The Allies were able to rapidly transport Bringing five divisions across the Rhine into the Ruhr , Germany 's industrial heartland .

The Möhne and Edersee dams were breached Damaging , causing Causation catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley ; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage .

The operation was aimed Aiming against the Ruhr River , as a staging point for a subsequent thrust over the river to the Rhine into Germany .

Supreme Commander General Eisenhower 's strategic goal was to encircle Besieging the heart of German industry , the Ruhr Area , in a pincer movement .