Western Allied invasion of Germany

1945 offensive in the European theatre of World War II

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 east of the Rhine, a series of offensive operations were designed to seize and capture its east and west banks: Operation Veritable and Operation Grenade in February 1945, and Operation Lumberjack and Operation Undertone in March 1945; these are considered separate from the main invasion operation. The Allied invasion of Germany east of the Rhine started with the Western Allies crossing the river 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. After making first contact with the Red Army from the east, thereby cutting Germany in two on 25 April 1945 (known as Elbe Day), they linked up with troops of the U.S. Fifth Army in Italy.

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