The Bridge at Remagen: A Story of World War II by Ken Hechler

Author:Ken Hechler [Hechler, Ken]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780891418603
Amazon: 0891418601
Publisher: Presidio Press
Published: 2005-07-26T00:00:00+00:00

XIII. The Capture of Remagen

Late in the forenoon of March 7, a gray, drizzly day, a little group of American soldiers on the Birresdorf road near the abandoned R.A.D. camp above Remagen were talking excitedly. The Ludendorff Bridge was over a mile away, and Karl Timmermann and his men did not dream that it would still be standing when they reached it.

Timmermann and his second platoon leader, Lieutenant Burrows, were peering through field glasses at the distant bridge.

“Jim, look at those damn Krauts going over the bridge,” said Timmermann.

“Hey, look at the cows and horses, too,” Burrows said. “With all those people trying to cross over, that bridge would make a good target.”

Burrows glanced around quickly for his mortar squad. “Amick,” he yelled, “you and Mercadante set up and prepare to fire on that bridge.” There was a hasty scuffling with the heavy base plates and stovepipe tubes as the men adjusted their mortars.

“Tim, I'm not so sure about this,” Burrows said to his company commander. “Do you think our mortars will do the trick?”

“It sure tempts me.”

“Let's plaster 'em, Lieutenant,” one of the mortarmen called out.

“Well, we've got some heavy stuff back of us, and there's no sense in sticking a pin in their tail just to see 'em jump. Let's do it this way: get hold of Colonel Engeman and he can bring up his tanks and call for some artillery.”

A runner took off to alert the task force commander about the big bonanza that Timmermann had found.

A few minutes later, Engeman roared up, followed by Major Murray Deevers, the commander of the 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, and Deevers' Operations Officer, Major Don Russell. They watched the procession of German troops, vehicles, and animals far below, making their antlike way across.

“Let's lower the boom,” Engeman decreed. A radio message flew out, and presently somebody shoved a reply into his hand.

“Damn. They won't fire the artillery. Claim there are friendly troops in the vicinity. How can I get it through their thick—Oh, what's the use! Murray, we've got to take that town, and it looks like the doughs ought to go down first and clean it out. I'll bring up my tanks to cover you. Let me know how you want to plan your attack on the town.”

The minutes ticked by. The stream of traffic across the bridge slowed down. There was frustrating delay on top of the hill, as the debate proceeded on how to seize this tiger by the tail without inciting him to bite. Deevers spoke to the commanders of A and C companies, Lieutenants Timmer-mann and William E. McMaster: “Tim and Mac, you make a reconnaissance down into town and give me a report on how to go in there.”

Timmermann and McMaster made their way a little over five hundred yards down the hill along a footpath into Remagen. They met no enemy fire, but they saw a lot of activity near the bridge and on the opposite side of the river. Timmer-mann paused a

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