7 March 1945: Troops of the U.S. 9th Armd. Div. commanded by German-American 1st Lt. Karl Timmerman, captured the Ludendorff railroad bridge over the Rhine at Remagen.

The bridge's capture caught both the Germans and Americans by surprise. Although badly damaged, the Americans made good use of the bridge until it finally collapsed on 17 March.

The Luftwaffe through all available assets at destroying the bridge, but failed to do so. Hitler went so far as to direct that V-2 rockets be launched at the bridge--the only time they were employed against a tactical target.

For details, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Remagen

ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) 9th Armd. Div. troops take the Remagen railroad bridge over the Rhine River. (2) An M16 quad-.50 mechanized gun carriage provides overwatch for the Rhine crossing at Remagen. (3) M4A3E8s blast their way into a German town shortly after crossing the Remagen bridge. (4) An Ar-234B and Me-262 attack the Remagen railway bridge across the Rhine. (5) Clash over Remagen.