Ruhr Pocket 1945: Destruction of Heeresgruppe B (Campaign #443)

Steven J. Zaloga, Graham Turner (Illustrator)

$25.00

Publish Date: May 18, 2027

Publisher:

Osprey Publishing

ISBN:

9781472868947

Pages:

Language:

English

Description

This detailed study explores the final, climactic battle against Germany in the Ruhr industrial zone.

The Ruhr had long been an Allied objective due to its heavy concentration of German war industries. Its importance became even greater in the spring of 1945 when Hitler ordered "Festung Ruhr" (the Ruhr Fortress) to be held to the last man, with no hope of retreat. For the Wehrmacht, this was a death sentence, as the largest remaining element of the German Army, Heeresgruppe B, was deployed in the Ruhr. By this stage of the war, however, Germany's military industries were on the verge of collapse while critical shortages of fuel, ammunition and equipment left it with few options.

The Allied offensives in March 1945 isolated Heeresgruppe B from other units. In response, German commander Walter Model ordered a counterattack to blunt the American encirclement. However, by April 1, the US had the area surrounded. The US First and Ninth Armies led the operation, leading to the collapse of the pocket. Some 317,000 German troops surrendered in the Ruhr. With detailed maps and diagrams, stunning artwork and period images, historian Steven J. Zaloga examines the destruction of Heeresgruppe B and the Ruhr Pocket, which marked an end to large-scale German operations and ultimately led to the capitulation of the army.

About the Author

Steven J. Zaloga is a senior analyst for Teal Group Corp., an aerospace consulting firm, where he covers missile and drone technology as well as international arms transfers for clients in the aerospace industry and the government. He served for more than two decades as an adjunct staff member with the Strategy, Forces, and Resources division of the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federal think-tank, retiring in 2021. He is the author of numerous books on military technology and history, including NVG 294 Allied Tanks in Normandy 1944 and NVG 283 American Guided Missiles of World War II. He currently lives in Maryland, USA.

Graham Turner is a leading historical artist, specializing in the medieval period. He has illustrated numerous titles for Osprey, covering a wide variety of subjects from the dress of the 10th-century armies of the Caliphates, through the action of bloody medieval battles, to the daily life of the British Redcoat of the late 18th century. The son of the illustrator Michael Turner, Graham lives and works in Buckinghamshire, UK.