Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 21-Nemesis:Germany(February-May 1945)' (Mar. 24, 1945, at 7:01)

(Saturday, March 24, 1945; on the Western Front of World War II) — The Allies today launched Operation Varsity, landing two airborne divisions on the eastern bank of the Rhine near the village of Hamminkeln and the town of Wesel to secure a foothold across the Rhine River in western Germany as part of Operation Plunder.

Involving more than 16,000 paratroopers and several thousand aircraft, it was the largest airborne operation in history to be conducted on a single day and in one location.

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 19-Pincers(August 1944-March 1945)' (Mar. 24, 1945, at 51:16)