Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/American logistics in the Western Allied invasion of Germany/archive1

American logistics in the Western Allied invasion of Germany

 * Nominator(s): Hawkeye7   (discuss)  20:15, 27 August 2023 (UTC)

This is the final article in the series about logistics in the campaigns in north west Europe in 1944-1945. This one covers the American logistics in the final advance into Germany in 1945. It covers a longer period of time and a larger body of troops than previous articles. In writing the article, I was able to take into account reviewer comments on previous articles in the series from the time of article creation. The article follows operations closely, and incorporates recent scholarship. It uses a broad range of sources. Interest in World War II is waning as it recedes further into history, and the Central Europe campaign has never attracted its fair share of attention. The article has nice maps and some striking images. From a logistical point of view, the US Army had incorporated the lessons of the earlier campaigns and operated with a heightened degree of efficiency. In contrast to the campaigns of 1944, logistical issues had little impact on operations, partly because the armies operated with a greater awareness of them. Hawkeye7  (discuss)  20:15, 27 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Image review

(t &#183; c)  buidhe  01:21, 4 September 2023 (UTC)
 * No licensing issues found.
 * Minor sandwiching between the first two images in the "Central Europe campaign#Railways" and "Central Europe campaign#Motor transport" sections

(t &#183; c)  buidhe  01:21, 4 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Other comments by Buidhe
 * At over 12,000 words the article is really a behemoth and could easily be considered to fail the length criterion because of the large amount of detail, which might belong better in sub-articles. I am not really seeing a convenient split point, so I understand that reducing the word count would not be straightforward or easy.
 * There are some sections that seem too long for good readability. I would consider splitting "Rhineland", and "Central Europe campaign#Motor transport"


 * I split Central Europe campaign#Motor transport and reduced the size of Rhineland by moving a paragraph. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  07:17, 4 September 2023 (UTC)

Support Comments by JennyOz
Placeholder for now JennyOz (talk) 03:26, 2 September 2023 (UTC)

Hi Hawkeye, logistics is rather fascinating! Who knew?...
 * I love the opening image. "Don't go anywhere Adolf, we're coming for you."


 * move short des to top
 * Moved. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I meant to comment on that. It's a great image, as is the Easter eggs one. JennyOz (talk) 08:09, 13 September 2023 (UTC)

lede
 * American logistics in the Western Allied Invasion of Germany supported - article title doesn't have cap on "Invasion"?
 * Decapped. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * replacement ordnance were dispatched - rest of article spells despatched
 * My dictionary says that the former is the olde form, hence more common in the US, so changed to "dispatch". Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * The river was crossed and bridged, - bridged then crossed? or did they have to build bridges from other side?
 * Yes. As related later in the article, the river was crossed in boats, and then bridged. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Background
 * the port of Cherbourg - in France
 * Certainment. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * when the Operation Cobra broke through - "the" intentional?
 * deleted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * and the Moselle in the south - river in France?
 * It flows through France, Luxembourg and Germany. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * returned to his next objective - sounds strange, returned to his next planned objective?
 * Reworded. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Organization
 * forces in Southern France had - no cap on southern? (Southern France)
 * One of the more opaque parts of the MOS. "Doubts frequently arise when referring to regions, such as eastern Spain and Southern California. If one is consistently capitalized in reliable sources (as with North Korea, Southern California or Western Europe), then the direction word in it is capitalized. Otherwise it is not, as with eastern Spain or southwest Poland. If you are not sure whether a region has attained proper-name status, assume it has not." (MOS:CAPS) It appears that the capitalised form used to be the most common, but no more. De-capped. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * The base sections were dived into districts. - divided
 * Ooops. Corrected. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Similarly, when the it in turn was absorbed - remove the
 * Removed. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Situation in January 1945
 * Major depot areas were established in September 1944 - had been established? (November 1944 is mentioned in prev sentence)
 * Tweaked wording. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * from nearly 3,500,000 US gallons (13,000,000 L) gallons to - remove second "gallons"
 * Deleted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Equipment loss and replacement
 * establish as series of defenses - a?
 * Yes. Corrected. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * between the Ardennes and Liege - Liège
 * Corrected. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * by the middle of January,[42] The supply - full stop
 * Full stop. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * More arrived the last two weeks - in or over?
 * in. Corrected. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * By V-E Day there were - add date in brackets?
 * Added. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Transportation
 * Shipping mail on these trains - how so? Was mail guarded?
 * They were, but also by reducing travel times and times. Added a bit. Fun fact: the central post office was manned by the 6888th Central Postal Battalion, which was entirely composed of Black women. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Balancing the troop basis


 * could be maintained in the field. [55] - remove space
 * Removed. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * reckoned on a division slice - add link
 * Linked. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Four more American divisions were added the 6th Army Group - added to
 * Added to Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * operations in January and February, along - new year so add 1945
 * Added too. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * antiaircraft battalions - v anti-aircraft battalions
 * Settled on the latter. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Replacing casualties
 * meant that in the ETO divisions had to remain - remove in?
 * Added comma after ETO. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * On 26 December, SHAEF put out an appeal for volunteers - where? in US?
 * In the ETO. Added. ZI was the responsibility of the Army Ground Forces. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Okay, but what is ZI? JennyOz (talk) 08:09, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
 * The Zone of the Interior. Military talk for the United States. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  09:48, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
 * decided to divert 19,000 infantry replacements scheduled for shipment to Europe in May to the Pacific - long sentence, perhaps a comma after "replacements" and another after "Europe in May"


 * Changed as suggested. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * The Army remained racially segregated - better link Racial segregation in the United States Armed Forces? (or Military history of African Americans or Racism against African Americans in the U.S. military)
 * Linked to the former. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Planning and preparations for the Rhine crossing Rhineland
 * careful planning was required to move the such heavy and - remove "the"
 * Deleted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * There were 26 major bridges over the Rhine, and the air staff reckoned that at least twenty would - numeral, word ie 26/twenty
 * Already been through the difference between a number and a numeral this week at Talk:0.999.... Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Ha! I had a look at that discussion and understood about .001 per cent of it. JennyOz (talk) 08:09, 13 September 2023 (UTC)


 * switched to Ninth Army, which - the Ninth
 * Added. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * By the mid-February it had - remove the
 * Removed. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * On the advice of his engineers, Simpson postponed - introduce and link William Hood Simpson
 * introduced and linked
 * transferred into jerry cans - link
 * Linked. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

First Army


 * On 7 March 1945 - move year 1945 up to 2 March in second sentence
 * Moved. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * On 9 March, Bradley told Hodges - introduce and link Courtney Hodges?
 * Introduced and linked. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Ninth Army


 * The two assault division were soon across - divisions
 * Added. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * two lights for the LCVPs, three for the LCMs, four for DD tanks. [116] - and four. Remove space before ref
 * Added. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * which controlled elements of the elements of the 341st - remove "of the elements"
 * Deleted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Two miles of connecting track - convert?
 * Converted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * detachments of ADSEC's 1053d - this is only use of d (ie not rd per 83rd, 163rd, 1553rd), intentional?
 * Corrected. The sources use American ordinals but Wikipedia does not. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Third Army
 * near Mainz in Germany on 4 April - remove in Germany, is given in prev sentence
 * Removed. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * At 22:00 22 March, - on 22 March?
 * Added. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * It was not until 08:30 that they - next day? 23 March? (if so, remove "23 March" from next sentence?)
 * Done. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * In the meantime, units the 89th Infantry Division - units of
 * Added. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * began crossing there at 01:00 on 28 March, - full stop
 * Changed comma to full stop. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Patton opened it on 14 April, and it was named after President Roosevelt, who had died two days before. - this was second bridge named after Roosevelt (per above Ninth army one "The bridge was opened to traffic at 14:30 on 18 April and named the Roosevelt bridge in honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died the week before") Add too/also?
 * Added. He was popular with the troops. Hawkeye7   (discuss)

Seventh Army
 * crossed the Rhine in the upstream from Worms - "in the" intentional?
 * Deleted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * In the meantime, the 85th Engineer Heavy Ponton Battalion built a 1,047 feet (319 m) heavy ponton bridge, making the treadway bridge necessary. - unnecessary? and adj=on?
 * Corrected. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Central Europe campaign Railways
 * Ninth Armies linked up at Lippstadt on 1 April. - not strictly necessary but add 1945 for new section?
 * Added. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * bridge at Duisberg was authorized - link?
 * Already linked above. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Part of the problem was the Third Army's representatives attempted to expedite the delivery of the most urgently required supplies. - just 'attempt'?
 * Not sure what is meant here. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Well, might be just me but, "Part of the problem was the Third Army's representatives attempted to expedite the delivery of the most urgently required supplies" doesn't seem grammatically right. Either
 * 'Part of the problem was that the Third Army's representatives attempted to expedite the delivery of the most urgently required supplies' or,
 * 'Part of the problem was the Third Army's representatives attempt ed to expedite the delivery of the most urgently required supplies' ? JennyOz (talk) 08:09, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Added "that" Hawkeye7   (discuss)  09:52, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Military Railway Service - link Military Railway Service (United States)?
 * Linked. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * The 1 and 2nd - 1st?
 * Corrected. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Motor transport
 * its headquarters, the 6955th Headquarters and Headquarters Company, - link Headquarters and headquarters company (United States)?
 * Linked. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * CONAD established "GI Joe Dinners" at - can only see one ref which does have dinners but definitely not diners in other refs?
 * Should be "diners". Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * caption: Repairing jerricans - spelt jerry cans in prose
 * Split. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * nearly 30,000,000 US gallons (110,000,000 L) gallons of bulk POL - rep gallons
 * Deleted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * They delivered 122,684 long tons (124,653 t) tons of supplies - rep tons
 * Deleted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Pipelines
 * was extended to Sarralbe - link
 * Linked. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * and the connected to the major system on 22 April - then connected
 * Deleted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * The first 4-inch pipeline of the southern system - convert
 * Converted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Prisoners of war
 * surrendered after this date were classified as a disarmed enemy forces (DEFs) instead - remove a?
 * Deleted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Outcome
 * terms of tanks, vehicles and equipment - other vehicles (tanks are vehicles)?
 * Sure. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Footnotes
 * was acquitted and returned to the United States - if acquitted, why sent home?
 * He was acquitted on the grounds that he was an incompetent commander. So not criminally liable, but cashiered. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

References
 * Dysart/Dunham - alpha order
 * Corrected. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Ref 54 archive doesn't work for me
 * Hmmm. Works for me. Added url-access=subscription card. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Matloff, Maurice - authorlink
 * Added link. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Greenfield, Kent Roberts - editorlink
 * Added link. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Parker, Theodore W. Jr. - authorlink Theodore W. Parker
 * Added link. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * DeBakey, Michael E. - authorlink Michael DeBakey
 * Added link. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Table American casualties in the ETO
 * American casualties in the ETO [70] - space before ref intentional?
 * Yes. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * April 1945 figures nonbattle 46,131 - should be 46, 151
 * Well spotted. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * provide grand totals at base?
 * Added. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Images
 * No alts?
 * Is the absence intentional? JennyOz (talk) 08:09, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Sort of. I find them difficult to do and hope that someone else will. Have attempted it. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  09:48, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
 * caption: A convoy of M26 Pershing tanks moves through a German town - sentence full stop?


 * Added full stop. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * caption: The troop transport USS West Point returns to New York with US soldiers - sentence full stop?
 * Added full stop. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * caption: Advance through Germany – 5–18 April 1945 - comma after Germany instead of dash?
 * Changed as suggested. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Footnotes
 * c. Ruppenthal also served in the campaign, but as the Third Army historical officer. - why "but"? Aren't military historians important people?
 * Contrasted with MacDonald, who served in the front line as a company commander, and was awarded the silver star. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Misc consistency That's it for me for now. JennyOz (talk) 08:04, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * ADESEC (x2) v ADSEC - different things? is ADESEC advance engineer section or typo?
 * Typo. Corrected. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * US Army (x6) v U.S. Army (x2)
 * Changed to the former. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * U.S. Navy (x1) v US Navy (x2)
 * Changed to the latter. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * autumn (x1) v fall (x2)
 * Hmmm. Americans normally use "fall" but the military uses "autumn". Changed to the latter. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)


 * Thanks for this. I think you caught a couple no one else could find. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:37, 11 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Hi again. I made a few minor tweaks to article, hope okay. I've now added a few comments above. JennyOz (talk) 08:09, 13 September 2023 (UTC)


 * Hi Jenny, I was wondering if you felt in a position to either support or oppose this nomination? Obviously, neither is obligatory. Thanks. Gog the Mild (talk) 20:47, 23 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Hi Hawkeye and Gog, just made a few more minor tweaks, pls check. Yes!, I am happy to add my s'port. JennyOz (talk) 03:17, 24 September 2023 (UTC)

MyCatIsAChonk
I added a number of commas just to divide dates and clarify any confusion, hope you don't mind- if you oppose any, go right ahead and remove them.
 * Wl port of Antwerp first time under 'Situation in January 1945'
 * Well spotted. I did not realise that port of Antwerp had its own article. Linked. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  20:18, 3 September 2023 (UTC)
 * - IMO, a colon would be better after 'War Department'
 * Changed comma to colon. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  20:18, 3 September 2023 (UTC)
 * - semicolons should be used to divide the armies and their cities; "By 8 May railheads had been established at Stendal and Magdeburg, Germany, for the Ninth Army; Leipzig, Germany, for the First Army;..." etc
 * Changed as suggested. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  20:18, 3 September 2023 (UTC)
 * - "S" in "POWS" should be lowercase
 * Lowercased. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  20:18, 3 September 2023 (UTC)
 * - fellow historian? Is this an actual title? If not, I think "fellow" can just be replace with "the"
 * I meant "fellow official historian". Alas, unlike Forrest Pogue, Martin Blumenson, Hugh M. Cole and Charles B. MacDonald, Roland Ruppenthal has no Wikipedia article. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  20:18, 3 September 2023 (UTC)


 * Goodness, this article has such a thorough and massive prose section, but I have very few comments; extremely good job on writing this, it's very impressive! MyCatIsAChonk (talk) (not me) (also not me) (still no) 13:27, 3 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Thanks for your review! And for correcting a few US English spellings. Greatly appreciated. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  20:18, 3 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Support MyCatIsAChonk (talk) (not me) (also not me) (still no) 01:18, 4 September 2023 (UTC)

Support from Gog the Mlld

 * As elsewhere, could you ping me once has wrapped up, or is approaching that point. Thanks. Gog the Mild (talk) 16:55, 9 September 2023 (UTC)
 * You are up to bat. now. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  09:54, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Thanks. I am going to be away for a few days and probably won't get started until I get back. If I haven't set to by the end of Monday feel free to give me another nudge. Gog the Mild (talk) 15:58, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
 * I'm sorry also not to have been able to respond yet; please poke my talk page again after Gog is done? Sandy Georgia (Talk)  16:03, 13 September 2023 (UTC)

And that's it from me. Gog the Mild (talk) 20:32, 22 September 2023 (UTC)
 * "The American forces were mainly supplied over the beaches and through the port of Cherbourg in France, which was opened on 19 July." It would be helpful if we were told over what period this was the case. If only via an initial 'During this campaign ...'
 * I have deleted this in the interest of trimming a article a little. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  01:30, 22 September 2023 (UTC)
 * "and allowed it to build up 4.5 days ...' supply of rations". Maybe 'and allowed it to build up a reserve of 4.5 days' supply of rations'?
 * Changed as suggested. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  01:30, 22 September 2023 (UTC)
 * "largely as a result of cold injury such as trench foot and frostbite." To my eye this would read better with 'injuries'.
 * Changed as suggested. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  01:30, 22 September 2023 (UTC)
 * I think an explanation of "limited service men" is needed somewhere. Perhaps a footnote?
 * Added a footnote. The supplied reference contains the details. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  01:30, 22 September 2023 (UTC)
 * "he had asked the air forces if they could destroy all the bridges." Picky, but you haven't actually said if this happened.
 * Rephrased slightly to make it clear that this did not happen. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  01:30, 22 September 2023 (UTC)
 * "Once the Rhine had been crossed, the American armies advanced rapidly into Germany." This seems to suggest that they hadn't already advanced into Germany.
 * Changed to "across Germany" Hawkeye7   (discuss)  19:58, 23 September 2023 (UTC)
 * "Plans called for the repair of ..." Any information on how much, if any, of this happened?
 * Very hard to say. I know a lot more about the effort in the Pacific, where it was still ongoing when the Korean War broke out in 1950. Added that it was disrupted by the end of the war. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  19:58, 23 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Note c, should it start with an upper-case I?
 * Yes. Corrected. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  19:58, 23 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Thanks for your review! Hawkeye7   (discuss)  19:58, 23 September 2023 (UTC)

Source review
Sources appear reliable and (apart from some very minor things I tweaked) suitably formatted. N.B. No spotchecks carried out. Cheers, Ian Rose (talk) 17:58, 25 September 2023 (UTC)

FrB.TG (talk) 19:24, 16 October 2023 (UTC)