Under the command of Gen. George S. Patton and British Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery, on March 23, 1945, Allied forces made a daring push across the Rhine River and into the German heartland. Under the dark cover of night, two British units and two American units conducted one of the largest amphibious and aerial operations in the European theater. Up until this mission, no armies had crossed into Germany via the Rhine since Napoleon Bonaparte. This operation proved to be a pivotal moment for the Allies.

This Saturday, March 25, 2017, there will be a monument dedication ceremony in Nierstein — approximately 30 minutes south of Wiesbaden and 50 minutes northeast of Kaiserslautern — beginning at 7:30 a.m.. There will be static displays of vehicles, living history groups and a fly-by of a vintage Piper airplane. Special guests include World War II veteran Robert Shelato, U.S. Army Europe (USAEUR) Commander Lt. Gen. Frederick B. Hodges, the mayors of Nierstein and Trebur, and Helen Patton, granddaughter of Gen. Patton.