When Dolph departed for Europe in late January 1945, the war was entering its final, bloody months. The Battle of the Bulge — Hitler's last major offensive — had just ended in Allied victory, but at tremendous cost.
The Final Push
By February 1945, Allied forces were poised to cross the Rhine River and penetrate into the German heartland. On March 7, American troops captured the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen intact — the first Allied crossing of the Rhine. Dolph was in Germany by this time, and would be wounded just ten days later.
The Race to Berlin
After crossing the Rhine, Allied forces moved rapidly through Germany. In the west, British, American, and French troops advanced toward the Elbe River. In the east, Soviet forces pushed toward Berlin. On April 25, American and Soviet forces met at the Elbe — the Reich was cut in two.
The End
Hitler committed suicide in his Berlin bunker on April 30, 1945. Germany signed unconditional surrender at Reims on May 7, and the following day — May 8, 1945 — became V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day). For Dolph, recovering at a replacement depot, it was "a banner day" — both for the war's end and because he finally received mail from Jean after weeks of waiting.