User talk:Dthomsen8/Draft articles/Wesel

Wesel, Germany was heavily bombed in Allied air raids during World War II and more than 90% destroyed. The Rhine and Lippe bridges were blown by the Wehrmacht; among others, on 10 March 1945. The 1,950m long railway bridge at Wesel was the last Rhine bridge remaining in German hands.

Bombing

The Bombing of Wesel in World War II in conjunction with the attacks in support of the crossing of the Rhine enabled the allies to take the town in March 1945. The town was taken quickly with only 36 allied casualties. Field-Marshal Montgomery said of the bombing of "The bombing of Wesel was a masterpiece, and was a decisive factor in making possible our entry into the town before midnight." You need to include casualties from operation varsity which were close to 2500 American casualties alone. The British attack and bombing were not the only two reasons that Wesel fell. The airborne operation stopped any German reinforcements from arriving at the scene.

The 371st Engineer Construction Battalion moved by convoy on March 29, 1945 from Geldern, Germany to Menzelen, 9 km. north of Alpen, Germany, preparing to move northeast towards Wesel and the Rhine River rail bridge job.

Arrival

After arriving on site, the unit's companies began working 10 days on, 2 off, on 12 hour shifts on the Rhine River Bridge project.

The Ninth and British 2nd were pushing east at a fast pace. First piling driven in Rhine River for pile boat, steel span railroad bridge to support heaviest trains and equipment. The Bridge was a high level type, being approximately 75 feet above high water.

Construction

While working on the bridge, the river depth is between 20 to 35 feet with a 7 mile per hour current made working extremely difficult and very dangerous. Conditions are as such if anyone falls overboard they are through and would perish. During the project at night 3 men did overturn a boat and perished.

Meanwhile within the operation, the night protection for working was provided by umbrellas formed from encircling batteries of planes and intercepted by thousands of anti-aircraft gun emplacements and lights. Therefore the German's couldn't see to pin-point the bridge and couldn't destroy it.

On April 4, 1945, the piling was completed. The piling was then being braced and capped. The towers (75'-0") is entirely compled including ties and track, steel spans currently being lowered into place. The thrill of the job drives the unit on towards completion.

Seventh day of construction of the Wesel Bridge, Wesel, Germany

Completion

On the 8th of April, the Rhine River Bridge at Wesel is completed. They tested a train on the bridge and it passed that night. Following the A.M., 50 car supply trains, on directly after the other crosses the bridge at a 5 MPH speed limit and is required to avoid unnecessary vibration. The Wesel Bridge is the first fixed bridge built by any Army Engineer to span the Rhine since the days of Caesar according to military references. It was, however, the first fixed bridge to span the Rhine River constructed by Army Engineers with highway bridges included. The "Victory Bridge" constructed by the 332nd Engineer G. S. Regiment wasn't completed until a month later on May 8, 1945. On this day, April 8, the men are terribly tired but still have that last ounce of energy because there is still work to do.

First train to cross the bridge at Wesel, Germany.

Finalizing

Between the 8th to the 10th of April 1945, the 3rd platoon improved and blasting the western RR approach to the bridge to speed the huge amount of heavy Railroad traffic using the single track approach. Unit details clearing mine fields for landing of aircraft and laying of gas pipelines. One detail is erecting a prefabricated water tower and tank for the Railroad at Büderich Station, Germany. The men picking up under enforced 10 hour sleep regulations after the completion of the bridge. Here is a list of bridges over the Rhine river.

Railway Bridge Construction

The greatest accomplishment of the 371st Engineer Construction Battalion (as a member of ASDEC Engineer Group) was the reconstruction of the Wesel Rail Bridge, 1,751 feet (534 m) long and 2140 tons, over the Rhine River in the record time of 10 days. The site of this bridge was crossing the Rhine River near the confluence of the Lippe River and the Rhine. The railroad bridge was completed 9 April 1945. The Wesel Bridge was dedicated to Major Bob Gouldin and two enlisted men who died in a boat accident while building it. They were going out on the river at night on an Engineer work boat and Commander Jackson believed they hit an anchor cable and flipped the boat over on the river. According to Col. Jackson the military bridge lasted seven years. That's a long time for a military bridge that did not meet civilian standards.

References

371st Engineer Construction Battalion WWII - Third Platoon - Company A Hist.- pp. 4–8
Royal Air Force - Squadron 57
Fortified Wesel History