80 Years Ago, the Allies Secured Their Path Into Nazi Germany

As the Allies moved into Germany in March 1945, they thought that every bridge over the Rhine would have been destroyed by the fleeing Nazis. Instead, on March 7, U.S. forces saw a bridge at Remagen that was still in good shape. This was a strategic chance they couldn't pass up.

Bombs were hidden in the Ludendorff Bridge, which was built during World War I. Even though Company A and the 14th Tank Battalion fought to the bridge, engineers were busy cutting lines that would set off bombs. A U.S. officer pushed demolition charges off the building while under heavy machine gun fire. The Americans took over the bridge by late afternoon, even though the Germans tried to blow it up but failed.

Later, prisoners said that the bridge was supposed to blow up at 4 p.m., but lousy wiring and a rushed execution kept it from going off.

When the Americans took control of the bridge, the Axis and the Allies knew how important it was to the war's end. The 9th Armored Division of the First U.S. Army quickly moved troops and supplies across the bridge, even though it was shaky from battle damage.

Hitler's army fought back, sending tanks and units with fewer soldiers to regain or destroy the crossing. By March 9, German bombers were constantly aiming at Remagen, while U.S. troops defended their bridgehead and put up anti-aircraft guns.

The Nazis even fired V-2 rockets at Remagen, which was a first for the world. These were the first long-range ballistic weapons. Out of the 11 that were fired, none hit their mark.

Even though there were attacks from the air and the ground for days, U.S. troops kept coming across. The Ludendorff Bridge finally gave way on March 17, killing more than 25 American troops.

By then, the Allies had set up several crossings, making stopping their progress into Germany impossible