By Rodney L. Sherman
Staff writer
(Re-enactment of 1945 battle in Germany draws ever-growing audience)
TIDIOUTE – The American army “took” the bridge in Tidioute Aug. 6, driving German forces from the span in the eighth annual “Battle for the Bridge at Remagen” re-enactment.
Hundreds of people secured prime viewing spots on both sides of the bridge in the small town of Tidioute to watch re-enactors recreate the battle of March 7, 1945, in the small German town of Remagen.
The Tidioute Borough website provides the following information about the re-enactment:
The event includes hundreds of infantrymen organized by the 99th Infantry Division 393rd Regiment, Easy Company Reenactment Group (Battle Babies).
The streets of Tidioute are full of action as approximately 250 re-enactors representing Infantrymen of both American and German decent battle for control of the bridge.
Remagen, Germany, is a small town located on the west banks of the Rhine River.
Its layout and size are very similar to Tidioute. The Rhine River is similar in size to the Allegheny River. The terrain features of Remagen, Germany, look very much like the Allegheny Region, with the rolling mountains, deep valleys and several ridges.
The bridge at Remagen was named after a German hero, thus the name Ludendorff Bridge which was about 700 feet long. Just a little longer than the Tidioute Bridge which is 551 feet in length.
The German Ludendorff Bridge was the only bridge across the Rhine River captured by American forces during World War II.
Visitors to the re-enactment watched as U.S. soldiers drove the German army back across the bridge.
Pyrotechnics were used to simulate the attempted destruction of the bridge by German forces. But when the smoke cleared, just as in the actual World War II battle, the bridge was still standing.
During the 1945 battle, the allied forces were on the offense and the German army was in full retreat. Lead elements of the 9th Armored Division arrived on a hill overlooking Remagen and the Ludendorff Bridge.
Lt. Timmerman lead the column assigned to capture the town. To their surprise they found the bridge intact with the German army still retreating across it.
The bridge at Remagen was the last remaining bridge on the Rhine River.Either the advancing allied armies or the retreating German army had destroyed all of the other bridges on the Rhine.
Orders were to “capture the bridge.” Timmerman’s column led by a company of infantry, advanced into the lightly defended village and quickly made their way to the bridge.
Between 3 and 4 p.m., the Germans were on the other side of the Rhine River and they detonated the charges already in place. The explosives blew, lifting the bridge off its foundation.When the smoke cleared the bridge was still intact and still standing.
History was made that day and the following day a sign was placed on the bridge that read, “Cross the Rhine with Dry Feet, Courtesy of the 9th Armored Division.”
Ten days later the bridge collapsed, killing may of the combat engineers who were trying to repair the bridge.
Hundreds of G.I.s were killed and wounded fighting to protect the bridge.
The annual re-enactment in Tidioute includes an army encampment open to the just south of the Tidioute Bridge.
Visitors are welcome and encouraged to stop at the encampment to see how it was back then.
Plans are already underway for the 2017 event. Visit http://www.remagenbridge.com for more information and photos of past events.