Timeline
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18 Janvier 1945
101st Airborne Division: transfer to Moselle -
End of January 1945
The 82nd Airborne returns to France -
January 26 1945
The 101st Airborne Division moves to Alsace -
February 3 and 4 1945
Operation Shoestring -
16 Février 1945
Another drop-off in Philippines -
February 23rd 1945
Los Banos raid -
March 15 1945
101st Airborne receives a citation -
March 24 1945
Operation Varsity -
March 30 1945
The 82nd Airborne Division receives order to join the Bonn area in Germany -
April 3 1945
The 82nd Airborne Division in Cologne -
28 Avril 1945
Liberation oh the Landsberg concentration camp -
April 30 1945
The 82nd Airborne Division crosses the Elbe -
May 3rd 1945
Joining forces with the Soviets -
May 5 to 8 1945
Taking of the Berghof and "V-E" Day -
June 23rd 1945
The last American paratrooper combat jump of World War II -
End of July 1945
The 82nd Airborne Division reaches Berlin -
Beginning of August 1945
The 101st Airborne Division on alert -
September 2nd 1945
Japan's capitulation -
November 19 1945
82nd Airborne Division: end of mission in Berlin -
November 30 1945
The 82nd and the 101st Airborne divisions are demobilized -
January 12 1946
WWII Victory Parade
March 24 1945
Operation Varsity
On 24 March 1945, as part of Operation Varsity, 4,964 paratroopers and gliders from the 17th Airborne Division were dropped in the Wesel sector of Germany.
In March 1945, the Allied armies advanced into German territory and reached the Rhine. This last rampart formed a natural barrier blocking the Allied advance into enemy territory. SHAEF decided to force its way through several areas of the Rhine. Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery drew up a plan entitled ‘Operation Plunder’, which would enable the ground forces to breach the Rhine. In order to ensure the success of the operation, an airborne component was to support the fighting on the ground, known as Operation Varsity. Three airborne divisions were initially chosen: the 6th British Airborne, and the 13th and 17th US Airborne. During the preparations, it became clear that there were not enough aircraft to transport the three airborne divisions. The 13th Airborne, which had no combat experience, was placed in reserve in France. The two remaining divisions parachuted behind German lines on 24 March 1945.
