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WWII On This Day: April 2

What happened on April 2 during World War II? This date brings together 2 events from 1945, with period photographs and links to the full operations documented across WW2 Theatres.

1945
Men of the 95th Division, US Ninth Army, patrolling Soest after its capture, 7 April 1945.
Men of the 95th Division patrolling Soest, 7 April 1945 · US Army Signal Corps SC 336817 · NARA · Public domain · Source
The Ruhr Pocket

Winterberg falls and the corridor closes

The Germans tried again through Medebach with the 3rd Panzer Grenadier Division, while Panzer Lehr and the 176th Infantry Division held the shoulders. The 415th Infantry stopped the attack a second time. At the same time the 39th Infantry entered Winterberg from the south. With the base of the attack lost and American infantry established behind the armoured columns, the last practical attempt to disrupt the encirclement was over.

Continue in The Ruhr Pocket →
The Ruhr Pocket

The pocket is divided between two armies

First and Ninth Army representatives established the Ruhr River as their boundary. Ninth Army received the dense industrial cities north of the river; First Army received the much larger wooded Sauerland sector to the south. Simpson assigned XVI Corps and part of XIX Corps to attack south. Hodges assigned III Corps and XVIII Airborne Corps to attack north while his other corps continued east.

Continue in The Ruhr Pocket →