Nuremberg marked the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Nuremberg on Sunday, April 20. It was a pivotal urban-combat conflict in the final weeks of World War II. The battle, which took place from April 16 to April 20, 1945, resulted in the capture of the city by American forces after an intense battle with German defenders. The US Seventh Army capture of Nuremberg culminated with the raising of the American flag at the Zeppelinfeld, the Nazi rally stadium.
City officials, historians, and local residents gathered at sites across the once-Medieval imperial city of Nuremberg to commemorate the anniversary, including the Nuremberg Castle and the Old Town area, much of which was heavily damaged during the fighting and preceding Allied bombing campaigns.
The battle was part of the US Seventh Army’s advance into southern Germany. Lieutenant General Alexander M. “Sandy” Patch led the Seventh Army through its campaigns in southern Germany, including the capture of Nuremberg, until his death in November 1945. Patch was born in Fort Huachuca, Arizona on Nov. 23, 1889, and this account recognizes him as one of the most under appreciated generals of US military history.
Nuremberg was the heart of national Socialism under Hitler’s regime, serving as the site of six massive Nazi rallies between 1933 and 1938, and was the location of the Reichsparteitag (Reich Party Congress) grounds. The capture of the city by the US 45th Infantry Division was both a strategic and psychological blow to Nazi Germany in the closing days of the war.
April 20, which was also Adolf Hitler’s birthday, was the day American forces finally took control of the city, after fighting five days in what was block by block urban warfare, with snipers around every corner.
“The Germans used every trick in the book to hold the city,” says the history of the 3rd Infantry Division published by the US Army in 1947. Aside from small arms fire, US fighters even encountered German corpses rigged with booby traps.
The fall of Nuremberg was quickly followed by the capture of Munich and, in early May, Germany’s unconditional surrender.
Today’s commemorative events in Germany included a wreath-laying ceremony, a historical exhibition at the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds, and moments of silence to honor both military personnel and civilians who lost their lives.
Read more about the battle of Nuremberg at this History.net link.
Throughout the spring of 1945, American forces continued to push the German Army eastward. It was only a matter of time before they contacted the Russian army on the banks of the Elbe River near the town of Torgau in Germany on April 25, 1945.
Elbe Day is the day Soviet and Allied troops met at the Elbe River, marking an important step toward the end of World War II in Europe. This contact, between the Soviets advancing from the east and the Americans advancing from the west, meant that the two powers had effectively cut Germany in two. The Russian Embassy in the United States commemorates this day every year in the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, inviting many guests for this historic event of war cooperation between two great nations.
Alexander; I like your study on WWII.
If I could add that North Africa’s 2nd battle of El Alamein was also a turning point in the war because Germany was out of petro and was stopped by the British led victory that kept the Axis powers From advancing to the Middle East in pursuit of Iranian oil and going after the jews in that area. The Allies were led by British Lieutenant General Montgomery.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was quoted ”It can be said that before El Alamein we had no victory’s, after El Alamein we had no defeats”.
Imagine if FDR had not answered the call, as Trump certainly would not today.
There is probably a more appropriate post to air out your immature TDS. Show a little respect for the occasion and those who participated. Geez!
Predicting the future, are you?
Classic TDS, Dog, making everything about Trump. On April 21, 753 B.C., Romulus and his twin Remus, founded Rome. Bet you can make that about Trump, too, without even trying.
Dawg, your grasp of history is little better than your understanding of politics.
I might remind you that FDR did not want to declare war on Germany. The hostilities officially began after Germany declared war on the U.S. This action by Hitler forced FDR to ,” answer the call”.
I hopecthat clears up things for ya.
FDR didn’t answer the call, Congress did on account of they have the power to declare war not the president. While we’re playing the imagine of game, imagine if FDR allowed Jews who were fleeing Hitler to actually come to America, how many Jewish lives would have been saved? FDR turned away the SS St. Louis with 937 souls aboard, while it was off our coastline. In fact FDR didn’t do anything for Jewish war refugees until near the end of the war and the War Refugee Board slow walked and that were admitted. Add in the fact that FDR put Americans in internment camps and it’s plain to see that you are once again barking up the wrong tree.
You are correct, Steve. In addition, the Dominican Republic accepted Jewish refugees from Europe during World War II. In fact, it was one of the few countries willing to do so. DR offered an agricultural settlement and subsidies to house these refugees. Around 750 Jewish refugees from Europe settled in Sosúa region in DR, creating a synagogue and a small community that still exists today.
Also, Haiti played a significant role in helping Jewish refugees escape Nazi persecution during World War II. Haiti issued passports and visas to thousands of Jews, enabling them to flee Europe. In 1937, Haiti issued visas and passports to Jews, allowing them to immigrate to Haiti. By 1939, Haiti had accepted around 150 Jewish refugees from Central Europe.
American Jewry and FDR government were reluctant to accept European Jews; if they did, it could save millions of lives, including some of my family members in Kiev.
There is a picture taken from the open bomb bay of a U.S. bomber of Auschwitz. People pleaded to have the Army Airforce bomb the railhead. The request was denied. Jews were expendable and not “strategic”. To say Trump wouldn’t do this or that is pure fantasy. I guess praising Biden for being in wars yet ignoring the Afghan abandonment is OK. By the way Joe… what time was it as each casket passed?
Steve-O imagine if our current president had FOUR terms like FDR did by the time he passed April 12, 1945! ( elected 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944)
In January 1941, following up on his campaign pledge and the Churchill’s appeal for arms, FDR proposed to Congress a Lend-Lease military aid bill. The proposed plan was to “lend-lease or otherwise dispose of arms” and other supplies needed by any country whose security was vital to the defense of the United States. Of course, FDR couldn’t act without the approval of Congress, which he ultimately received. And in spite of his previous promises of neutrality, eventually the US joined the fight and FDR, along with the other Allied leaders, FDR was instrumental in prosecuting the was and in securing both victory and peace. If that doesn’t count as answering the call, I don’t know what does.
Trump, on the other hand, would either demand cash up front, or simply let our allies twist in the wind.
CORRECTION
In January 1941, following up on his campaign pledge and the Churchill’s appeal for arms, FDR proposed to Congress a Lend-Lease military aid bill. The proposed plan was to “lend-lease or otherwise dispose of arms” and other supplies needed by any country whose security was vital to the defense of the United States. Of course, FDR couldn’t act without the approval of Congress, which he ultimately received. And in spite of his previous promises of neutrality, eventually the US joined the fight and FDR, along with the other Allied leaders, was instrumental in prosecuting the war and in securing both victory and peace. If that doesn’t count as answering the call, I don’t know what does.
Trump, on the other hand, would either demand cash up front, or simply let our allies twist in the wind.
Whidbey,
Where’s your correction to what I wrote? Most of what you wrote supports what I said, then you conclude with more games of imagination land. FDR didn’t answer the call and rise to the times until he had no other options when we were attacked on our homeland, he barely lifted a finger to help except to profiteer from on going wars in far away lands. Before Congress declared war, FDR was known for talking about the war effort but not delivering. Churchill, who had spent a large part of the 1930’s warning against the rise of Hitler and Facism was practically begging FDR for assistance year after year. Once Congress declared war, FDR worked in many ways to minimize Churchill and pal around with Stalin to plan the division of a post war Europe. Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t want to minimize his actual contributions, but FDR wasn’t the great American savior of Europe that some people claim him to be.
FDR,Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Stalin with some degree France and lastly China were instrumental in the Allies victory over the Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan, Germany out of oil, Italy running away after there defeat at El Alamein, Japan scratching their heads on how 224 thousand of their people got vaporized.
The Deep South actually loved FDR.
The best generation were the U.S. military people of WWII and those in the U.S. that helped in the factories and ship yards, lots of Rosie the Riveter’s.
Dog; The democrats of the FDR era were 100% different than todays illegal alien sympathizers and anti American sect. The south actually loved FDR.
Thank god the good guys won and created a world where Americans were replaced by the 3rd world, is in un-repayable debt, gives israel $20 billion a year, is at the bottom for western test scores, and can’t figure out how to assign rest rooms. At least we aren’t speaking German
The United States obliterated many German and Japanese cities. Israel is doing the same in Gaza to an enemy that started the war.
Why was the US justified in prosecuting WW-II to a surrender, and that’s not okay for Israel?