Short answers, pulled from the story.
Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery launched Operation Plunder on the night of the 23rd of March 1945. The operation began at 21:00 near Rees with the initial assault by the 51st Highland Infantry Division.
Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey commanded the British Second Army during Operation Plunder. He coordinated his forces with the United States Ninth Army led by William H. Simpson to execute a three-army assault including an airborne component.
Companies E and C of the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion constructed treadway rafts south of Wesel using over 8,000 feet of M2 treadway and 93 pneumatic floats. They laid these components during a six hours and fifteen minute project starting at 9:45 a.m. on the 23rd of March 1945.
Over 15,000 paratroopers landed during Operation Varsity which was the largest single-day airborne operation in history. These troops started their drop at 10:00 on the 24th of March to disrupt enemy communications and secure the eastern bank against German defenses.
Alfred Schlemm initially commanded the German 1st Parachute Army opposing the Allied advance before he was wounded. Günther Blumentritt took command after Schlemm was injured and managed a withdrawal beyond the Dortmund-Ems Canal by the 1st of April.