In mid-April 1945, just three weeks before VE-Day, US forces attempted to cross the Elbe River, the last natural barrier before Berlin. At one bridgehead the Americans were attacked by a battlegroup from one of Germany’s new infantry units, the Scharnhorst Division, with very depressing results for the Americans. Was this the last German victory in the West?
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA, is a well-known British historian and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers ‘Zero Night’ and ‘Castle of the Eagles’, both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Felton
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Credits: US National Archives; Library of Congress
Thumbnail Art: Ron Volstad
Sources:
– ”Elbe Operation’ – https://www.indianamilitary.org/83RD/Lt%20Houck%20Account/elbe_operation.htm#WESTERHUSEN%20CROSSING
– US Army in World War II, The Last Offensive: Chapter XVII
Sweep to the Elbe – https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Last/USA-E-Last-17.html
– ‘Downfall: 1945’ by Steven Zaloga, (Osprey: 2016)
– ‘Phase III – Bridging of the Elbe’ – https://www.17th-engineers.nl/nl/phase-iii-bridging-of-the-elbe/
