This Month in First Army History

1945
The U.S. First and Ninth Armies circled German Army Group B in the Rhur River pocket.  By 18 April 1945 the Rhur River pocket would be reduced and over 317,000 German Soldiers had surrendered.  Including 24 Generals.

1945

First Army’s advance slowed due to the overwhelming number of prisoners with over 435,000 taken just in April alone by First Army. 

 

1945

25 April 1945 First Army would meet the first Soviet elements marking the successful efforts to cut Germany in two.