7 May the Third Army took more than 200,000 prisoners while
suffering less than 2,400 casualties.]
[Illustration: AUSTRIA
A GERMAN HORSE-DRAWN CONVOY moves along a winding mountain road
in Austria to surrender. From 1 April 1945 until the end of the
war the three armies of the U. S. 12th Army Group took over
1,800,000 prisoners.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
SOLDIERS CROSSING THE DANUBE (Seventh Army). The two armies of
6th Army Group launched a drive into southern Germany, the area
where the remaining German forces supposedly were to make a
determined stand.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
AN ASSAULT BOAT crossing the Danube. Seventh Army men met no
opposition here. In the Black Forest and the Schwaebische Alps
troops of the Seventh Army met some opposition and there was
some fighting as two German armies were trapped and destroyed.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
CAPTURING GUARDS AT DACHAU, ten miles northwest of Munich
(top). A few of the guards of the concentration camp remain
standing with their arms raised while the majority lie on the
ground, waiting to be taken prisoner. An enlisted man gives his
cigarettes to inmates at Dachau (bottom). On 29 April troops of
the U. S. Seventh Army captured Dachau and released over 30,000
prisoners of many nationalities.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: AUSTRIA
TROOPS TAKING COVER as members of a German officer candidate
school fire on them. These enemy troops offered the Seventh Army
considerable resistance before they were taken. In this area
snow remained on the ground until late spring.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: AUSTRIA
SEVENTH AND FIFTH ARMY TROOPS MEET at Nauders, Austria. On 4
May, Seventh U. S. Army troops captured the town of Brenner in
the Brenner Pass, and a few hours later contact was made with
elements of the Fifth U. S. Army which had fought its way up the
Italian peninsula. On the same day Berchtesgaden was entered.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
A GERMAN CIVILIAN reading of the surrender of the German forces
in a division newspaper. On 7 May 1945 the Germans signed the
surrender terms which were to become effective at 0001, 9 May
1945; 8 May, however, was designated as V-E Day (Victory in
Europe). In some remote areas fighting continued until 11 May.]
[Illustration: GERMANY
MEMBERS OF THE STARS AND STRIPES STAFF grab copies of the extra
edition as they come off the press, proclaiming V-E Day (top).
U. S. sailor and soldier celebrate V-E Day in London (bottom).]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: FRANCE
MEN MARCHING TO THE DOCKS AT LE HAVRE to board a ship that will
take them home to be discharged under the new point system. Men
with the highest numbers of points were sent home first for
discharge. These numbers were determined by the total number of
months of service, total number of months overseas, number of
awards and decorations, and the number of dependents.]
[Illustration: FRANCE
U. S. LIBERATED PRISONERS OF WAR leave a plane at Reims on the
first lap of their journey back to the United States.]
[Illustration: ENGLAND
FLOODLIGHTS ILLUMINATE BIG BEN on the Houses of Parliament
as the lights go on again in London on V-E night after being
blacked out during the war years. Early in May 1945 there were
approximately 4,500,000 troops under the command of the supreme
commander in Europe. Casualties for the western Allies numbered
over 800,000. At the end of the war there were nine Allied
armies, totaling ninety-three divisions, on the Continent.]
Appendix A
List of Abbreviations
BAR Browning automatic rifle
cm. Centimeter
DD Duplex drive
DUKW 2½-ton 6 × 6 amphibian truck
E-boat Small torpedo boat (German)
Flak Fliegerabwehrkanone (antiaircraft artillery gun)
Jaeg. Jaegdtiger (tank-destroyer)
K. Kanone (gun)
Kar. Karabiner (carbine)
Kw. Kraftwagen (motor vehicle)
Kw. K. Kampfwagenkanone (tank gun)
LBK Landing barge, kitchen
LBV Landing barge, vehicle
LCI Landing craft, infantry
LCR(S) Landing craft, rubber (small)
LCT Landing craft, tank
LCT(R) Landing craft, tank (rocket)
LCVP Landing craft, vehicle-personnel
LST Landing ship, tank
M. G. Maschinengewehr (machine gun)
mm. Millimeter
OCS Officer Candidate School
Pak. Panzer abwehrkanone (antitank gun)
Pz. Panzer
Pz. Kpfw. Panzerkampfwagen (tank)
SCR Signal Corps Radio
SHAEL Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force
Stu. G. Sturmgeschuetz (self-propelled assault gun)
Stu. K. Sturmkanone (self-propelled assault gun)
U-boat Submarine
WAAC Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps
WAC Women’s Army Corps
Appendix B
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgment is made to the Keystone Press Agency, Ltd., London,
England, for the first photograph in this volume. All other photographs
came from the Department of Defense and were taken from the U. S. Army
files, except for those accredited below to the U. S. Navy, U. S. Air
Force, and U. S. Coast Guard. (At the time these photographs were
taken, the Coast Guard was operating as a part of the Navy.)
U. S. Navy: pp. 24, 77, 94b, 96, 110b, 122
U. S. Air Force: pp. 8, 9, 12, 18, 19, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35,
38, 39, 48, 49, 76, 78–79, 86–87, 94a, 95, 98, 99, 100–101, 104,
112–13, 116, 118, 126, 129a, 130–31, 140–41, 155, 158–59, 176,
177, 180–81, 188–89, 202, 203, 218–19, 226–27, 236–37, 266–67,
280–81, 296–97, 318–19, 330–31, 334–35, 336–37, 339, 341, 358–59
U. S. Coast Guard: pp. 80, 88a, 92
UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II
The following volumes have been published:
The War Department
Chief of Staff: Prewar Plans and Preparations
Washington Command Post: The Operations Division
Strategic Planning for Coalition Warfare: 1941–1942
Strategic Planning for Coalition Warfare: 1943–1944
Global Logistics and Strategy: 1940–1943
Global Logistics and Strategy: 1943–1945
The Army and Economic Mobilization
The Army and Industrial Manpower
The Army Ground Forces
The Organization of Ground Combat Troops
The Procurement and Training of Ground Combat Troops
The Army Service Forces
The Organization and Role of the Army Service Forces
The Western Hemisphere
The Framework of Hemisphere Defense
Guarding the United States and Its Outposts
The War in the Pacific
The Fall of the Philippines
Guadalcanal: The First Offensive
Victory in Papua
CARTWHEEL: The Reduction of Rabaul
Seizure of the Gilberts and Marshalls
Campaign in the Marianas
The Approach to the Philippines
Leyte: The Return to the Philippines
Triumph in the Philippines
Okinawa: The Last Battle
Strategy and Command: The First Two Years
The Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West
Sicily and the Surrender of Italy
Salerno to Cassino
Cassino to the Alps
The European Theater of Operations
Cross-Channel Attack
Breakout and Pursuit
The Lorraine Campaign
The Siegfried Line Campaign
The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge
The Last Offensive
The Supreme Command
Logistical Support of the Armies, Volume I
Logistical Support of the Armies, Volume II
The Middle East Theater
The Persian Corridor and Aid to Russia
The China-Burma-India Theater
Stilwell’s Mission to China
Stilwell’s Command Problems
Time Runs Out in CBI
The Technical Services
The Chemical Warfare Service: Organizing for War
The Chemical Warfare Service: From Laboratory to Field
The Chemical Warfare Service: Chemicals in Combat
The Corps of Engineers: Troops and Equipment
The Corps of Engineers: The War Against Japan
The Corps of Engineers: The War Against Germany
The Corps of Engineers: Military Construction in the United States
The Medical Department: Hospitalization and Evacuation; Zone of
Interior
The Medical Department: Medical Service in the Mediterranean and
Minor Theaters
The Ordnance Department: Planning Munitions for War
The Ordnance Department: Procurement and Supply
The Ordnance Department: On Beachhead and Battlefront
The Quartermaster Corps: Organization, Supply, and Services, Volume I
The Quartermaster Corps: Organization, Supply, and Services, Volume II
The Quartermaster Corps: Operations in the War Against Japan
The Quartermaster Corps: Operations in the War Against Germany
The Signal Corps: The Emergency
The Signal Corps: The Test
The Signal Corps: The Outcome
The Transportation Corps: Responsibilities, Organization, and
Operations
The Transportation Corps: Movements, Training, and Supply
The Transportation Corps: Operations Overseas
Special Studies
Chronology: 1941–1945
Military Relations Between the United States and Canada: 1939–1945
Rearming the French
Three Battles: Arnaville, Altuzzo, and Schmidt
The Women’s Army Corps
Civil Affairs: Soldiers Become Governors
Buying Aircraft: Materiel Procurement for the Army Air Forces
The Employment of Negro Troops
Manhattan: The U. S. Army and the Atomic Bomb
Pictorial Record
The War Against Germany and Italy: Mediterranean and Adjacent Areas
The War Against Germany: Europe and Adjacent Areas
The War Against Japan
Index
Aachen, Germany, 217, 218–19
Aerial bombardment. _See_ Bombardment, aerial.
Air attacks
Allied, 8, 24, 26, 33
briefing for, 39
German, 34
Air bases. _See_ Airfields.
Aircraft, Allied, 35
bombers, heavy, 8, 13, 19, 26, 32, 33, 59, 202, 399
bombers, light, 104, 116
bombers, medium, 76, 203
burning, 26
damaged, 399
fighters, 9, 48, 49, 59, 105, 338, 399
gliders, 29, 94, 95, 214, 390, 391, 393
identification of, 76, 95
liaison planes, 42, 248, 294
naval, 24
on fire, 105
transport planes, 94, 214, 345, 404, 435
wrecked, 393
Aircraft, German, 400
Airfields
construction of, 18, 105
France, 391
Germany, 404
“Alligators,” 22.
_See also_ Landing craft.
Ambulances, 317
converted jeep, 204
American Red Cross, 25
Ammunition
.30-caliber, 160
.50-caliber, 338
240-mm. howitzer shells, 316
German, 263
mortar shells, 182, 245, 310
Ammunition dump, 160
Amphibian trucks, DUKW’s, 68, 257
Amphibious landings. _See_ Landing operations.
Andernach, Germany, 350
Antiaircraft guns
40-mm., 60
90-mm., 61, 102, 243
German, 343, 366
Antitank guns
3-inch, 102
57-mm., 151, 217
British, 6, 115
damaged, 154
German, 154, 168, 348, 397
Ardennes Forest, 269, 270, 284
Argentan, France, 177
Armored vehicles, 198, 200.
_See also_ Vehicles.
German, 350
Army Post Office, England, 41
Artificial harbor, OMAHA Beach, 118
Artillery
8-inch guns, 192, 206, 371
8-inch howitzer, 192
75-mm. howitzer (pack), 292
105-mm. howitzers, 23, 42, 43, 114, 186, 232, 250, 327, 363
155-mm. guns, 42, 43, 193, 299
155-mm. howitzers, 103, 125, 270, 293
240-mm. howitzer, 186
German, 366
mortars. _See_ Mortars.
observation planes, 42, 248, 294
Artillery barrage, 364
Assault boats, 7, 428.
_See also_ Landing craft.
Assault guns, German, 215, 397
Autobahn, 384
Avranches, France, 156, 158–59
Azimuth instrument, 353
Bailey bridges, 193, 369
Ball-bearing factory, on fire, 31
Bangalore torpedo, 28
Barbed wire, 28, 110, 191, 207, 278, 302
Barrage balloons, 77, 92, 97, 107, 123
Bastogne, Belgium, 280–81, 308
“Bazookas,” 53, 185.
_See also_ Rocket launchers.
Beaches
British sector, 76
OMAHA, 78–79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 106, 118, 119
UTAH, 86–87, 88, 89, 97
Belfast, Northern Ireland, 3, 4
Beurig, Germany, 330–31
Big Ben, V-E night, 436
Bingen, Germany, 364
Bitche, France, 372, 318–19
Bivouac area, 288
Bois du Mont du Roc, France, 126
Bomb, robot, 35
Bomb damage, 139, 151, 154, 156, 217, 344.
_See also_ War damage.
fortifications, 127
France, 125, 178
Germany, 339, 340, 354
railroad bridge, 98
Bomb strike, Schweinfurt, Germany, 30
Bombardment. _See also_ Air attacks.
aerial, 8, 31, 33, 116, 202
artillery, 333
Bombers
heavy, B-17, 8, 13, 19, 32, 33, 59, 202
heavy, B-24, 8, 26, 32, 399
light, A-20, 104, 116
medium, B-26, 76, 203
Bombs, 1,000-pound, 21
Boppard, Germany, 382
Breisach, Germany, 333
Bremen, Germany, 33
Bremen harbor, Germany, 421
Brest, France, 188–89, 207
Bridges
Bailey, 193, 369
damaged, 98, 355, 356, 402
footbridges, 369, 417
ponton, construction of, 60
ponton, heavy, 387
railroad, 401
treadway, 161, 208, 240, 340, 357, 382
British troops, 4
Broderkons Berg, Germany, 358–59
Bulldozers, 129, 161.
_See also_ Tractors.
Cameras
moving picture, 349
still picture, 349
Camouflage, 103, 125, 314
8-inch gun, 305
antiaircraft gun, 61
armored car, 285
German, 91, 117, 124
gun motor carriage, 285
helmet, 108
howitzer, 277
suits, 151
tanks, 150, 204
Canals
Rhône-Rhine, France, 334–35
Vauban, France, 334–35
Vire-Taute, France, 112–13
Widensohlen, France, 334–35
Carbine M1, 184.
_See also_ Small arms.
Carentan, France, 112–13, 114, 115
Cargo planes. _See_ Transport planes.
Casualties, 83, 84, 108
evacuation of, 138, 204, 253
German, 409
Causeway, floating, 119
damaged, 120
Celebration, V-E Day, 433
Champs Elysées, 191
Cherbourg, France, 128, 129, 130–31
enemy fortifications, 127
Civilians
French, 191
German, 396, 401, 405, 414, 432
Clothing
camouflaged, 151, 265, 284
decontamination suits, 11
German, 265
paratroop, 16
pilot, 12
repair of, 307
shoepacs, 283
winter, 11, 284, 292
Colmar, France, 332
Cologne, Germany, 354
Communications, 40, 166
equipment, 56
hand generator GN 45, 85
repair of, 375, 405
SCR 284, 85
SCR 536, 85, 352
short wave aerial kite, 27
switchboard BD71, 175
telephone lines, repair of, 303
Construction
airfields, 18, 105
bridges, 369, 381
pipeline, 196
ponton bridge, 60
Convoy, motor, 155, 170, 308, 317, 357, 394, 424
Crane, truck-mounted, 161
Cub plane, 42
Dachau, Germany, 429
Danube River, 417
Debarkation of troops, Northern Ireland, 3
Depot
Engineer, 44
Ordnance, 20, 22, 43
Distribution point, gasoline, 255
Domfront, France, 178
Dreux, France, 168
Duesseldorf, Germany, 401
DUKW’s, 68, 97
Enclosure, prisoner of war, 408
Evacuation
of casualties, 138, 204, 361
of pilots, 96
Exercise fabius, 66, 67.
_See also_ Training.
Falaise, France, 176
Ferry, Rhino, 122
Fighter planes
P-38, 9
P-47, 9, 59, 338
P-47, damaged, 399
P-47, on fire, 105
P-51, 9, 48, 49
British, 35
German, 400
Fire fighters, British, 34
First aid. _See_ Medical operations.
Flak, 8, 202
Flooded area, 229, 248
Footbridges, 369, 417
Fort de Queuleu, France, 226–27
Fort du Roule, France, 130–31
Fort Saint Julien, France, 226–27
Fort Sebastian, France, 318–19
Fortifications, 216, 347
dragon’s teeth, 373
German, 91, 315, 332
German, damaged, 127
Foxholes, 142, 228, 328
Frankfurt, Germany, 384, 385
French Forces of the Interior, 190
Fuel tank, 48
Gas masks, wearing of, 4, 11
Glider pilots, evacuation of, 96
Gliders, 29, 94, 95, 214, 390, 391
British, 29, 94
wrecked, 94, 393
Gun crews
antiaircraft, 102
naval, 77
Gun motor carriages, 200, 225, 233, 234, 285, 344, 374
Guns
8-inch, 192, 206, 304, 305, 371
155-mm., 193, 299
antiaircraft, 90-mm., 102
antitank, 3-inch, 102
antitank, British, 115
German, 91, 124, 221
Half-tracks, 65, 217, 253, 414
on fire, 264
Hand grenades, 6, 142, 274
Harbors
artificial, 118, 120
Antwerp, 256
Bremen, 421
Brest, 188–89
Cherbourg, 130–31, 132, 172
damaged, 120
Saint-Malo, 180–81
Saint-Nazaire, 422
Headquarters, ETO, London, 45
Hedgerow cutter, 133
Hedgerows, 134, 144, 149, 150, 165
Helmets, 163
camouflaged, 108
World War I, 4, 6
World War II, 16
Hill,
Germany, 358–59
Hospitals
England, 50
evacuation, 109
Howitzers. _See also_ Artillery.
105-mm., 114, 232, 250, 327, 363
155-mm., 103, 125, 270, 293
Howitzer motor carriages, 23, 251, 277, 370
Huertgen Forest, Germany, 234, 235, 241
Infantrymen, 128, 129, 144, 152, 162, 163, 165, 179, 182, 187,
201, 205, 228, 238, 269, 274, 282, 376
aboard ship, 92
column of, 81, 89, 97, 167, 216, 249, 312, 372
German, 197, 263, 264, 265
in glider, 29
wounded, 197
Invasion. _See_ Landing operations.
Invasion beaches. _See_ Beaches.
Invasion operations, 96
Invasion preparations, 70, 75.
_See also_ Training.
Jeeps, 29, 244, 326
with wire cutter, 143
Juelich, Germany, 336–37
Kommerscheidt, Germany, 236–37
Landing craft
assault boat, 7, 428
converted to rocket launcher, 63
LBK, 77
LBV, 77
LCI, 64, 92
LCR, 82
LCT, 55, 64, 65, 77, 81, 96
LGVP, 66, 69, 70, 80, 81, 380, 381
LST, 55, 70, 121
LST, deck loaded, 67
LVT, 22
Landing operations, 76, 78–79, 80, 81, 86–87, 88.
_See also_ Beaches.
Liaison plane, 42
equipped with skis, 294
Life preservers, 7, 12, 82
Life raft, 27
Living conditions, 228, 288, 322, 363
London, 34, 45
Lousberg, Germany, 218–19
Ludendorf Bridge, 355, 356
Lunéville, France, 221
Machine guns
.30-caliber Browning, 11, 134, 179, 217
.45-caliber, 6
.50-caliber Browning, 389
.50-caliber Browning, aircraft, 13
German, 52
Magdeburg, Germany, 411, 412
Mail call, 152
Main River, Germany, 30, 385
Maneuvers, 29, 47, 64.
_See also_ Training.
Manhay, Belgium, 296–97
Map making equipment, 36, 37
Maps
Central Europe, 378
Normandy, 72
Northern France, 146
Rhineland, 210, 324
Marshalling area, England, 69
Masks
gas, 11
oxygen, 12
Medical aid, administering of, 19, 83, 108
Medical aid men, 19, 83, 108, 138, 197, 204, 253, 309, 360
Medical operations, 309, 360
immunization, 252
surgery, 109
Mess, 129, 238, 288, 295, 347
Metz, France, 224, 226–27
Military police, 171, 357
Mine detectors, 88, 93, 375
Mine exploder, 240
Mine field, German, 93
Mines
antipersonnel, 93
antitank, 279
Montebourg, France, 125
Mortars
60-mm., 6, 53, 183
81-mm., 6, 65, 182, 310
chemical, 4.2-inch, 245
Moselle River, 201, 204, 208, 220, 226–27, 244, 364
Motor carriages
gun, 46, 64, 103, 135, 185, 194, 199, 207, 233, 234, 285, 344,
374, 412
howitzer, 150, 169, 199, 251, 277, 370
Mud, 213, 222, 231, 234, 345
Muenchen-Gladbach, Germany, 341
Neckar River, 402
Negro troops, 10, 103, 107
Neuf Brisach, France, 334–35
Niederleuken, Germany, 330–31
Night firing, 316
Nuernberg, Germany, 416
Observation posts, 166, 353, 362
Obstacle, tank, 216, 373
Officer Candidates School, 11
OMAHA Beach, 78–79, 118
Optical equipment, repair of, 14
Our River, 346
Oxygen mask, 12
Oxygen tank, 13
Pack howitzer, 292.
_See also_ Artillery.
Parachute jump suit, 16, 75
Parachutes, 58
Parade, Paris, 191
Paratroopers, 58, 306
Paris, 190
Pillbox, German, 332
Pipeline, gasoline, 132, 196, 254
Pistol, automatic, .45-caliber, 6
Plasma, administrating of, 19, 83
“Priest,” 23
Prisoners of war
Allied, 268, 435
German, 84, 110, 128, 153, 239, 276, 300, 346, 383, 384, 386,
389, 408, 425, 429
Propaganda leaflets, German, 152
Pruem, Germany, 344
Queen Elizabeth, 25
Quonset huts, 50
Railroad
bridge, 98, 401
destroyed, 173
equipment, 44, 54, 172, 173
French, 173
yards, 218–19, 405
Railroads
Belgium, 256, 258
damaged, 339
France, 99, 112–13, 226–27
Germany, 339
Recreation, 184
Red Ball Highway, 170, 171.
_See also_ Roads.
Remagen Bridge, Germany, 355, 356
Repair shop, Ordnance, 14
Rescue launch, British, 27
Rescue operations, 82
Rheine, Germany, 339
Rhine River, 354, 356, 357, 380, 381, 382, 387
Rhino ferry, 122
Rhône-Rhine Canal, 334–35
Rifles. _See also_ Small arms.
.30-caliber M1, 6, 7, 29, 144, 162
.30-caliber M1903, 6
.30-caliber M1903A3, 29
.30-caliber M1918A2, 6, 29
.30-caliber M1919A4, 6
M1 with rifle grenade, 271
German, 52
River crossings, 201, 244, 346, 364, 369, 380, 381, 387, 402, 409,
427
Rivers
France, 98, 140–41, 161, 201, 204, 208, 220, 226–27, 244
Germany, 30, 330–31, 336–37, 340, 354, 356, 357, 364, 380, 381,
382, 385, 387, 402, 411, 417
Luxembourg, 346
Road signs, 286, 424
Roads
Ardennes, 266–67, 271
Austria, 424, 426, 427
Belgium, 198, 280–81, 296–97, 312
France, 78–79, 86–87, 126, 136, 138, 150, 155, 157, 158–59, 167,
170, 185, 195, 226–27, 229, 247, 320
Germany, 216, 234, 235, 236–37, 264, 394, 398, 425
Rocket launcher site, German, 117
Rocket launchers. _See also_ Small arms.
2.36-inch, 29, 53, 185, 306
4.5-inch, 241, 403
German, 174
Rocket projector, German, 343
Roer River, 336–37, 340
Saale River, 411
Saare River, 330–31
Saarrbourg, Germany, 330–31
Saint-Lô, France, 139, 140–41
Saint-Malo, France, 179, 180–81
Saint-Nazaire harbor, France, 422
Schweinfurt, Germany, 30, 31
Seatrain, 172
Seine River, 98
Serrig, Germany, 362
Shell fire, German, 90
Small arms, 6, 29
carbine, 184
German, 52
machine guns, 134, 179, 217, 291
rifles, 162, 271
rocket launcher, 2.36-inch, 53
Thompson submachine gun, 75
Smoke screens, 68, 242
Street fighting, 205, 217, 224, 407
Cherbourg, 128
Submachine guns, .45-caliber, 29, 75.
_See also_ Small arms.
Submarine pens, German, 422
Submarines, German, 421
bombing of, 24
Supply operations, 122, 132, 170, 171, 256, 257, 258, 308, 404
aerial, 95, 345
German, 99
Normandy, 123
UTAH Beach, 97
Tank destroyer, 412
Tanks
damaged, 136, 137
French, 157
German, 136, 137, 268, 301
light, 47, 133, 150, 247, 289, 314, 367
medium, 15, 22, 47, 62, 137, 149, 156, 160, 164, 168, 195, 204,
221, 230, 231, 233, 244, 307, 332, 342, 351, 367, 388, 398,
403, 414, 419, 423
on fire, 351
waterproofed, 62, 388
with hedgerow cutter, 133, 149
with rocket launcher, 403
with track extensions, 230, 231
Tanks, containers
fuel, 48
oxygen, 13
water, 50
10 Downing Street, London, 45
Tents, 50, 109
Terrain
Ardennes, 266–67
Austria, 426, 430, 431
Belgium, 280–81, 296–97
England, 35
flooded, 229
France, 78–79, 86–87, 95, 98, 100–101, 126, 140–41, 158–59, 176,
177, 220, 226–27, 318–19, 330–31, 334–35
Germany, 236–37, 336–37, 358–59, 362, 373, 409
Thanksgiving Day dinner, 228
_The Stars and Stripes_, V-E edition, 433
Tractors
diesel, 161
high-speed, 18-ton M4, 192
Train, German, wrecked, 99
Training
England, 6, 23, 28, 29, 42, 46, 53, 58, 60, 65, 66, 68, 69
Northern Ireland, 5, 17, 52
Officer Candidate School, 11
Scotland, 7
Transport planes, C-47, 94, 345, 404, 435
Transport ship, British, 25
Treadway bridges, 208, 240, 340, 357, 382
construction of, 161
Trench, 251
Trévières, France, 100–101
Troops. _See also_ Infantrymen.
German, 420
Russian, 418
20 Grosvenor Square, London, 45
UTAH Beach, 86–87, 88
Vauban Canal, France, 334–35
V-bomb, German, 400
Vehicles
ambulances, 19, 109, 317, 326
amphibian trucks, 68, 97, 123
armored car, 156, 157, 198, 200, 285
bulldozers, 44, 129, 161
burning, 407
cargo carrier, 253
damaged, 395
French, 190
German, 115, 195, 420, 426
gun motor carriages, 46, 103, 135, 185, 200, 207, 225
half-tracks, 46, 65, 217, 414
horse-drawn, 420, 426
howitzer motor carriages, 150, 169, 199
jeeps, 29, 326
on fire, 195
semitrailer, 258, 404
tank recovery, 65, 216
tractor, 20, 21, 44, 192
trailer, 170
trucks, 18, 121, 123, 170
weapons carrier, 122
Vire River, France, 161
Vire-Taute Canal, France, 112–13
Waldenburg, Germany, 415
War damage, 129, 155, 364, 385, 389, 411, 412, 415, 416
Water tanks, 50
“Weasel,” 253
Weather conditions, 5, 228, 229, 249, 250, 253, 255, 266–67, 288,
295, 320, 326, 430
Weather forecasting equipment, 38
Widensohlen Canal, France, 334–35
Women
American Red Cross, 25
Army Auxiliary Corps, 25
Army Corps, 40
Army nurse, 51
Wuerzburg, Germany, 413
✋ U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1988 203-040/80010
PIN: 039019-000
FOOTNOTES:
[1] See Gordon A. Harrison, Cross-Channel Attack, Washington, D. C.,
1951.
[2] See Martin Blumenson, Break-Out and Pursuit.
[3] See H. M. Cole, The Lorraine Campaign, Washington, D. C., 1950; and
Gordon A. Harrison and Forest C. Pogue, Jr., The Rhineland and Central
Germany, now in preparation for the series U. S. ARMY IN WORLD WAR II.
Transcriber’s Notes:
Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected
silently.