Capture of Cologne

E74917

The Capture of Cologne was a key World War II operation in early 1945 in which Western Allied forces seized the major German city of Cologne, helping open the way into the heart of Nazi Germany.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Battle of Cologne 1945 1

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf battle of World War II
military operation
belligerent Germany
Allies of World War II
surface form: Western Allies
combatType combined arms operation
urban warfare
commanderSide U.S. 3rd Armored Division
U.S. 1st Army
surface form: United States First Army
conflict World War II
consequence collapse of German defenses west of the Rhine in that sector
facilitated Allied advance into central Germany
countryInvolved Canada
Nazi Germany
United Kingdom
United States of America
followedBy Allied operations east of the Rhine
front Western Front
historicalEra World War II
surface form: Second World War
involves air support
armored units
artillery support
infantry units
location Cologne NERFINISHED
Germany
North Rhine-Westphalia
notableEvent destruction of parts of Cologne city center
urban combat in Cologne
objective seizure of major German city of Cologne
opponent German Army Group B
Wehrmacht
opposingForceType German regular army units
local German defenders
partOf Allied advance from the Rhine to the Elbe
Western Allied invasion of Germany
politicalContext Nazi Germany nearing defeat
precededBy Allied advance to the Rhine
result Allied victory
capture of Cologne by Western Allies
significance capture of one of Germany’s largest cities by Allies
psychological blow to Nazi Germany
strategicImportance opened way into the heart of Nazi Germany
secured a major Rhine crossing area
target Cologne NERFINISHED
theater European theatre of World War II
timePeriod early 1945
year 1945

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Western Allied invasion of Germany hasPart Capture of Cologne
M26 Pershing tank notableEngagement Capture of Cologne
subject surface form: M26 Pershing
this entity surface form: Battle of Cologne 1945