Ardennes offensive and the crossing of the Rhine No. 6 Commando

men 1st commando brigade fight on outskirts of wesel 1945.

it had been planned send brigade—which had been renamed 1st commando brigade in late 1944—to india, however, effect of german ardennes offensive prevented , in january 1945, still under command of brigadier derek mills-roberts, crossed english channel sea , landed in netherlands deployed asten on maas. time arrived german advance had been largely halted , not until 23 january brigade engaged in large-scale operations. under command of lieutenant colonel anthony lewis, night no. 6 commando joined operation blackcock. lewis had taken on courtenay-coade after latter had experienced complications head injury had suffered in france earlier. part of blackcock, unit advanced on ice-covered juliana canal , took positions @ maasbracht, in support of no. 45 (royal marine) commando s advance on st. joostburg.

the following day, after royal marines had met stiff resistance, no. 6 commando attempted advance position in effort relieve pressure on them. attack supported artillery , squadron of armour 8th hussars, nevertheless, commandos stopped near orchard close crossroads hastily formed, well-led, force consisting of luftwaffe aircrew , fallschirmjäger. rest of brigade advanced towards town of linne, attempts cross montforterbeek canal frustrated defenders managed destroy bridges crossed it. ice on canal not thick enough support crossing of armour, temporary bridges brought , erected members of royal engineers. finally, after number of attempts @ forcing crossing, assault force no. 3 commando managed enter linne.

after commandos came against part of siegfried line defences around roermond. short halt followed , during time no. 6 commando sent out number of patrols mounted on tanks of 8th hussars. in february, snow thawed , ground turned mud rendered tanks useless , result commandos carried out patrols on foot.

in march, no. 6 commando moved rest of 1st commando brigade venray carried out rehearsals operation plunder, crossing of rhine. on course of 2 weeks training undertaken @ creek near wansum , on 23 march 1945 assault took place, objective being capture of town of wesel. no. 6 commando went across in second wave on board storm-boats crewed engineers. came under fire , result of this, , several mechanical failures, number of boats sunk before reached landing site @ grav islet, lead unit, no. 46 (royal marine) commando had established bridgehead. majority of commandos made form point , no. 6 commando passed through marines positions lead advance town north-east, marking route went white tape. on course of next 2 days commandos took control of town , repelled number of german counterattacks, before wesel fell late on 25 march.

a buffalo landing vehicle, such used 1st commando brigade, crosses rhine during operation plunder

after brigade continued advance, moving through ruddenburg , greven before carrying out attack on osnabruck on 4 april 1945. on night of 7/8 april crossed weser river in assault boats , under cover of darkness carried out flanking manoeuvre on germans occupying town of leese, catching them surprise.

their next task capture of road bridge spanning aller river part of 11th armoured division s advance on town of essel. 1st commando brigade carried out preliminary move across river on railway bridge distance away objective , after forcing way across, removed explosives had been placed on bridge , dug in on other side. on course of three-and-a-half hours repelled number of determined counterattacks, before no. 6 commando, supported vickers machine guns fixed bayonets , charged german marines defending bridge, , inflicting heavy casualties upon them.

with bridge having been captured other elements of brigade established bridgehead advancing 11th armoured , on 19 april arrived in lüneburg, began prepare crossing of elbe. assault began @ 2:00 am on 29 april no. 6 commando leading way across in buffalo landing vehicles. under fire entire way, landed downstream objective—lauenburg—and launched assault against defenders perched on cliff overlooking narrow landing beach. after reaching top of cliff, broke through defences , established north of town, while rest of brigade came up. throughout remainder of day, town cleared , patrols sent out; patrol no. 6 commando captured elbe–trave canal bridge, arriving demolition party preparing detonation.

resistance in lauenburg ceased on 30 april 1945 , during beginning of may 1st commando brigade advanced towards baltic sea, reached @ neustadt. few days later germany surrendered , no. 6 commando s war service came end.