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WWII On This Day: March 31

What happened on March 31 during World War II? This date brings together 3 events from 1944 and 1945, with period photographs and links to the full operations documented across WW2 Theatres.

1944
A German Messerschmitt Bf 110 attacks B-17F Flying Fortresses of the 91st Bomb Group over Europe in January 1944.
U.S. Army Air Forces / National Archives, NAID 204888701 · Public domain in the United States · Source
The Combined Bomber Offensive

The campaign changes character

The fourteen months had not destroyed German industry or ended the war through city bombing. Fighter production continued to rise despite damage and dispersal. The central pre-invasion result was different: long-range escort and aggressive fighter operations were imposing losses the Luftwaffe could not replace with equally experienced pilots. The bomber force could now penetrate Germany without repeating the strategic pause of October 1943.

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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

The Winterberg attack begins

Two mixed German battalions with twelve Panzer Lehr tanks and several assault guns moved down forest tracks from Winterberg. Their immediate task was to cut roads supplying the 3rd Armored Division. They reached the Hallenberg–Medebach road, but motorised infantry of the 104th Division was already holding the key towns and reopened the route. The speed of the following infantry prevented the armoured spearhead from being isolated.

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The Ruhr Pocket

The meeting point moves to Lippstadt

Collins warned Simpson that the 3rd Armored Division might need days to clear the resistance at Paderborn. He asked Ninth Army to turn a combat command of the 2nd Armored Division south-east towards Lippstadt. Simpson agreed immediately. Collins diverted a force from the 3rd Armored Division to meet it, changing the final link without changing the purpose of the encirclement.

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