Operation Plunder

E8785

Operation Plunder was the Allied amphibious and airborne assault across the Rhine River in March 1945 that helped open the way into the heart of Nazi Germany.

Aliases (1)
  • Operation Varsity ×5

Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf World War II operation
military operation
airborneComponent Operation Varsity
alsoKnownAs Rhine crossing at Wesel
belligerent Allied forces
Nazi Germany
bridgeheadEstablished east bank of the Rhine near Wesel
commander Bernard Montgomery
Dwight D. Eisenhower
conflict World War II
countryInvolved Canada
Germany
United Kingdom
United States
date March 23–28, 1945
endDate 1945-03-28
followedBy Allied invasion of northern Germany
front Western Front
historicalSignificance contributed to the collapse of German defenses in the Ruhr area
key step in final Allied advance into Germany in 1945
includedComponent airborne assault
involvedUnit British 21st Army Group
British Second Army
First Canadian Army
U.S. Ninth Army
location near Wesel, Germany
notableFeature largest single-day airborne drop of World War II in support (Operation Varsity)
objective crossing the Rhine River
opening the way into western Germany
opponentCommander German Army Group H commanders
partOf Western Front of World War II
place Rhine River, Germany
plannedBy Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery
precededBy Allied advance to the Rhine
preparation extensive air support
heavy artillery bombardment
result Allied victory
successful Allied crossing of the Rhine
riverCrossed Rhine
startDate 1945-03-23
strategicEffect breach of Germany’s last major natural defensive barrier in the west
facilitated Allied advance into northern Germany
supportedByOperation Operation Varsity
theater European Theater of Operations
typeOfAssault amphibious assault
river crossing operation


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