The film, which was directed by john guillermin, was shot on location in czechoslovakia. Timmermann, hero of the rhine added a new photo to the album. The germans have blown all of the bridges on the rhine, except one the bridge at remagen. The ludendorff bridge pictured in 1945, compared to modern times. In fact, the history making events surrounding the bridge have inspired poems, feature movies, books and several tv programs, all with good reason. The bridge at remagen project gutenberg selfpublishing. 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. Us 9th armoured division cross the rhein river as part of operation lumberjack. First army had advanced unexpectedly quickly towards the rhine. This decision was made in march 1945 by shaef commander in chief dw. War escalated in the rhine ahr region after the landing.
Oct 31, 2019 allied forces had closed to the rhine, but getting across the river, swollen to 1,500 feet wide, was another matter. While montgomery crushed the last enemy resistance in the lower rhineland and secured a springboard for a massive britishamerican crossing north of the ruhr, the northern corps of hodges u. The incredible story of the capture of the ludendorff bridge, a strategic bridge crossing the rhine river at the town of remagen. However, the allies had planned other rhine crossings weeks earlier and carried them out as part of their strategy to encircle and capture the ruhr, the industrial center of western germany. Feb 26, 2020 the bridge at remagen united artists, 1969 is often overlooked in discussions about world war ii films. Pontoon bridge built by us troops across the rhine river. The ludendorff bridge over the rhine river at remagen on march 8, 1945. A story of world war ii and millions of other books are. The amazing story of march 7, 1945, the day the rhine river was crossed 3rd ed. The amazing story of march 7, 1945 by writer and u. The bridge capture was an important strategic event of ww2 because it was the only remaining bridge over the rhine river into germanys heartland. Rarelyseen photos show how 200,000 allied troops crossing. By the 17th of march a week before patton and montgomery crossed, the 78th had fought its way into buel, a city on the east bank of the rhine opposite bonn. Hechler published the book the bridge at remagen in 1957.
A pontoon bridge built by us troops across the rhine river, crossed by don deanes outfit on march 27, 1945. Famous wwii remagen bridge towers up for sale news. Today we follow the american advance on the river rhine. The one at remagen was built in 1916 and named the ludendorff bridge. Crossing the rhine at remagen the national wwii museum. Built in world war i to help deliver reinforcements and supplies to the german troops on the western front, it. The ludendorff bridge was a railway bridge across the rhine, between the. Pontoon bridge built by us troops across the rhine river in. It was a stunning strategic victory of world war iiand one of the most fantastic breaks for the allies. This span at remagen, alone among the rhine river bridges in these. Soldierhistorianpolitician ken hechler gives us a taut and very detailed tick tock of the capture of the a bridge over the rhine river in march of 1945. Because of the early and successful efforts to capture and repair the bridge, five american divisions were able to cross the rhine in support of operation plunder, the largescale british push across the river farther north in late march.
The amazing story of march 7, 1945, the day the rhine river was crossed paperback december 30, 1993. How the allies crossed the rhine river into germany the. Storyline in the last days of world war ii, the allied army desperately searched for a bridgehead across the impenetrable rhine river, in order to launch a major assault into the center of germany. The ordinary men who engineered that strategic breakthrough hechler introduces timmermann and his men and follows them through the bloody fighting that led them at length toward the town of remagen.
In early march 1945, it was a critical bridge still left standing, as the allies achieved a surprisingly quick advance towards the rhine. The amazing story of march 7, 1945the day the rhine river was crossed on. In the bridge at remagen, military historian ken hechler tells their amazing storyone of the most remarkable episodes in all of world war ii. But the allies had already moved divisions across the rhine and had built improvised bridges over the river. The bridge at remagen is the detailed narrative of this surprising but crucial military action, one that stunned the german army. By march 7th, 1945 all bridges but one across the rhine river had been blown. In order to undermine german supply lines to the front, the allies had systematically bombed bridges up and down the river for months, so the discovery of an intact wwiera bridge across the rhine at the town of remagen about 14 miles south of bonn was a big surprise. The capture of the bridge over the rhine at remagen, 7 march 1945. Army would push thousands of troops across the only span standing over the river.
The town of remagen is situated on the western bank of the river rhine, roughly midway between cologne and koblenz. The bridge at remagen, part 1 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 spectacular capture of the ludendorff bridge spanning the rhine at remagen in early march 1945 was pivotal in the conquest of germany. At 5 pm on march 23, along the hazy western bank of the rhine, british gunners opened up the biggest artillery barrage of the war, and monty. The american capture of the bridge at remagen on the front tours. Thus, it was one of the few bridges still standing on 7 march 1945. 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.
The bridge was built in world war one at remagen, germany, to help german movements over the rhine river. In this amazing true story, ken hechler gives you the hourbyhour account of. After capturing the siegfried line, the 9th armored division of the u. Mar 07, 2021 a side view of the remagen bridge in march 1945 before it collapsed into the rhine.
The amazing story of march 7, 1945, the day the rhine river was crossed. Stephen ambrose stresses citizen soldiers in his 1997 book by the same name. The bridge at remagen wikipedia republished wiki 2. Army and its allies battle to capture the bridge at remagen and cross the rhine river into germany. Us troops capture ludendorff railroad bridge at remagen. The american first army pursuing the retreating germans after the battle of the bulge found a bridge almost completely undefended and intact.
Claude musgrove took this picture of the famous ludendorff bridge over the rhine river at remagen, germany. Bell, jr the american ninth armys crossing the rhine river on march 7, 1945, in the early days of the battle of remagen is a wellknown chapter of military history. The bridge at remagen book by ken hechler thriftbooks. Prisoners held in the camps were designated disarmed enemy forces, not prisoners of war. For years, the only real source material available on the dramatic seizure of the remagen bridge came from a single source us historian ken hechler who wrote both a monograph for the official history. Us troops capture bridge at remagen entering nazi germany in.
The bridge was built in world war one at remagen, netherlands, to help german movements over the rhine river. In honour of the americans who died there, an american flag proudly flies atop one tower on the west bank. Until 1932 the generally accepted length of the rhine was 1,230 kilometres 764 miles. They were very surprised to see one of the last bridges across the rhine still standing. According to the book bill collins presents the golden years of hollywood. He found captain willi bratge, one of two officers who had not been executed at hitlers orders because he had been captured, and spent a week with him in the remagen area learning about details of the battle. 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. The rheinwiesenlager were a group of 19 camps built in the alliedoccupied part of germany by the u. It is an old roman town, with a population of about 5,000. The bridge at remagen by ken hechler 1993, trade paperback. 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.
The problem for the americans and british on the western front is crossing the rhine river, a natural obstacle to the invasion of germany. This also became the subject of a film, the bridge at remagen. Dec 27, 2020 how the allies crossed the rhine river into germany. Troops of the us 9th armored division capture the ludendorff railroad bridge at remagen, between koblenz and bonn, germany, in early march 1945, allied troops had reached the west bank of the rhine river along most of the river s length, north of the city of koln. Mar 07, 2021 and the tiny town of remagen, where the bridge was located, would become famous as the u. The town of remagen is on the rhine river midway between cologne and koblenz. Ludendorff bridge at remagen after its capture on march 7, 1945. At the eastern end was a 383meter tunnel through the steep hill of erpeler ley. It was situated between two lines of hills that flanked the rhine river. The book is a fair read, first published in 57 my paperback in 69. Despite the nazis attempt to destroy the ludendorff bridge on the west bank of the rhine river in remagen, germany, the 9th armored. For years, the only real source material available on the dramatic seizure of the remagen bridge came from a single source us historian ken hechler who wrote both a monograph for the official history and the massmarket bridge at remagen.
George segal played the character lieutenant phil hartman, loosely based on timmermann. Originally built between 1916 and 1918, the bridge was constructed as a twotrack railway bridge, named after general luettendorf. A story of world war ii ken hechler, 1957 movie suggestions a bridge too far 1977. The bridge at remagen is a 1969 deluxe color war film starring george segal, ben gazzara and robert vaughn in panavision. He even interviewed the main participants from both sides. A hollywood film inspired by a book written about its capture, the bridge at remagen, was made in 1969. Later in this article, he tells about his part in the events surrounding the spectacular taking of a bridge over the rhine river. 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. Bridge at remagen tells the true story of the battle for this last bridgehead, from both the german and american perspective. July 28, 2020 i drew an assault boat to cross injust my luck.
The smoke under and behind the bridge is from german artillery rounds trying to destroy the miraculously surviving link that let allied forces cross the. The successful mission saved thousands of american lives and spearheaded the invasion of nazi germany. This updated volume contains bandw photos of american and german troops, artillery and aerial shots of the rhine, and the ludendorff bridge before its ultimate destruction. March 7, 1945, american infantry capture a bridge over the. The amazing story of march 7, 1945the day the rhine river was crossed.
Securing the ludendorff bridge, undamaged, was a crucial strategic victory for the allies in 1945. 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 bridge at remagen battle of remagen wwii battle. The screenplay was adapted by richard yates and william roberts. He helped capture remagen bridge over rhine river war tales.
The ludendorff bridge was a railway bridge across the rhine, between the towns of remagen and erpel. A memorial dedicated to his actions capturing the ludendorff bridge during world war ii was dedicated on march 7, 1995 in timmerman park in west point. The historical war drama was based on ken hechlers 1957 nonfiction book the bridge at remagen. Us troops capture bridge at remagen entering nazi germany in wwii. The rhine crossings in world war ii holocaust encyclopedia. The ludendorff bridge at remagen from the west bank of the rhine after it was captured by u. The bridge was 398 meters long and consisted of three spans. Third army crosses the rhine warfare history network. The capture of the bridge over the rhine at remagen, 7. At least one book and one hollywood movie, along with numerous magazine articles and websites, have detailed the subject.
The film was based on a book by ken hechler, a war historian who was serving in the us army in 1945. The bridge is notable for its capture on 78 march 1945, by american forces during the second world war battle of remagen, which allowed the allies to establish a bridgehead across the rhine. See more ideas about world war two, world war ii, wwii. The bridge at remagen 19571998 by ken hechler is thoroughly researched and the key book on the subject.
The battle of remagen during the allied invasion of germany resulted in the unexpected capture of the ludendorff bridge over the rhine. The amazing story of march 7, 1945, the day the rhine river. Army to hold captured german soldiers at the close of the second world war. It is also the moving story of men who did not consider themselves heroes, but who performed magnificently under fire. Remagen bridge at remagen friedensmuseum rhine river. Its early week of march 1945, the allies have driven out the germans west of the rhine.
The us armys surprise capture of the ludendorff bridge over the rhine river at remagen, germany, broke open germanys defenses in the west. Interview with ken hechler, wwii historian author of the bridge at remagen. The audacious capture of the bridge at remagen ensured the success of these operations and shortened the. Infantryman paul priest recalls the historic crossing after adolf hitler ordered all bridges across the rhine river blown up to prevent the allies from crossing into germany, one span remained intact. Seven days to the river rhine was a warsaw pact war plan for an invasion of western europe during the cold war. It is based on the nonfiction book the bridge at remagen. March 7, 1945, american infantry capture a bridge over the rhine.
The bridge at remagen fell into the river on the 17th. The capture, crossing, and collapse of the remagen bridged. Army bridges would span the river at remagen, helping maintain a previously unimaginable bridgehead in this area 25 miles wide by eight. Cesar served in the 16th battalion of belgian rifleman which fought with, and under the command of, the american third army.
Instead, he volunteered to fight for the liberation of germany from the nazis. The bridge at remagen is the detailed narrative of this surprising but crucial military. Remember the battle of remagen bridge and the rhine river. Officially named prisoner of war temporary enclosures, they held between one and almost two million surrendered wehrmacht personnel from april until september 1945. Remember the battle of remagen bridge and the rhine river crossings. It is widely agreed that the battle of remagen significantly shortened the war in europe. Few places can stir the memories as the bridge at remagen, germany, midway between coblenz and cologne. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the.
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 amazing story of march 7, 1945the day the rhine river was crossed unknown binding 4. Tourists come to remagen to stroll the riverbank, climb the grapecovered hillsides, and join in throaty songfests at the local cafes. 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.
Buy a cheap copy of the bridge at remagen book by ken hechler. They were told to be ready to withdraw if the 9th division couldnt hold the line. Jun 27, 2016 first army had already captured an intact bridge over the river at remagen, there was still a rivalry between patton and british field marshal bernard montgomery to cross next. Officially named prisoner of war temporary enclosures pwte, they held between one and almost two million surrendered wehrmacht personnel from april until. At each allied advance, the germans destroyed the bridges spanning the river. Remagen bridgehead battlefield tours guided tours visiting. Seizure of famed remagen bridge during world war ii made. Remagen bridge at remagen friedensmuseum rhine river cruise. Visitors approaching the bridge today, either on the rhine river or along its banks, will see two towers, all that is left of the original bridge on the west bank. Hechler introduces timmermann and his men and follows them through the bloody fighting that led them at length toward the town of remagen. A really enjoyable book, and totally understandable that it would be made into a movie, as it was in the mid 1960s. Very detailed tick tock of the capture of the a bridge over the rhine river in march of 1945. The ludendorff bridge in remagen was often overlooked due to its location 40 miles from the front lines.
Jan 14, 2020 rarelyseen photos of allied soldiers using amphibious craft and a duck board bridge to cross the river rhine in the final stages of world war two have been documented in a new book 75 years later. On 3745, the allies captured it when explosives planted by the germans failed to bring the bridge down. The rhine river a natural barrier in which the germans made. About 766 miles in length, with an average width of about 1,300 feet, the generally northflowing waterway also is exceptionally swift and deep. 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.
Us troops capture bridge at remagen entering nazi germany. He saw combat in germany, and he participated in the operation to secure the rhine river bridge crossing at remagen. 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. On march 7, 1945, a small group of american infantrymen, engineers, and tank crews secured the ludendorff bridge that crossed the rhine. Photo, print, drawing ludendorff bridge at remagen after its capture on march 7, 1945, showing u. The loss of the ludendorff bridge over the rhine river on 7 march 1945 was one of those rare occasions where the germans performed miserably. Stone towers guarded each end of the bridge, large enough to house a battalion of soldiers. Montgomery was supposed to make the next crossing in a complex operation utilizing ground and airborne troops. The book was adapted into a hollywood film produced by david l. The ludendorff bridge known frequently by englishspeakers during world war ii as the bridge at remagen was a railway bridge across the river rhine in germany, connecting the villages of remagen and erpel between two ridge lines of hills flanking the river.
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