The Road to Berlin

U.S. troops poured over the Rhine by the thousands—in boats, over bridges, through the air. Now even the most professionally pessimistic observers had to admit that the final round was on. The roads to Berlin had opened up.

At home, the U.S. people took this significant advance in stride. A year ago, such a tremendous push might have started public celebrations. By now, the U.S. people, like their Army, had become more professional in their attitude toward war. They were also, as ever, mindful of the cost.

In the week before the Big Push, U.S. casualties reached an alltime high—19,998 for seven...