In Alsace, American and French forces wipe out the Colmar Pocket. 13 Soviet Army completes capture of Budapest. 19 U.S. Marines invade Iwo Jima. In Italy, U.S. Fifth Army begins limited offensive in the Apennines. 6 March U.S. Ninth Army units complete drive from Roer to Rhine.
Soviet troops seize key point of German defense sys- tem on the lower Vistula in Poland.
7 Cologne falls to U.S. First Army. U.S. First Army seizes bridge at Remagen and es- tablishes bridgehead across the Rhine. 15 VII Corps, U.S. First Army, crosses the Rhine. U.S. Seventh Army opens offensive to break through the West Wall and join U.S. Third Army in clearing the Saar-Palatinate triangle. March U.S. Third Army crosses the Rhine.