Fulda River Crossing — 319th Infantry, 2 April 1945

Kassel, DE

The **Fulda River** — flowing northward through the valley east of Kassel before turning northwest to join the Eder and eventually the Weser — was the key water obstacle for the eastern approach to the city. On **2 April 1945**, the **319th Infantry Regiment** (80th Infantry Division) crossed the Fulda south of Kassel and advanced northward along its eastern bank toward the city centre. The crossing operation was carried out with bridging equipment under fire. Once across, the 319th advanced north along the eastern bank, cutting off German forces in the city from any retreat or reinforcement to the east and southeast. The regiment reached the city centre on **4 April**, when US tanks also crossed the Fulda from the east to link up with infantry already approaching from the west (318th) and south. The dual crossing — one battalion of infantry using the east bank, tanks following on 4 April — completed the encirclement. The Fulda crossing was the eastern arm of the envelopment that, combined with the 318th's seizure of the Habichtswald ridge, gave Erxleben no viable avenue of retreat.