Overview
This detailed study explores the final, climactic battle against Germany in the Ruhr industrial zone.
The Ruhr had long been an Allied objective due to its heavy concentration of German war industries. Its importance became even greater in the spring of 1945 when Hitler ordered "Festung Ruhr" (the Ruhr Fortress) to be held to the last man, with no hope of retreat. For the Wehrmacht, this was a death sentence, as the largest remaining element of the German Army, Heeresgruppe B, was deployed in the Ruhr. By this stage of the war, however, Germany's military industries were on the verge of collapse while critical shortages of fuel, ammunition and equipment left it with few options.
The Allied offensives in March 1945 isolated Heeresgruppe B from other units. In response, German commander Walter Model ordered a counterattack to blunt the American encirclement. However, by April 1, the US had the area surrounded. The US First and Ninth Armies led the operation, leading to the collapse of the pocket. Some 317,000 German troops surrendered in the Ruhr. With detailed maps and diagrams, stunning artwork and period images, historian Steven J. Zaloga examines the destruction of Heeresgruppe B and the Ruhr Pocket, which marked an end to large-scale German operations and ultimately led to the capitulation of the army.
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