Broich Bash

Following the conclusion of the Ardennes offensive, the VII Corps was returned to the location in Germany which it had occupied prior to the battle. The Corp’s next mission was to attack across the Ruhr and advance northeast, covering the Ninth Army’s southern flank as it attacked toward the …

1945-03-02

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Following the conclusion of the Ardennes offensive, the VII Corps was returned to the location in Germany which it had occupied prior to the battle. The Corp’s next mission was to attack across the Ruhr and advance northeast, covering the Ninth Army’s southern flank as it attacked toward the Rhine. On 23 February, VII Corps attacked across the Ruhr. At the Erft, the German units opposing the Corps were in poor condition. The Corps estimated that it faced remnants of 5 German Divisions totaling 2950 men and 40 tanks. These forces had prepared defensive positions west of Cologne using villages as strong points. Broich was on such village.

Broich, Germany

The Western Allied invasion of Germany was coordinated by the Western Allies during the final months of hostilities in the European theatre of World War II. In preparation for the Allied invasion of Germany, a series of offensive operations were designed to seize and capture the east and west bank of the Rhine River: Operation Veritable and Operation Grenade in February 1945, and Operation Lumberjack and Operation Undertone in March 1945. The Allied invasion of Germany started with the Western Allies crossing the Rhine on 22 March 1945 before fanning out and overrunning all of western Germany from the Baltic in the north to the Alpine passes in the south, where they linked up with troops of the U.S. Fifth Army in Italy. Combined with the capture of Berchtesgaden, any hope of Nazi leadership continuing to wage war from a so-called "National redoubt" or escape through the Alps was crushed, shortly followed by unconditional German surrender on 8 May 1945. This is known as the "Central Europe campaign" in United States military histories.

American

German

Scenario Type = Standard