Operation Plunder: The British and Canadian Operations Read online

  The Fall of Bienen

  The Highland Light Infantry of Canada were to complete the clearance of Bienen supported by the final troop of B Squadron 4/7th Dragoon Guards in order to provide a firm base for the attack of 130 Brigade (43rd Division) to the northeast. Their war diary recorded:

  26 Mar 45. Progress was very slow as the enemy fought like madmen. Isolated houses had to be cleared and proved most difficult. The enemy artillery and mortars poured shells into our troops continually. Again, single paratroopers made suicidal charges at our advancing troops. They were consistently chopped down but often not before they had inflicted casualties on our own sections.

  By first light, the town had been cleared except for isolated groups of snipers who refused to quit. These were mopped up as D Company pushed through the town to a point at the A/Tk ditch approximately MR 054575. With consolidation completed, the North Shore Regiment under command of 9 Canadian Infantry Brigade passed through us towards Millingen. Lieutenant Colonel J Rowley OC of the North Shore Regiment was killed in this push by enemy Arty fire.

  In their war diary, the HLI of C recorded some of the lessons the battalion had learned in clearing the village: ‘When open ground has to be crossed to attack isolated houses we must make use of our supporting arms including an artillery barrage, to block off the flanks as well as hitting the objective.’

  Let an entry from a Canadian war diary, referring to Bienen, have the last word on Operation PLUNDER, the Rhine Crossing.

  It was a long hard bitter fight against excellent troops who were determined to fight to the end. It cracked open the bottleneck that had restricted the bridgehead and from then on, the expansion was much easier and more rapid. The road to Northern Germany and Holland was established.

  CHAPTER 10

  Tours of the PLUNDER Battlefields

  THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE Operation PLUNDER tours outlined in this chapter, covering the component operations TURNSCREW, WIDGEON and TORCHLIGHT. Each tour is a distinct entity, and in the case of the first and last named operations will each take at least half a day’s touring to complete. The individual tours can, however, be abbreviated and joined as appropriate into a shorter route. The tours are designed for light vehicles up to the size of a small minibus. Ferries, width of roads, size of turning points and weight restrictions all conspire to make a coach tour significantly more difficult and the Germans do not have the same slightly cavalier attitude to road traffic laws as do fellow Europeans further west! Equally, for the car driver I have avoided taking visitors down roads signed ‘Anliger Fri’ or access only along with apparently easily motorable roads that are now dedicated to cyclists.

  To save space and repetition these tour instructions are brief. Please refer to the text for details of the action.

  General

  In common with many of the battlefields of North-West Europe, time has changed the patterns of human habitation; villages have expanded and roads built or fallen into disuse and on this battlefield, even the ground has changed. In the immediate post war period the rebuilding of the nearby Ruhr and Germany’s infrastructure produced an unparalleled demand for aggregate and the Rhine flood plain offered a ready supply of high quality river gravel and sand. Consequently, flooded pits have replaced many of the flood plain’s meadows, over which the Second Army advanced on the morning of 24 March 1945. Yet most of the objectives, being on slightly higher ground, are still available for inspection. Away from the flood plain, thanks to the Germans’ traditional farming methods, the country has retained much of its original character and did much to extend the scope of this book beyond just the assault phase.

  The battles fought by 6th British and 17th US Airborne Divisions will be covered in separate Battleground volumes.

  Tour One – Bislich and Haffen (Operation TORCHLIGHT)

  This tour covers XII Corps’ assault crossing of the Rhine astride the village of Bislich and ends on the Issel. The tour concentrates on the operations of 15th Scottish Division and only covers the airborne action in so much as or where it was directly important to the Scots.

  The tour starts in Wesel. Follow the signs to Rees and then to Fluren and Bislich. Drive through Fluren following the road (Bislicherstrasse) through a wooded area, where the Scots met up with the US Paratroopers at 1510 hours on the afternoon of the 24th, and past a large flooded gravel pit. Shortly after a 90 degree bend, in a hamlet (Loh), turn left onto the minor Westhide road. Follow this road past a gravel pit and several farms. This is the area cleared by 6 Royal Scots Fusiliers (6 RSF) during 24 March. On reaching a T junction with Auf der Laak, turn right, then left and park near the ferry. It is always worth experiencing a crossing of the river and there is a good café on the other side!

  This is the area where 44 Lowland Brigade crossed in the LVTs of 11 RTR at 0200 hours on 24 March. 6 RSF crossed a hundred metres down stream and this is the point where the LVT ferry was established to bring subsequent waves across the river. The ferry operates on the site of a pair of class 40 Bailey bridges built by the Royal Engineers. Just up stream was the DUKW ferry point and beyond them were the booms positioned and maintained by the Royal Navy to prevent the enemy from floating mines and barges downstream to wreck the bridges.

  Follow the road into Bislich, which was secured by 6 King’s Own Scottish Borderers, who crossed as the second wave in storm boats. In the centre of the village (look out for an anchor and the Gaststatte Cramer), turn left onto Auf dem Steinberg. Follow this road out of the village and turn left onto Drogenkamp. Park on top of the Dyke. This is the area of the Brigade’s storm boat crossing and where a class 9 raft was established, using the track down to the riverbank.

  Turn right and follow the dyke road north, past a modern gravel works and stop by three houses on a bend. This is the area of 8 Royal Scots’ crossing. Tac HQ was established in the centre house which was subsequently taken over by another unit who stayed for some time. Probably a bank control HQ.

  Continue on the dyke road for almost half a mile and follow the road inland. On reaching the main road (Bislicherstrasse) turn left and left again onto Am Stummen Deich, which goes past the wind farm to the river bank where 10 Highland Light Infantry (right assault battalion of 227 Highland Brigade) crossed the river.

  Return to the main road and turn left again in 700 metres onto Lohrwardtestrasse and follow for two miles to the river bank. This area opposite Vyen was where the remainder of 227 Brigade (2 Gordons and 2 Argylls) came ashore with some difficulty. Hence a considerable gap between 10 HLI and the Argylls.

  Return to the main road and turn left to Haffen. The village was in the centre of Area Y, 227 Brigade’s objective. The open area beyond gives an indication of the difficulties the reinforced 7th Fallschirmjäger Division would have had counter-attacking the Scots once they were established in the villages.

  Return back down the road towards Bislich but turn off left to Mehr (1 Km). The village of Mehr was 7 Seaforth’s objective and, as elsewhere, the preliminary bombardment and the clearance ensures that there are few original buildings still standing.

  Tour Two – The Wesel Tour (Operation WIDGEON)

  This tour concentrates on the Commando action and the capture of the city of Wesel. If coming south from the XII Corps tour or from Wesel, turn off the B8 into Fluren and join the K7 Bislicherstrasse. Drive through the village, following the green and white ‘Grav Insel’ campsite signs. Turn left off Bislicherstrasse and drive down to the campsite entrance.

  At weekends and during high season it may be necessary to park and walk the last half mile to the river. Either on foot or by vehicle, follow the concrete block road through the mobile homes and caravans out onto the flood plain. This is the area where 1 Commando Brigade landed. Looking out towards the river, most of the LVTs carrying 46 (first ashore) and 45 RM Commandos and No. 3 Commando landed to the left of the ramp, while No. 6 Commando landed just a little downstream to the right, having crossed in storm boats. Looking east towards Wesel, marked by the Cathe
dral spire and Needle the flat and open nature of the ground can be easily appreciated. Looking inland, amongst the mobile homes and trees, a brick building can be discerned. This is the Wardmann’s Haus, objective of B Troop 46 Commando.

  Return to Bisslicherstrasse. Those wishing walk 6 Commando’s two mile route across the flood plain into town, should take the Deichweg and the Rheinwardt (foot and cycle only). Those following the tour route by car should return through Fluren and turn right at the roundabout heading to Wesel. The large area of water to be glimpsed through the trees to the right is a large post war gravel pit, the Auesee.

  At the sixth set of traffic lights (the Germans like traffic lights), turn right onto the Auedam. Opposite the Auestadion turn right and park. From here, it is a short walk along the top of the dyke to 6 Commando’s entry point into Wesel. Alternatively, return to the B8 (Reeser Landstrasse), turn right and turn right again at the old railway crossing (just beyond the Aral Garage) onto Delogstrasse. Drive parallel to the railway line and park near the point where Delogstrasse crosses the railway. The dyke No. 6 Commando followed across the flood plain, is opposite. They entered Wesel through an arch of rails, torn up by the RAF’s bombs.

  Following Karl-Jatho-Strasse, drive past a concrete two storey car park, the aero club and the arches beneath the ramp leading up to the old railway bridge. Park near the junction with the riverbank road. Take the steps up the old railway embankment onto a viewing platform on top of a surviving bridge pier. From here, it is easy to appreciate the width of the river and the speed of its current, as well as how Wesel dominated the river up and down stream. To the right is the area where 1 Cheshire crossed the Rhine on the afternoon of 24 March. They went under the remains of the bridge you are standing on and established themselves in the large factory area (with the blue roof) that can be seen through the trees a short distance inland.

  Return to the B8 and the railway crossing. Brigadier Mills-Roberts’ plan was to deploy his four commando units along the old railway line facing north. Due to the destruction and post war expansion of Wesel, little remains to be seen of the original battlefield but some of the factories have been repaired/rebuilt.

  Turn right onto the B8 and left at the second set of traffic lights onto the Kurfursenring/Herzogenring. These wide boulevards were less prone to being choked with rubble so were used as axes of advance by the commandos during the detailed clearance of Wesel. Turn left onto Isseler Strasse at the fourth set of lights. After two hundred metres park in a side street (Oststrasse) and walk up onto the Theodore Heusse Bridge, from where the best view of the factory area can be gained. The last original significant factory building has now been pulled down. Exploring the city centre is not recommended.

  To reach the VARSITY area, continue over the bridge and turn left on the B70 Emericherstrasse. To continue with Tour Three turn left out of Oststrasse back into town and follow the signs to the Rhinebrucker and Geldern. Once across the bridge turn right at the first set of traffic lights towards Kleve. Whilst crossing this area it is worth stopping to look at the plan showing the organisation of XII Corps’ rear area for the assault on page xx. It is also worth considering the problems of camouflaging these preparations and the mass of artillery and its ammunition that was brought forward during the nights preceding the assault. Turn onto the B57 signed to Xanten.

  Tour Three – Rees and the XXX Corps Battlefields (Operation TURNSCREW)

  Less popular than an amalgam of the XII Corps/Wesel and the Operation Varsity routes, a tour of the battlefields of Rees, Speldrop and Bienen is none the less well worthwhile. Not only is the ground far less changed; there are few of the sand and gravel pits that spoil the flood plain further south around Wesel. Rees was not as badly damaged and it is also the scene of the most serious opposition to the Second Army’s crossing.

  This tour starts on the K45 in the village of Appeldorn on the west bank of the Rhine. This was the site of the Forward HQ of 51st Highland Division, which was concealed amongst the substantial houses and farm buildings. It is where Major General Thomas Rennie was initially buried. Follow the K45 and join the main road heading north east to Rees (B67).

  While crossing this modern bridge (there was no bridge here in 1945) the visitor has a good view of 153 Brigade’s area of operations; the city of Rees, its cathedral and the low-lying ‘island’ beyond, where 5/7 Gordon crossed and were pinned down by 7th Fallschirmjäger Division. Almost immediately below the bridge and to the left is the scene of 5 Black Watch’s crossing.

  Continue across the bridge taking a left turn, at the first traffic lights, onto a minor road at a crossroads after about a thousand metres. Drive into Esserden and turn left at the T-junction. Follow the road through the village, over a dyke and doubling back on oneself drive down to a T-junction and turn right on the main road signed to Grithendorf. Take the next left just before a large river lake (in existence in 1945) and drive down to the river. This is the centre of 154 Brigade’s area.

  To the left is the site where 7 Argylls crossed at 2200 hours and to the right is the crossing point of 7 Black Watch, who were landed incorrectly astride the channel between lake and river and had to make a lengthy detour before they could assemble. The Black Watch seized the farm of Mahnenburg 150 metres to the right, which they secured from the stunned Fallschirmjäger with little difficulty. The slipway on which you are standing is in the area where exits were made for the DD tanks of the Staffordshire Yeomanry, who started to land here after dawn on 24 March. Facing inland is the Ratshof Farm complex, the initial objective of 7 Argylls.

  Retrace your route back towards Esserden and as you drive up across the dyke look a quarter left. This small collection of farm buildings is Klein Esserden, which was the objective of 1 Black Watch, 154 Brigade. Continue on through Esserden, which was captured by 5 Black Watch.

  Drive east out of old Esserden through the new part of the village and turn left on the B8 heading north to Speldrop, which is the loose collection of farms and houses six hundred metres further on. Park in a large lay-by on the left.

  Continue along the road towards Bislich. Just past the town sign is a left turn. Take the turn and park. There is a small German military cemetery here, with about 150 graves mostly dating from March 1945. Drive on several hundred metres to the point where the road climbs over a dyke. Stop and look back along the dyke towards Bienen. The farm on the dyke is Argyll Farm. The dyke was used as the only approach that offered any cover for 7 Argylls and the North Nova Scotia Highlanders.

  Return on the B8 south towards Rees, turn left 500 metres past Speldrop and stop at the crossroads. This was known as ‘Bill’. This open country was crossed by A Company 2 Seaforth and 5 Cameronian to the north, who were to isolate Rees. Turn left and then right and join a larger road driving straight on. A drainage ditch, improved by the Germans as an anti-tank obstacle is crossed. The Seaforth had a stiff fight for this bridge, which was necessary if heavy support weapons and tanks were to be brought forward to support them. Cross the bridge and the modern B67 into the factory area.

  Return to the B67 and drive south to Rees where we will visit the scene of 2 Gordons’ battle for the city. At the B67/B8 roundabout go straight on (B67) and turn left at the next traffic lights/crossroads, taking a minor road heading towards Rees. To the right are the bund and the area crossed by the Gordons on their way to the city under cover of darkness. Park by the junction. The cemetery and housing estate, which were the entry point, are either side of the road.

  It’s worth parking in this area and continuing the tour of this charming old town on foot (it’s small enough) but the route described can be driven. However, there are the usual problems with stopping and parking that bedevil any modern town. If parking, the Lidel car park is recommended!

  Continue across the junction following the Stadtmite signs. This open area is where the station and a series of large houses converted into a strong point were located. They were both taken by 5 BW on the morning of 26 March.

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bsp; Still following the Stadtmite signs, turn onto Vor dem Delltor, which is referred to as the ‘North-South Road’ in accounts of the battle. Going south down the road, to the right is the area cleared by the Gordons’ B and C Companies on the morning of 24 March and the road became in effect no-man’s-land until the early hours of the 25th when the Gordons resumed the attack.

  Continue down the road until it opens out into the Market Square. The Fallschirmjäger had this area covered with fire and Captain MacNair’s mountain gun was a considerable help in clearing both houses and ruins around the square. At the bottom of the Market Square and to the left is the Cathedral Square dominated by the bulk of the rebuilt Italianate Cathedral. Just to the right is the scene of the Fallschirmjägers’ last resistance before they surrendered on the evening of 26 March.

  This completes the XXX Corps/Rees tour. If the visitor is heading for the Reichswald, Arnhem or the autobahn system back to the UK take the B67 across the Rees Bridge but if returning to Wesel, take the B8 via Haffen and Bislich.

  THE CEMETERIES

  There are several Cemeteries of interest to those studying Operation PLUNDER.