Battle of Kassel (1945)

Battle of Kassel
Part of the Western Allied invasion of Germany in the Western Front of the European theatre of World War II
Date1–4 April 1945
Location
Result American victory
Belligerents
 United States  Germany
Commanders and leaders
United States Horace McBride Nazi Germany Johannes Erxleben
Units involved
United States 80th Infantry Division 510th Heavy Panzer Battalion
511th Heavy Panzer Battalion
elements of unknown other units[1]
Strength
unknown 6,000
Casualties and losses
unknown 50+ killed
5,400+ captured

The Battle of Kassel was a four-day struggle between the U.S. Army and the German Army in April 1945 for Kassel, a medium-sized city 140 kilometers northeast of Frankfurt am Main, which also is the second-largest city in Hesse (after Frankfurt). The battle resulted as the U.S. Third Army pushed northeast from the region of Frankfurt and Mainz. The battle opened on April 1, 1945 and ended with an American victory three days later. Opposing the Third Army's 80th Infantry Division were an infantry replacement battalion, some heavy tanks, and anti-aircraft guns.[1] Although the Germans gave battle at Kassel, their army was on the brink of collapse as the Western Allies and the Red Army made deep inroads into Germany. The defense of Kassel did not materially impede the Allied advance, and, one month after the battle ended, Germany was forced to capitulate.

  1. ^ a b The complete German order of battle at Kassel is unclear from available documentation. The Faribault Monograph mentions the presence of the 166th and 365th Infantry Divisions around the city, and the number of German POW's taken was far larger than a single infantry battalion supported by tanks and AA-guns. In 1945, Kassel was also headquarters for the German 409th Division, an element of the army that specialized in training replacements. The 409th Division was mobilized as a Kampfgruppe in late March 1945, but it is not clear if it took part in the Battle of Kassel.