THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RHINE RIVER

With the main focus of World War II being the elimination of Nazism, one of the most important parts of the coalition was to gain access to the Rhine River. The Rhine is probably one of the most important and if not the most important river in Europe. It stretches 820 miles long and was an important waterway because supplies could be easily brought in to the heavy industrialized area. It has been important as an international waterway since 1815.

The Rhine River that went through Bonn, Dusseldorf, and Cologne was the area where manufacturing was literally booming. Several military buildings dotted the area during the war and many of them were on the German side of the river. For the Allies gaining access to the river was the way to assure a decisive win over Germany. The area was also one that had many medieval castles. Since many of the castles were on the top of a hill it made a good vantage point for observing any troops that invaded the area.