Battle of Frankfurt

Part of the Invasion of Germany during World War II

An aerial view of Frankfurt after the war.

Date	26–29 March 1945
Location	Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Result	Allied victory

Belligerents

United States

Germany

Commanders and leaders

Stafford LeRoy Irwin

Robert W. Grow

Franz Beyer

Units involved

5th Infantry Division
6th Armored Division

LXXX Corps

Strength

2 divisions

1-2 divisions (understrength)

Casualties and losses

Unknown

Unknown, but heavy

Western Allied invasion of Germany

Blackcock Veritable Grenade Lumberjack Remagen Undertone Amherst Plunder Varsity Ruhr TF Baum Frankfurt South Germany Kassel Heilbronn Nuremberg Archway Hamburg

The Battle of Frankfurt was a four-day struggle for control of Frankfurt am Main during World War II. The 5th Infantry Division conducted the main attack while the 6th Armored Division provided support. The city was defended by the LXXX Corps of the Seventh Army.

The 5th Infantry Division crossing the Rhine on 22 March and quickly established a bridgehead. By 23 March, the 5th had expanded its bridgehead five miles east, putting the division only 14 miles southwest of Frankfurt. On 25 March the 6th Armored crossed the Rhine at Oppenheim and pushed north towards the city. On 26 March the 5th reached the southern outskirts of the city and captured the Rhine-Main airbase.^[1] The 6th linked up with the 5th and pushed through the southern outskirts to the Main. Much to their surprise, units of the 5th found an intact bridge across the river, crossed it under heavy fire on 27 March and entered the city. The two divisions then fought the Germans in fierce house to house combat, slowly pushing through the city. On 29 March the city was brought under American control; however, small sporadic fighting continued until 4 April.^[2]

After capturing Frankfurt, the 5th Division enjoyed a few days of rest inside the captured city until 7 April when it was ordered to move north to support the III Corps of the First Army in the Ruhr Pocket.^[2]

References

↑ Stanton, Shelby, World War II Order of Battle: An Encyclopedic Reference to U.S. Army Ground Forces from Battalion through Division, 1939-1946 (Revised Edition, 2006), Stackpole Books, p. 57, 84.
1 2 History of the 5th Infantry Division

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