Review of History and Political Science

Politics, Circumstance, Intelligence, Strategy: A Review of the U.S. Race to Munich and Capture of the “Alpine Redoubt “In World War Two.
Jeffrey S. Gaab, Ph.D.

Abstract
The essay examines how politics, military circumstances, and intelligence all combined to effect military strategy in the last days of World War Two in Bavaria, Germany. The essay argues that the surprising and unexpected capture of the Remagen Bridge over the Rhine in March 1945 made it possible for western allied forces to address another unanticipated problem that developed in the last days of the war: the rumored move of the Nazi government south and the establishment of an “Alpine Redoubt” southeast of Munich near Salzburg. Rumors and military intelligence all suggested that Hitler might attempt to flee from the Russians surrounding Berlin and move south into an “Alpine Fortress” to command further resistance after the fall of the Nazi capital. General Eisenhower readjusted his military strategy in light of these new circumstances, abandoned any plans to head toward Berlin, and instead ordered armies south and east to stop the establishment of any new Nazi government and crush any Nazi redoubt or last desperate center of resistance.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/rhps.v4n1a1