The operations conducted from April 5 to April 18, 1945, in the Ruhr area are commonly referred to as
the Battle of the Ruhr Pocket.
While there isn't a specific codename for the entire operation encompassing the reduction of the Ruhr Pocket,
it was part of a broader campaign that included earlier operations such
as Operation Plunder, which facilitated the crossing of the Rhine River by Allied forces.
The strategy for the Reduction of the Ruhr Pocket and the subsequent advance to the Elbe and Mulde Rivers was
primarily orchestrated by General Dwight D. Eisenhower,
the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces.
It was executed through collaborative efforts among various Allied commanders, particularly
General Omar Bradley (American) and
Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery (British).
:: Background ::
These operations aimed to encircle and eliminate a substantial German military presence in the Ruhr area, a vital
industrial region for Nazi Germany.
By late March 1945, Allied forces had successfully crossed the Rhine River, establishing a foothold that allowed
them to advance into Germany. The U.S. First Army and Ninth Army executed a double envelopment strategy to trap
German forces in the Ruhr.
The encirclement was completed on April 1, 1945, when American troops converged near Lippstadt, effectively sealing
off approximately 350,000 German soldiers within the pocket.
:: Key Operations April 5-18, 1945 ::
Following the encirclement, American forces began systematic attacks on April 5. The U.S. Ninth Army initiated
operations from the north while the First Army advanced from the south, aiming to dismantle German defenses.
Over the next few days, American troops captured key cities such as Bochum and Essen. By April 14, U.S. forces
managed to split the Ruhr Pocket into two parts near Hagen, further crippling German resistance.
German Surrender: As American pressure
intensified, German Field Marshal Walter Model faced insurmountable
odds. On April 16, the eastern portion of the pocket surrendered, followed by the western section on April 18. This
led to over 300,000 German troops becoming prisoners of war — the largest single surrender of German forces in Western
Europe during the war.
With German forces in disarray, Allied commanders could pivot their focus toward advancing eastward towards the Elbe and
Mulde rivers. This movement aimed to secure positions before Soviet forces could reach Berlin.
Credits
Courtesy of the United States Military Academy Department of History.
