March 1945

March 17th, 1945

Attack Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen

SS-Jagdeinsatz Donau

During the cold night, the men swim downstream in the Rhine, carrying torpedo mines. It takes them about one and a half hours to reach Remagen. Schreiber realises the enemy has built two additional pontoon bridges upstream. Despite the challenging conditions, the unit damages and renders the Ludendorff Bridge unusable. Schreiber aims to destroy a pontoon bridge, but the combat swimmers are detected by Canal Defense Light beams. He loses three men, two to the cold, while the remaining swimmers are captured by the Americans, exhausted and half-frozen.

March 24th, 1945

Operation Varsity, 6th Airborne Division

The Parachute Regiment, The Glider Regiment, 6th Airborne Division

On March 24th, 1945, the 6th Airborne Division participates in Operation Varsity, an airborne assault aimed at facilitating the Allied crossing of the River Rhine. Over the Rhine, the first British formation of the 6th Airborne Division to land is the 8th Parachute Battalion, belonging to the 3rd Parachute Brigade commanded by Brigadier James Hill. The brigade drops onto Drop Zone A nine minutes ahead of schedule, successfully landing despite encountering intense German small-arms and 20-millimetres anti-aircraft fire. As the troops engage enemy forces within the Diersfordter Wald, they sustain several casualties. However, by 11:00 hours, the brigade has effectively cleared the drop zone of German resistance, and all battalions are formed and ready for action. A strategically important position at Schnappenberg is swiftly captured by the 9th Parachute Battalion, operating alongside troops from the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. However, the Canadian battalion’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Nicklin, is tragically killed by German small-arms fire moments after landing. Despite further casualties, the brigade successfully drives the Germans from the area. By 13:45 hours, Brigadier Hill reports that all of the brigade’s objectives have been fully secured. Canadian medical orderly Corporal Frederick George Topham is later awarded the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary bravery under fire, as he rescued and treated wounded soldiers despite sustaining injuries himself. Following closely behind is the 5th Parachute Brigade, under Brigadier Nigel Poett, landing on Drop Zone B. Although this brigade achieves its landing zone, poor visibility leads to less accurate drops than those of the 3rd Parachute Brigade, complicating the assembly of troops on the ground. The brigade faces immediate resistance from nearby German units, coming under intense small-arms fire, artillery bombardment, and mortar fire, resulting in casualties in their assembly points. Nevertheless, the 7th Parachute Battalion soon clears the area of enemy troops occupying farms and nearby buildings. The 12th and 13th Parachute Battalions promptly secure the brigade’s remaining objectives. Subsequently, the brigade advances eastwards to clear German positions around Schermbeck and engages enemy concentrations near the farmhouse used as headquarters by the 6th Airborne Division. By 15:30 hours, Brigadier Poett confirms that all objectives have been secured and successful links established with other airborne formations. The 6th Airlanding Brigade commanded by Brigadier Hugh Bellamy, lands shortly afterwards by glider. Tasked with capturing several key locations, including the town of Hamminkeln, this brigade is split into company-sized groups, landing across Landing Zones P, O, U, and R under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Difficulties are exacerbated by dense haze and smoke, causing several glider pilots to become disoriented, leading to crashes or landings away from designated areas. Despite this confusion, most gliders land safely enough for the brigade’s battalions to achieve their mission objectives. They swiftly capture three vital bridges across the River Issel intact. Furthermore, with assistance from American troops of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, who inadvertently land in the vicinity, the brigade successfully secures Hamminkeln itself. Shortly after taking the town, Brigadier Bellamy reports all objectives secured and firmly under British control.

March 24th, 1945

Operation Varsity, 17th Airborne Division

17th Airborne Division

The 17th Airborne Division, comprising the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, plays a crucial role in Operation Varsity. Colonel Edson Raff’s 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment lands first but is divided due to poor visibility; Raff rallies his troops, engaging German artillery and securing objectives by the early afternoon. Private George Peters is posthumously awarded the Medal of Honour for his actions during this operation. Following closely, Colonel James Coutts’ 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment encounters severe anti-aircraft fire and misses its drop zone, landing instead near British forces. Quickly reorganising, they support British troops in neutralising German artillery and capturing Hamminkeln, successfully completing all assigned objectives. Private First Class Stuart Stryker also posthumously earns a Medal of Honour for bravery in combat. Finally, the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, under Colonel James Pierce, lands amidst heavy fire, suffering significant aircraft losses. They immediately engage and defeat multiple German artillery positions targeting Allied Rhine crossings. The regiment secures all objectives, destroying significant German artillery, tanks, and self-propelled vehicles, effectively contributing to the overall success of Operation Varsity.

March 24th, 1945

Operation Varsity, Office of Strategic Services Teams

Office of Strategic Services

Captain Vinciguerra’s Office of Strategic Services detachment consists of sixteen operatives tasked primarily with infiltrating German rear areas immediately upon landing. Their objectives include collecting real-time intelligence on enemy movements, identifying defensive positions, and conducting limited sabotage operations to disrupt German defences during the critical initial hours of the operation. Employing deception and mobility, two agents, Helmut Steltermann and Robert Staub, disguise themselves in German Wehrmacht uniforms, intending to blend in and operate a captured Volkswagen Kübelwagen. Equipped with long-range radios, the team plans to relay intelligence and sabotage enemy communications amidst invasion chaos. Named Operation Algonquin, the Office of Strategic Services detachment divides into four two-man teams: Alsace, Poissy, S&S, and Student. Unlike previous missions, these teams land simultaneously with the main airborne assault forces from the US 17th Airborne and British 6th Airborne Divisions, using military gliders for insertion. However, upon approach, intense German anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire severely disrupts their landing. Vinciguerra’s glider sustains critical damage from flak, causing the destruction of the Kübelwagen tyres and essential communication equipment. Several Office of Strategic Services operatives, including Vinciguerra and Steltermann, are injured but manage to seek cover. Immediately following landing, severe setbacks arise. German defensive fire inflicts casualties, immobilises the Office of Strategic Services detachment, destroys vital equipment, and quickly negates their mission objectives. The intended confusion to mask their movements does not materialise as the operatives land amidst heavily contested drop zones. Steltermann and Staub become trapped in their Wehrmacht uniforms alongside Allied airborne troops, unable to carry out planned deception tasks. Injured, pinned down, and lacking operational mobility, the OSS operatives fail to undertake their intended covert missions. Moreover, the rapid Allied advance soon renders further intelligence-gathering redundant.