Logistics Luxembourg The Netherlands Belgium France Britain 1941–1943 1944–1945 Germany Strategic campaigns The Battle of Cologne was part of Operation Lumberjack and refers to the Allied advance that took place from 5 to 7 March 1945, which led to the capture of the western German city of Cologne.

[3] Near the city centre there was an engagement with a German Panther tank; this skirmish was captured on film by US cameramen from the 165th Photo Signal Company.

[4] The German Panther was lying in ambush near the train station; two advancing Sherman tanks were slowed down by a pile of rubble.

As the Americans moved towards the Rhine, the Wehrmacht (Panzer-Brigade 106th Feldherrnhalle) demolished the Hohenzollern Bridge, the last link between the east and west of the city.

By 7 March all of Cologne west of the Rhine was captured by the Allies, the boroughs on the right bank remained under German control until mid-April 1945.