FIRST ARMY MEN AND EQUIPMENT crossing the Ludendorf railroad bridge which became known as the Remagen Bridge. This was the only bridge across the Rhine which was left intact. The attention of the First Army was focused at Remagen during the critical days of securing a bridgehead over the Rhine. The capture of this bridge was an unexpected windfall, because the retreating enemy troops had placed charges and were to blow the bridge at 1600 on 7 March. The first U. S. troops reached the bridge at 1550 and as the first charges began to explode army engineers cut the wires to the others. Thus the bridge, while damaged, was still intact and enabled the U. S. forces to cross the river.] [Illustration: GERMANY THE LUDENDORF BRIDGE four hours before it collapsed (top). The bridge after it fell into the Rhine (bottom). After capturing the bridge troops were rushed across in pursuit of the retreating Germans while the engineers set to work to repair the damage. Enemy planes made repeated attacks on the bridge and it was shelled by long-range artillery. At 1430 on 17 March the bridge buckled and fell into the river only a few hours before the repairs would have been completed.] [Illustration] [Illustration: GERMANY PONTON BOATS AND FLOATS being moved to the Rhine in the Remagen area (top). Treadway bridge across the Rhine near Remagen (bottom). During the period 11–16 March the bridgehead was expanded north and south and all attacks gained ground despite the arrival of enemy reinforcements. Treadway and heavy pontoon bridges were built across the river. As the Rhineland Campaign came to an end, six divisions were east of the Rhine and six more were ready to cross in the First Army zone.] [Illustration] [Illustration: GERMANY HONNEF ASBERB HILL 441 BRODERKONSBERG ROLLING, WOODED AREA EAST OF THE RHINE, typical of that encountered by the Allied troops in their advance into Germany. A small portion of Honnef, between Bonn and Remagen, may be seen in the extreme upper left portion of picture.] [Illustration: GERMANY MEDICAL AID MAN dressing the wounds of an infantryman.] [Illustration: GERMANY WOUNDED SOLDIERS being evacuated by air to hospitals in Paris and London.] [Illustration: GERMANY SARREBOURG BEURIG AN ENLISTED MAN looking across the Saar River valley between Serrig and Saarburg. The village of Serrig is in the foreground. In this area the forward edge of the West Wall, over two miles deep, followed the eastern bank of the Saar River. An antitank ditch skirting the southwestern side of the village of Serrig and a communication trench in the lower right hand corner are visible. U. S. vehicles may also be seen dispersed through the area.] [Illustration: GERMANY