From D-Day to V-Day
February 1945
February 28, 1945 - D-Day + 267
The British 43rd Infantry Division under the First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps continued to advance to the southeast along the Rhine River.
more informationFebruary 27, 1945 - D-Day + 266
The British 43rd Infantry Division under the First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps occupied Kalkar and Grieth, two municipalities by the Rhine River.
more informationFebruary 26, 1945 - D-Day + 265
The II Canadian Corps from the First Canadian Army launched Operation Blockbuster, a mission to conquer Kalkar, Uedem, and the area between both those towns and Xanten.
more informationFebruary 25, 1945 - D-Day + 264
Units from the British 53rd Infantry Division under the First Canadian Army’s British XXX Corps were ordered to halt about a mile in front of Weeze.
more informationFebruary 24, 1945 - D-Day + 263
The British 63rd Infantry Division from the First Canadian Army’s British XXX Corps slowly advanced from Goch towards Weeze.
more informationFebruary 23, 1945 - D-Day + 262
Following forty-five minutes of artillery preparation, forces under the Ninth Army launched Operation Grenade at 03.30 hrs.
more informationFebruary 22, 1945 - D-Day + 261
While advancing on Kalkar, the Canadian 2nd Infantry Division under the First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps conquered Moyland, a village of located on the main road.
more informationFebruary 21, 1945 - D-Day + 260
British 51st Infantry Division units from the First Canadian Army’s British XXX Corps destroyed the final vestiges of resistance in the town of Goch.
more informationFebruary 20, 1945 - D-Day + 259
The Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) moved to Reims. Another American unit landed on the continent – the 20th Armored Division. Its first sections already appeared in the French port of Le Havre two days earlier.
more informationFebruary 19, 1945 - D-Day + 258
Divisions from the First Canadian Army’s British XXX Corps were engaged in heavy street fighting in Goch.
more informationFebruary 18, 1945 - D-Day + 257
British XXX Corps forces under the First Canadian Army launched an attack on Goch. Units from the British 15th Infantry Division went through the positions of the British 43rd Infantry Division and subsequently reached the northern outskirts of the town.
more informationFebruary 17, 1945 - D-Day + 256
The First Canadian Army’s British XXX Corps advanced to Goch. The British 43rd Infantry Division broke through the enemy’s defense lines on the hills northeast of the city while units from the British 53rd Infantry Division took up positions to its right.
more informationFebruary 16, 1945 - D-Day + 255
The British 43rd Infantry Division under the First Canadian Army’s British XXX Corps advanced towards Goch.
more informationFebruary 15, 1945 - D-Day + 254
The First Canadian Army deployed the II Canadian Corps to Operation Veritable, the aim of which was to take over the sector on the left flank of the British XXX Corps in the Grave – Groesbeek – Kleve – Emmerich sector.
more informationFebruary 14, 1945 - D-Day + 253
The Canadian 3rd Infantry Division under the British XXX Corps occupied several villages on the western bank of the Rhine in the area located across from Emmerich.
more informationFebruary 13, 1945 - D-Day + 252
The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division under the British XXX Corps sent reconnaissance patrols out towards Emmerich. British 15th Infantry Division units advancing towards Kalkar occupied Hasselt while the British 43rd Infantry Division conquered the strongly defended hill near the Kleve forest.
more informationFebruary 12, 1945 - D-Day + 251
The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division under the Canadian First Army’s British XXX Corps occupied Kellen and Warbeyen, and took over responsibility for the area near Kleve that had been held by the British 15th Infantry Division.
more informationFebruary 11, 1945 - D-Day + 250
Despite the flooded terrain and ever increasing enemy resistance, the First Canadian Army’s British XXX Corps continued to advance.
more informationFebruary 10, 1945 - D-Day + 249
Units under the First Canadian Army’s British XXX Corps were prevented from advancing more swiftly not only by the tenacious enemy, but also by the exceptionally poor roads.
more informationFebruary 9, 1945 - D-Day + 248
The Canadian 3rd Infantry Division under the First Canadian Army’s British XXX Corps occupied Mehr, Niel, Keeken, and Milligen, and division patrols carried out reconnaissance in the Rhine area.
more informationFebruary 8, 1945 - D-Day + 247
The 21st Army Group’s First Canadian Army deployed units from the British XXX Corps for Operation Veritable, which aimed to mop up the area between the Meuse and Rhine Rivers.
more informationFebruary 7, 1945 - D-Day + 246
In the zone of the Ninth Army’s XIII Corps, the 102nd Infantry Division relieved the 84th Infantry Division in the Linnich – Himmerich sector.
more informationFebruary 6, 1945 - D-Day + 245
The 9th Army’s XVI Corps launched operations and took over the sector from the British Second Army’s British XII Corps. The 35th Infantry Division occupied territory originally held by the British 52nd Infantry Division.
more informationFebruary 5, 1945 - D-Day + 244
Forces under the US First Army’s VII Corps launched an advance out of the area where they had assembled in Belgium and towards the Rur River line.
more informationFebruary 4, 1945 - D-Day + 243
Units from the 35th Infantry Division under the Ninth Army’s XVI Corps started to take over the British 52nd Infantry Division’s zone.
more informationFebruary 3, 1945 - D-Day + 242
After undergoing partial reorganization, the Ninth Army was composed of the XIX and XIII Corps as of today
more informationFebruary 2, 1945 - D-Day + 241
In the course of the day, the 78th Infantry Division under the Ninth Army’s XIX Corps was moved to the operational command of the V Corps.
more informationFebruary 1, 1945 - D-Day + 240
It was the start of February, 1945. The end of the war in Europe was still three months plus a few days away – but none of the participants knew that yet.
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