The Colmar Pocket was the area held in central Alsace, France, by the German Nineteenth Army from November 1944 to February 1945, against the U.S. 6th Army Group during World War II. It was formed when 6th AG liberated southern and northern Alsace and adjacent eastern Lorraine, but could not clear central Alsace. During Operation Nordwind in December 1944, the 19th Army attacked north out of the Pocket in support of other German forces attacking south from the Saar into northern Alsace. In late January and early February 1945, the French First Army cleared the Pocket of German forces.
U.S. and French forces link up at Rouffach, February 1945. The junction of the two forces split the Colmar Pocket.
Winter in northwestern Europe, 1945: conditions on the Ardennes front.
PFC Jose F. Valdez, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism while serving with the U.S. 7th Infantry on 25 January 1945.
Audie Murphy, highly decorated 3rd Infantry Division officer who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the fighting in the Bois de Riedwihr.
The 19th Army was a World War II field army of the German Army. Active from 1943 to 1945 on the Western Front, it was tasked with defending southern France and before being pushed back to the French–German border during Operation Dragoon and then into southern Germany.
1944, anti-tank fortifications in Southern France
Image: Bundesarchiv Bild 101I 209 0086 12, Russland Nord, Brandenberger (cropped)
