Caesars bridges across the rhine, the first two bridges to cross the rhine river on record, were built by julius caesar and his legionaries during the gallic war in 55 bc and 53 bc. If you like military history, this is a great story of the iconic storming of the remagen bridge, the allies first opportunity to punch across the formidable barrier of the rhine river in western germany. Army 2d lieutenant timmermann was the leader of the assault on the ludendorff bridge at remagen, and he was the first american officer to fight his way across the rhine river and into the heart of the land of his birth. It is situated on the left western bank of the river rhine. Seizure of famed remagen bridge during world war ii made. Army bridges would span the river at remagen, helping maintain a previously unimaginable bridgehead in this area 25 miles wide by eight. With george segal, robert vaughn, ben gazzara, bradford dillman. On march 17, 1945, the ludendorff, severely damaged in the fighting ten days earlier and weakened further from the strain of heavy traffic, collapsed into the rhine. Within a week of crossing the rhine over the ludendorff bridge, seven us divisions had established themselves in strength east of the rhine. The ludendorff bridge at the town of remagen, a pedestrian and railway crossing of some yards had been wired for demolition by the german engineers. Mar 11, 2015 the march 7, 1945, seizure the rhine river s remagen bridge by a u. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The ludendorff bridge over the rhine river at remagen on march 8, 1945. This mighty river was literally the last ditch for the defence of hitlers germany.
There is a ferry across the rhine from remagen every 1015 minutes in the summer. The successful mission saved thousands of american lives and spearheaded the invasion of nazi germany. See all 24 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The bridge was built by russian prisoners captured on the eastern front. The boats are traveling from mainz toward cologne and there are just two that would applyone at 14. Dec 30, 2018 with the ruins of the collapsed ludendorff railroad bridge in the background, an american truck crosses the rhine river on a temporary pontoon bridge near the german town of remagen.
The remnants of the ludendorff bridge on the west bank of the rhine river in remagen, germany. As the commander of company a, 27th armored infantry battalion, 9th armored division, u. This intriguing chronicle reappraises the closing months of the war in europe, emphasizing the action in the rhineland. After capturing the siegfried line, the 9th armored division of the u. Its real name was the ludendorff bridge, but is now forever known by its location, as the bridge at remagen, made famous by a book and a 1960s movie of its story, the bridge across the rhine river which understood days of assault by german and allied forces, remaining standing to be captured by the allies, only to crash. Thus, it was one of the few bridges still standing on 7 march 1945. It was a stunning strategic victory of world war iiand one of the most fantastic breaks for the allies. Founded in the 1 st century ad, the german town of remagen sits on the rhine, south of the city of bonn. Ludendorff bridge on the west bank of the rhine river in remagen. In spite of material shortages and labor shortages caused by the war, work went on steadily, and by 1918 the bridge was almost complete. With the approach of spring the waiting finally ended.
It was the story of what happened on march 7, 1945 the day the rhine river was crossed. The ludendorff bridge, which residents of remagen resented for ruining the fine view down the rhine, passed through a 1,200foot tunnel in the erpeler ley before continuing eastward. Nijmegen railway bridge between nijmegen and nijmegen lent railway station, across the waal river rhine delta, main branch double tracked, electrified between zaltbommel and geldermalsen across the waal river, made famous in a poem by martinus nijhoff double tracked, electrified. Army and its allies battle to capture the bridge at remagen and cross the rhine river into germany.
It is based on the nonfiction book the bridge at remagen. The bridge at remagen by ken hechler published by panther books in london. Ken hechler, in 1957, wrote the best selling book, the bridge at remagen. By march 7th, 1945 all bridges but one across the rhine river had been blown. Very detailed tick tock of the capture of the a bridge over the rhine river in march of 1945. The bridge at remagen is the detailed narrative of. View of the ludendorff bridge over the rhine river, at remagen, germany. The bridge was 398 meters long and consisted of three spans. The story is well told, weaving the lives, personalities, frailties and qualities of. Ohio, was the first american across the rhine, the first invader to. Jan 01, 2009 when the 9th armored division soldiers were given the mission to cross the rhine river, they did not know that the ludendorff bridge was still standing. Remagen has many notable and wellmaintained buildings.
An american soldier crossing the bridge on a pedestrian walkway. The bridge at remagen 1969 the bridge at remagen 1969. Hitler had ordered that all bridges leading across the river be blown, but this one was still standing. As the allied armies close in, the germans decide to blow up the last rhine bridge, trapping their own men on the wrong side. Accordingly, in 1916 work was begun on a two track railroad bridge across the rhine river at remagen, a modest town between bonn and koblentz. The rhine, flowing swiftly past remagen, is 300 yards wide. The race was on to find intact crossings that could save many lives and precious time. See more ideas about world war ii, world war two and world war. The bridge at remagen is the detailed narrative of this surprising but crucial military action, one that. While the rhine is over 800 miles long, the 36mile stretch from mainz to koblenz is by far the most interesting.
Built in world war i to help deliver reinforcements and supplies to the german troops on the western front, it. The bridge at remagen, part 2 this 1965 film documents the capture of a bridge on march 7, 1945, that gave allied forces the first bridgehead across the rhine june 30, 1963. The bridge at remagen is a 1969 deluxe color war film starring george segal, ben gazzara and robert vaughn in panavision. In wwii, the bridge at remagen allowed us troops to cross the rhine. A bridge across the rhine at remagen was originally included in the schlieffen plan used by germany at the start of world war one. The day the rhine river was crossed hechler, ken on.
They were very surprised to see one of the last bridges across the rhine still standing. The capture of the ludendorff bridge at remagen occurred on march 78, 1945, during the closing stages of world war ii 19391945. See more ideas about wwii, world war and world war two. The bridge across the rhine at remagen as the allied armies approached, hitler ordered the destruction of all the bridges that spanned the rhine.
The bridge stirs memories for many people, especially the many americans on our rhine river cruise, and the number of history books, documentaries and even john guillermins film based on the battle of remagen have kept alive the interest in the events surrounding the bridge at remagen. Division surprisingly discovered that the rhine bridge in remagen. Apr 10, 2015 the ludendorff bridge sometimes referred to as the bridge at remagen was in early march 1945 one of two remaining bridges across the river rhine in germany when it was captured during the battle. The battle of remagen during the allied invasion of germany resulted in the unexpected capture of the ludendorff bridge over the rhine and shortened world war ii in europe. Patton celebrated the victory by stopping on a treadway bridge his men had built and relieving himself into the river. He helped capture remagen bridge over rhine river war tales. Remagen bridge at remagen friedensmuseum rhine river. Despite the cost saving of forced labor, construction cost 2. Strategically successful, they are also considered masterpieces of military engineering. Until 1932 the generally accepted length of the rhine was 1,230 kilometres 764 miles. Bridge at remagen last bridge on the rhine of wwii and peace museum.
Third army crosses the rhine warfare history network. Its purpose was to carry troops and supplies across the rhine for a german invasion of. The book started off a bit slow, trying to give all of the background information of all of the armies and persons involved leading up to the battle for the bridge at remagen. On 7 march, nearly four months after its arrival on the continent, unit 1 received orders to move 16 lcvps into germany. In honour of the americans who died there, an american flag proudly flies atop one tower on the west bank. The last german city on the rhine before the mighty river turns to the netherlands, emmerich am rhein is the location of the countrys longest suspension bridge. The american forces were looking for a way across the river into the heart of germany. The ludendorff bridge sometimes referred to as the bridge at remagen was in early march 1945 a critical remaining bridge across the river rhine in germany when it was captured during the battle of remagen by united states army forces during the closing weeks of world war ii. Wolpor and beautifully directed by john guillermin the picture has, over the years, gained something of a cult status and besides being a great favourite with collectors is regarded as one of the more memorable war classics of cinema. Tourists come to remagen to stroll the riverbank, climb the grapecovered hillsides, and join in throaty songfests at the local cafes. On march 7, 1945, a small group of american infantrymen, engineers, and tank crews secured the ludendorff bridge that crossed the rhine. The ludendorff bridge at remagen from the west bank of the rhine after it was captured by u.
Capturing the bridge at remagen, 1945 eyewitness to history. Us troops capture bridge at remagen entering nazi germany. He even interviewed the main participants from both sides. In response, german forces were ordered to destroy the bridges over the river. It is an old roman town, with a population of about 5,000. The town of remagen is on the rhine river midway between cologne and koblenz. Famously the american forces in a daring coupdemain operation seized the bridge at reagen which due to german blunder and.
The ludendorff bridge at remagen, having served its purpose of carrying thousands of allied troops with their tanks and supplies across the rhine, collapsed into the river on march 17, 1945. The race for the rhine bridges, 1940, 1944, 1945 by. And it was also along the rhine where us general omar bradleys troops found a bridge still standing at remagen to bring world war ii into hitlers heartland. It also omits the construction of bailey and pontoon bridges across the rhine. See more ideas about rhine river cruise, cruise and river. First army had advanced unexpectedly quickly towards the rhine. This book names names in the famous remagen bridge capture and presents. The american forces adapted to the situation and took the initiative to conduct a bridge crossing operation within hours of discovering the stillstanding bridge. This is not an efficient way to go from koblenz to remagen, however. With the ruins of the collapsed ludendorff railroad bridge in the background, an american truck crosses the rhine river on a temporary pontoon bridge near the german town of remagen. The bridge at remagen by ken hechler 1993, paperback.
This span at remagen, alone among the rhine river bridges in these last days of world war ii, somehow had survived strafing by allied bombers, and hadnt been dynamited by retreating nazi forces. Pictorial histories new edition if ken hechlers classic the bridge at remagen, has been updated with a new afterword, a bonus chapter about the 1969 film of the same name it was originally published in tv guide. Oct 03, 2016 the rhine, flowing swiftly past remagen, is 300 yards wide. It tries to show the battles for the rhine bridges from the germans seizing them at the start of the war then the allies taking them at the end. Despite the nazis attempt to destroy the bridge it was captured intact by 9th armored division. Worth a read especially to learn the true bridge too far and bridge at remagen. The arch span between the piers was 512 feet long, and the anchor arms leading to each bank were 277 feet long, making the entire bridge 1,066 feet in length. The ludendorff bridge in remagen was often overlooked due to its location 40 miles from the front lines.
It is about a onehour drive from cologne, just south of bonn, the former west german capital. Us troops capture bridge at remagen entering nazi germany in wwii. War escalated in the rhine ahr region after the landing. The amazing story of march 7, 1945the day the rhine river was crossed unknown binding 4. Creasing to spine and pages a little browned, otherwise book in in generally good condition. At each allied advance, the germans destroyed the bridges spanning the river. Few places can stir the memories as the bridge at remagen, germany, midway between coblenz and cologne.
Bridge at remagen and friedensmuseum peace museum rhine. The bridge at remagen battle of remagen wwii battle. The amazing story of march 7, 1945the day the rhine river was crossed thee best book on the subject written by a man who was there to record it all. The film, which was directed by john guillermin, was shot on location in czechoslovakia.
Remagen is a town in germany in the state of rhinelandpalatinate, in the district of ahrweiler. The bridge at remagen was still standing when their unit reached the little german town. The capture of the bridge over the rhine at remagen, 7 march 1945. Army task force is an outstanding example of individual and organizational initiative and carefully assessed aggressiveness. The battle of remagen during the allied invasion of germany resulted in the unexpected capture of the ludendorff bridge over the rhine. The battle for the bridge over the rhine at remagen in ww2. Being two generations removed from wwii my grandfather got drafted the day japan surrendered, this information was a bit overwhelming for me but perhaps for a wwii. Seven days to the river rhine was a warsaw pact war plan for an invasion of western europe during the cold war. The ludendorff bridge sometimes referred to as the bridge at remagen was in early march 1945 one of two remaining bridges across the river rhine in germany when it was captured during the battle of remagen by united states army forces during the closing weeks of world war ii.
Us troops capture and defend the ludendorff bridge over. The high ridges along the rhine forced the german bombers to climb up and over the ridge lines on the west side, before they could descend to the river and make a highspeed pass to the bridge. How the ludendorff bridge probably saved germany from an atomic. Ludendorff bridge project gutenberg selfpublishing. In early 1945, american forces pressed towards the west bank of the rhine river during operation lumberjack. It has many combat scenes and recounts along with subsequent. This happened after for us troops already had transferred man and material to the right side of the rhine river in order to continue their victorious offensive against. The remagen bridgehead yesterday and today in the romantic rhineland, where the romans once tended vineyards, where castles dot the hilltops, the defeat of nazi germany was suddenly and surprisingly hastened when on march 7th, 1945, american soldiers captured the intact remagen bridge across the rhine and breached hitlers last defensive line. On march 7, 1945, clemente and the men of the 47th found it. Built between 1916 and 1919, the ludendorff bridge at remagen rested on two piers in the river that supported a truss arch. This also became the subject of a film, the bridge at remagen. Pattons troops beat montgomery across the rhine by one day. The book is a fair read, first published in 57 my paperback in 69. Released in 1969 the bridge at remagen is a gritty action packed war movie.
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