80 Years Ago: U.S. Forces Captured Nuremberg, the Symbolic Heart of Nazi Germany

On April 20, 1945, American troops from the U.S. Army's 3rd and 45th Infantry Divisions raised the American flag in the heart of Nuremberg, Germany, marking the conclusion of a fierce five-day battle that captured one of the Nazis’ final strongholds. The fall of Nuremberg represented a significant military and symbolic victory, occurring just days before the downfall of the Third Reich.

In the spring of 1945, as U.S. forces pushed further into Germany, they faced intense opposition in cities deemed crucial to Nazi morale and propaganda. Nuremberg, historically seen as the ideological heart of the Nazi Party, held grand rallies and was intricately woven into the fabric of Nazi identity. Despite extensive Allied bombing that left much of the city in ruins, German forces capitalized on the destruction, transforming the debris into strategic defensive positions that hindered the American advance.

The conflict commenced in full force on April 18, as U.S. troops advanced into the city from various angles. Soldiers faced significant opposition, confronting machine gun nests, anti-tank weapons, and concealed fighters operating from basements and parks. The Army’s Combat Studies Institute later characterized the fighting as arduous, systematic, and frequently entailing hand-to-hand combat.

By April 20, the birthday of Adolf Hitler, U.S. troops arrived at the symbolic heart of the city, Adolf Hitler Platz. The raising of the American flag at 11 a.m. that day marked the city’s formal surrender. Over 800 casualties were reported in the U.S. during the battle. The extent of German losses remains unclear.

The fall of Nuremberg held great importance not only for its military implications but also in thwarting a possible Nazi resurgence in Austria. At that time, intelligence reports indicated plans for a southern escape route aimed at establishing an insurgency.

The fall of Nuremberg also set the stage for the postwar reckoning. Only seven months following its capture, the Allies initiated the Nuremberg Trials, bringing high-ranking Nazi officials to justice for war crimes. The site was selected not just for its practical considerations but also due to its significant symbolism in the ascent and decline of the Nazi regime.

Eighty years later, the Battle of Nuremberg serves as a poignant reminder of the toll of urban warfare and the determination of the American forces who fought to conclude one of history’s darkest regimes.