Operation Veritable: The Grueling Battle for the Reichswald and the West Bank of the Rhine

Operation Veritable, also known as the Battle of the Reichswald, was a pivotal and fiercely contested engagement that formed the northern arm of a crucial Allied pincer movement during the concluding stages of the Second World War. Executed between 8 February and 11 March 1945, this offensive was a vital component of the broader Rhineland Campaign, designed to clear the west bank of the Rhine River, thereby eliminating German defenses and securing a launchpad for the final advance into Germany.

Command and Forces Involved

The formidable task of leading Operation Veritable fell to Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's Anglo-Canadian 21st Army Group. This highly experienced formation primarily comprised two key components:

• The First Canadian Army, under the command of Lieutenant-General Harry Crerar, a seasoned commander responsible for the largest Canadian contribution to the Western Front.
• The British XXX Corps, led by Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks, renowned for his aggressive and effective leadership in previous campaigns.

The multinational composition of these forces underscored the Allied commitment to a coordinated effort to dismantle the Third Reich's western defenses.

The Challenging Advance Through Forest and Flood

Operation Veritable commenced with a direct assault through the treacherous terrain of the Reichswald, or "Imperial Forest." This dense, ancient woodland, combined with the severe winter conditions – including thawing snow and heavy rains – transformed the battlefield into a muddy quagmire, severely restricting armored movement and favoring the defending German forces. The initial push saw the British XXX Corps fighting through the forest's formidable natural defenses and pre-prepared German strongpoints.

Simultaneously, a specialized and innovative aspect of the offensive involved the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Utilizing specialized amphibious vehicles, including "Buffalo" tracked landing vehicles, they navigated and cleared German positions in the extensively flooded plain along the Rhine. This deliberate flooding, partly caused by German demolition of dams and natural winter runoff, created a vast, shallow lake, turning conventional land warfare into a complex amphibious challenge.

The Interplay with Operation Grenade and German Resistance

The Allied strategy hinged on a two-pronged assault: Operation Veritable in the north and the American Operation Grenade in the south. However, the advance of Operation Veritable proved to be slower and significantly more costly than anticipated. This was largely due to the strategic delay of its southern counterpart, Operation Grenade, which was postponed by the deliberate and extensive flooding of the Rur River by German forces. Led by General Alfred Schlemm's I Parachute Army, the Germans ingeniously destroyed the floodgates of the Rur dams, transforming the river into an impassable barrier for two weeks.

This calculated delay allowed General Schlemm to concentrate substantial German reserves, particularly elements of the I Parachute Army and other available units, against the Commonwealth forces engaged in Operation Veritable. This concentration of forces led to exceptionally fierce resistance, high Allied casualties, and a grinding, attritional advance through the Reichswald and its surrounding areas.

From Veritable to Blockbuster: Renewing the Offensive

Despite the arduous conditions and staunch German opposition, the Allied advance persevered. By 22 February, having fought their way clear of the Reichswald, and securing strategically vital towns such as Kleve (a key road and rail hub) and Goch (another significant strongpoint), the offensive was renewed under the codename Operation Blockbuster. This phase saw the continued push south-eastward, aiming to link up with the U.S. Ninth Army.

The long-awaited link-up occurred near Geldern on 4 March, following the successful execution of Operation Grenade after the Rur River's floodwaters had receded sufficiently. This critical junction effectively trapped substantial German forces on the west bank of the Rhine and sealed the pincer movement's success.

The Final Push and German Withdrawal

Even after the link-up, intense fighting persisted as the Germans, facing imminent defeat on the west bank, desperately sought to maintain a bridgehead on the west bank of the Rhine at Wesel. Their primary objective was to evacuate as many troops, vehicles, and vital equipment as possible across the Rhine to bolster their defenses on the east bank. Wesel, being a key crossing point, became a scene of fierce rearguard actions.

Finally, on 10 March 1945, the German withdrawal from the west bank concluded. In a final act of desperation to impede the Allied pursuit, the last remaining bridges across the Rhine at Wesel were systematically destroyed. This marked the successful conclusion of Operation Veritable and the broader Rhineland Campaign, clearing the entire west bank of the Rhine and setting the stage for the Allied invasion of Germany's heartland, most notably with Operation Plunder, the crossing of the Rhine.

Frequently Asked Questions about Operation Veritable

What was the primary objective of Operation Veritable?

The main goal of Operation Veritable was to clear the west bank of the Rhine River in northern Germany, eliminating German defenses and establishing a secure line for the subsequent Allied crossing of the Rhine into Germany's interior.

Which military forces were involved in Operation Veritable?

Operation Veritable was primarily conducted by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's Anglo-Canadian 21st Army Group, specifically the First Canadian Army under Lieutenant-General Harry Crerar and the British XXX Corps under Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks.

Why was Operation Veritable also called the Battle of the Reichswald?

A significant portion of the fighting, particularly in the initial stages, took place within and around the dense Reichswald (Imperial Forest), making this geographical feature synonymous with the battle's intensity and challenges.

How did the flooding of the Rur River impact Operation Veritable?

The deliberate flooding of the Rur River by German forces delayed the American southern pincer (Operation Grenade). This allowed the Germans to concentrate their available forces, especially General Alfred Schlemm's I Parachute Army, against the Commonwealth troops in Operation Veritable, leading to more prolonged and costly fighting.

What was the significance of Operation Blockbuster?

Operation Blockbuster was a continuation of Operation Veritable, representing the renewal of the offensive after clearing the Reichswald. Its objective was to push further south-east and link up with the U.S. Ninth Army, thereby completing the pincer movement and trapping German forces west of the Rhine.