Operation Archway

Operation Archway
Part of the Western Allied invasion of Germany in the Western Front of the European theatre of World War II
Armed SAS Jeep of the type used in Operation Archway
Date March–May 1945 Location Western Germany Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Brian Franks	Gustav-Adolf von Zangen
Units involved
Special Air Service 1 SAS 2 SAS	15th Army (elements)
Strength
300 men

Operation Archway was the codename for one of the largest and most diverse operations carried out by the Special Air Service during the Second World War.^[1]

Archway was initially intended to support Operation Plunder and Operation Varsity, the crossings of the River Rhine at Rees, Wesel, and south of the Lippe River by the British Second Army, under Lieutenant-General Sir Miles Dempsey. It went on to support the three British Armoured Divisions in their advance into Germany until the end of the war.

The Archway force was under command of Lieutenant Colonel Brian Franks and comprised two squadrons, one each from the 1st and 2nd Special Air Service.