The Ruhr Pocket of World War II
The U.S. 75th 'Bulgebusters' Infantry Division Enters Germany
The 75th Infantry Division's motto "Always Get There Somehow" showed, as the division moved from the Ardennes Region, to the Colmar Pocket, and into the German Ruhr Area.
Arriving in the European Theater of World War II during December of 1944, the American 75th ‘Bulgebusters’ Infantry Division was to see battles all along the western front. From the German Ardennes Offensive, to the reduction of the Colmar Pocket, the division would enter Germany through Holland and assist in the reduction of the Ruhr Pocket, followed by occupation duties until returning home late in 1945.
Advancing into Germany
On February 21st 1945, the 75th Division was back in the line, on the western front, near the Maas River at Roermond Holland. By the March12th, the ‘Bulgebusters’ would relieve the U.S. 35th Infantry Division along the Rhine River in-between the towns of Wessel and Homburg setting the stage for the divisions crossing into Germany. Following the 30th and 79th Infantry Divisions, the 290th Infantry Battalion of the 75th, crossed the Rhine on March 24th, with the rest of the division on March 30th.
The Ruhr Pocket
An important objective of Allied forces was the occupation of the German Ruhr Area. By far the most heavily industrialized section of Germany, and perhaps even Europe at the time, the loss of the Ruhr meant any chance of continued German resistance would fade almost immediately. Within the Ruhr were many defensible obstacles assisting the German Wehrmacht. From heavily forested areas and industrial complexes that housed snipers, the 75th Division would advance into this region attached to the Ninth Army’s XVI Corps. This would be an operation primarily for the foot soldiers of the attacking infantry divisions, but not without close artillery, air, and tank support. Facing the 75th during this drive stood elements of the German 116th Panzer Division, 180th, 190th and 2nd Para Divisions. The advance began March 31st moving east from the Rhine, attacking near Waltrop on April 4th. Next would be a pivot south towards the Ruhr River, with the added reinforcement of the 320th Infantry Battalion. The division reached the Ruhr near Witten, capturing two bridges by April 11th, effectually isolating the town of Dortmund by April 15th. By April 18th, the pocket was eliminated with 3,664 German prisoners captured by the 75th Division. The ‘Bulgebusters’ and attached units sustained casualties of: 150 dead, 871 wounded, and 32 missing. On April 20th, the Allied Supreme Commander in Europe, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, issued a statement which read in part, “This victory of allied arms is a fitting prelude to the final battle to crush the ragged remnants of Hitler's armies of the west, now tottering on the threshold of defeat.”
Occupation and Home
Large scale combat was now over for the 75th Division. After relieving the 8th and 5th Infantry Divisions located in and south of the Ruhr Area, the division began occupational government duties in Westphalia. It was here the division would see the European war end on May 7th. News of the Japanese surrender came in August with the division located in Werdohl Germany. In June 1945, Major General Arthur A. White would assume command as it continued in its occupation duty until October of 1945. Returning home to Hampton Road November 14th, the division was deactivated at Camp Patrick Henry Virginia, under the command of Brigadier General Charles R. Doran.
In overall action in Europe, the 75th Infantry Division participated in the Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns. Causalities for the unit included 817 killed, 3314 wounded in action, of which 111 would die of their wounds.
“The performance of the 75th Division reflects the highest credit... You can be justly proud of the part played by the Division in... victory.”
— General Jacob L. Devers Commanding Allied Sixth Army Group
Additional Sources:
Stanton, Captain Shelby L., World War II Order of Battle: An Encyclopedic Reference to U.S. Army Ground Forces from Battalion through Division 1939-1946 (Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1984 and 2006)
MacDonald, Charles B., The Last Offensive: United States Army in World War II, The European Theater of Operations (Washington, DC: Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, 1995)
