Where did the Allies cross the Rhine?

Remagen
The crossing of the Rhine at Remagen, however, marked a decisive moment heralding the impending collapse of Germany. The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen shortly after its capture, 7 March 1945.

How did the Allies cross the Rhine?

The US Third Army carried out four river assaults in late March. The 5th Infantry Division undertook the first on March 22, 1945, crossing the Rhine at Oppenheim, south of Mainz. They crossed without the usual artillery preparation, a maneuver that caught German troops by surprise.

When did the Allies first cross the Rhine?

March 7, 1945
Despite a partial news blackout, reporters are able to deliver some information about the U.S. Army’s successful crossing of the Rhine on March 7, 1945, though it is not yet known whether the Allies have captured the Ludendorff Bridge from the Germans.

What was the significance of the capture of the Rhine bridgehead?

The sudden capture of a bridge across the Rhine was front-page news in American newspapers. The unexpected availability of a bridgehead on the eastern side of the Rhine more than two weeks in advance of Operation Plunder allowed Allied high commander Dwight Eisenhower to alter his plans to end the war.

Why did the Allies fail to cross the Rhine in 1944?

The Allies had failed to cross the Rhine. The river remained a barrier to their advance into Germany until offensives at Remagen, Oppenheim, Rees and Wesel in March 1945. The failure of Operation Market Garden to form a foothold over the Rhine ended Allied expectations of finishing the war by Christmas 1944.

What weapons did the Germans use to destroy the Rhine bridge?

Over the next 10 days, after its capture on 7 March 1945 and until its failure on 17 March, the Germans used virtually every weapon at their disposal to try to destroy the bridge. This included infantry and armor, howitzers, mortars, floating mines, mined boats, a railroad gun, and the giant 600 mm Karl-Gerät super-heavy mortar.

How did Operation Market Garden affect WW2?

A two-phase offensive, Operation Market Garden called for airborne troops to parachute into the German-occupied Netherlands and seize key bridges across the Maas, Waal, and Lower Rhine Rivers. The paratroopers would hold the bridges until relieved by ground troops racing swiftly through the Netherlands and into Germany.