In preparation for the Allied invasion of Germany , a series of offensive operations were designed Create_artwork to seize and capture Conquering the east and west bank of the Rhine River : Operation Veritable and Operation Grenade in February 1945 , and Operation Lumberjack and Operation Undertone in March 1945 .

This delayed Change_event_time the US offensive Operation Grenade , the southern pincer and at the same time allowed Preventing_or_letting German forces Military_operation under local German commander , Alfred Schlemm to be concentrated Aiming against the Commonwealth advance Motion .

On 22 February , once clear of the Reichswald ( German : Imperial Forest ) , and with the towns of Kleve and Goch in their control Control , the offensive was renewed Recovering as Operation Blockbuster and linked Connect up with the U.S. Ninth Army near Geldern on 4 March after the execution of Operation Grenade .

During World War II , Operation Grenade was the crossing of the Roer river between Roermond and Düren by the U.S. Ninth Army , commanded Control by Lieutenant General William Hood Simpson , in February 1945 , which marked Recording the beginning of the Allied invasion of Germany .

German forces west of the Rhine during operations Veritable , Blockbuster and Grenade lost Earnings_and_losses 90,000 men , of which more than 50,000 became Becoming prisoners of war ( POW ) .