[explosions] living former congressman. [explosions] every major victory in war is the result of long planning, long preparation, with the loss of often thousands of men. But when something comes along that is unexpected and you have this great prize, there is great alarm. In other cases you planned for it, expected it. Here you come along with something that gives a quick lift to the morale of the whole force. Everyone, from private up to those in washington and london, they knew that the war was over. Everyone of us realize that if hitler had the slightest sense [no audio] the gallantry he would immediately surrender but it was the gallantry of the men that did it is something that should never be forgotten. And something that and their names should be in a permanent place and something that the American Government should like to keep. [video clip] the people at remagen really loved their bridge. They loved it because it was an attraction for visitors from all over the countryside. They loved to stroll across it on sunday afternoons, to have picnics near the site of it and they were right proud of the fact that the bridge was a strategic link between the german ruler of the north and the region to the south. Everybody knew that it would take a long amount of planning to cross the river. This was the big natural barrier between the sacred line. And a straight shot between berlin. Even before we landed in normandy, the supreme headquarters began to delay strict teacher lands. A strategic plans. A little bit of background is necessary. At that time hitler still had a very strong army west of the rhine. We counted almost on the certainty that he would not allow them to withdraw, that once they saw the situation to be hopeless they would then take the bulk of their forces back across and therefore defend that very great obstacle in such a way that we would have a terrible time getting across. So, we began to plan the basic what you might say the power crossing of the rhine for a crossing just to the north. This would be in the zone of the 21st army group under general montgomery. To that force i had attached the ninth army in order to reinforce the blow. Of course, we give them considerable time to prepare for what you might call that power crossing. In the meantime, however, we went about the business of destroying the German Forces to the west of the rhine. That this was a series of blows that have been taken up first by the bradley army group and finally down into the army group from the french and American Army in his command. There was considerable argument as to how we should cross it once we reached the west bank. The british in particular argued that we should only cross in the north and make the attack to the north. Toward berlin. The maximum number of divisions that you could supply was Something Like 25, but he wanted to take these divisions and let the rest of us stay on the west bank in defensive positions. Americans argued that that was no way to do it, but if the that we should advance and up broad front so if the germans could not concentrate on the broad front they would have better mobility in security and probe and secure the bases where they were weakest. So, my plan was to cross the first time just to the south and then the third army would cross somewhere near the copelands and then join together and attack sweep around to the south on the south and east side connecting up with the ninth u. S. Division under marty on the east side. As a matter of fact later we did do that and secured Something Like 368,000 prisoners. At the end of february, 1945, the ninth armored division, having been reequipped had moved up behind the first army and attacked or signed the river to the north. They then moved out onto the plane, where they encountered small pockets of resistance. With those Aircraft Defense guns that had been lowered, they could fire their antitank guns. [missile fire] owing to the lack of color and of cover and the very flat terrain, these were very serious obstacles. But we were moving forward at the rate of five Miles Per Hour to 10 Miles Per Hour. One of the reasons the americans made such great progress was the fact that hitler insisted that every position be held to the last man. This meant that the americans could bypass many of these strong points that the germans had set up. There was great confusion in the german defenses on march 7 1945. The captain and engineer commander had been sent there in 1943 in order to assume command. He was replaced as the Top Commander in 1944. These two commanders tried in vain to sort out the miscellaneous units that kept filtering through. As as the americans approached in early march, i had at my disposal the bridgehead and a company of 125 men. They were sided with the planking of the Railroad Ridge in order to make it passable for Motor Vehicle traffic. The men had to work day and night in order to complete the bridge. Besides these men, the bridge Defense Company was also under my command. It consisted of 35 men. All of convalescence, all of home were still on the statement. Some of these men were not able to manipulate the gun. They had the stiff limbs. The town had some advantages for both the attacker and the defender. From the standpoint of the attack there was high ground going into the town could direct operations from, but it was very easy to defend because of the crooked and narrow streets. Particularly the 600 foothigh cliff on the opposite side that provided wonderful observations from 10 miles around from which the defenders could see anyone approaching the town. On the morning of march 7, we received orders and were given to cover giving maps covering the area leading to remagen. On the map we noticed the bridge. No one paid any attention to the bridge on the map because we had received no orders pertaining to the bridge or to capture the bridge. All that we were told was that we would attack the town, take it, and swing to the south trying to connect up with pattons army. They were not too fast. It was just 10 miles until the rhine but it took considerable time to get there. We met socalled light resistance, but ive always felt that a 30 caliber bullet aimed at the right spot is just as good as an artillery shell if the man dies. Realizing our mission, we look forward to some anticipation to reach this historical river. Some of us recognized that it the rhine itself had a great deal of impact on the outcome of the war and had to be cross. How it was going to be done . We were not advised. It was hoped that when we did reach their we would be given a bombing outfit and we will not be able to cross initial some kind of bridging has been us that list. Had been established. Early in the march of 1945 the was a whole series of new Company Commanders who served as platoon leaders. Their advance resulted in a number of casualties to the officers. On the night of march the sixth, Carl Timmerman was tapped for the next Company Commander for the day. His orders were to capture the town and then to stop. By the morning of the seventh of march, at around 1130 they saw a great deal of excitement at the head on the edge of the woods. Up ahead on the edge of the woods. At the edge of the woods they looked down on the broad river and there they saw the electrifying site of a bridge Still Standing. The ludendorff bridge the bridge , that the americans never expected to find standing. At 10 20 a. M. The entire line of american infantry had reached the end of the bridge. The edge of the remagen bridge. Our bridge Defense Company there and its machine guns, upon which the american infantry had retreated and for the time being had remained quiet. Everything remained quiet. At 11 50 a major in uniform arrived and introduced himself. He told me that he had orders to take over. At that moment, i breathed a sigh of relief. I thought that now we would get the promised addition of battalions. My First Impression was where are the battalions . And then which battalions . I almost suspected that something was not quite in order. When he first saw that the bridge was Still Standing, his first reaction was to get the artillery down on it. Look at the german vehicles and troops on the crossing. However, the impact, nothing but air force on that ridge was Still Standing. Timmerman was then ordered by the colonel and Task Force Commander to make a reconnaissance, which he proceeded to do. The tanks and infantry attacked the town, hugging close to the walls of the building of the town, cleaning it out within two hours. [gunfire] [gunfire] while the troops were moving into position for the attack on the bridge they captured a number of soldiers, civilians, and some Railroad People in uniforms. I remember it came back to me that several of these reported that the bridge was to be blown up at the fort. I dont think that there was a truth in that, but at the time we informed the Task Force Commander that he should speed up his attack, as the bridge was supposed to be blown at 3 00. 4 00. It was then 3 30. The Infantry Battalion commander asked the lieutenant do you think you can get your company across that bridge . He said well, we could try. He was told to go ahead. Ps what if the bridge blows up in my face . The Battalion Commander did not answer, he just walked away. No one ever answered the question what if the bridge blows up in my face . While the troops were taking their position on the west bank of the bridge, and explosion occurred leading to the bridge on the causeway. This throughput great quantity of dirt, smoke, and afterwards i saw it, it was about her defeat in diameter. It was about 30 feet in diameter and formed an obstacle to the crossing of vehicles. A powerful detonation occurred on the bank immediately behind the bridge. I did not know how to explain this. The bridge commander had blasted the other side of the bridge at barak of the bridge ramble, a demolition that had already been researched. This was assigned to me and the americans were approaching. So far as the main demolitions were concerned something peculiar happened on the morning of the seventh of march. They had ordered some more tnt some reserve tnt to arm the explosives. When the truck came up on the morning of the seventh of march, they were horrified to discover that they had gotten just got half of his much explosives as they had been promised and, in addition to that, it was an industrial type of explosive instead of the military explosives that were far more powerful. The captain was calling for the colonel. Captain, captain for the tunnel entrance. I rushed over to him. Completely out of breath, he reports to me the americans. The mill was located immediately behind. As it was, they had reached the bridge. I told him that the bridge will blow up. But i had no provision. There was only one who could give the order for demolition. At that moment, he was on the other side. 350 meters away from us. Only to be reached by foot. I took off to reach the major and reported to him the americans are going to cross the bridge. He told me to stay calm. I said major, if we do not get orders to blow the bridge, i will do so. He said go ahead, have the bridge blasted. I raced back to the captain. Minutes passed in the region. He minutes passed before i could reach him. He shouted full cover, full cover. In order to escape the tremendous blast that was expected. As far as we know, we saw the bridge lifting off of its foundation there was dust and debris all over. After a while, you could not see the bridge anymore. It was not too long when the dust cleared in the bridge was Still Standing and timmerman said ok, move out. My hands came up to my neck. I knew. I knew that if the bridge did not go down into the water, my life would be at stake. Something had to happen. I rushed back to report demolition of the bridge has failed. I had hardly reached him when someone else called for the commander to be upfront. It goes louder and louder and he said to have a look at what was going on. I again went back to through the tunnel and the civilians, there were soldiers amongst the civilians. Already they shouted americans cross the bridge. That was all we needed. In a few moments, counterattack, there cannot be many of them. They became excited immediately. But they saw the tremendous gunfire aimed at the tunnel. You cannot subject anyone to that. No one would get out alive. The only possibility was to escape through the under and of the tunnel. The americans would have to retreat. I told him that americans were crossing the bridge. Did you want to get the people out . I told him no, go ahead. He told me that he had summoned everyone. Here are 1, 2, 4, 9 men, run along, get me my men. They should be put into action. I looked for some more men. I shouted that i had five men now. Its impossible, i think to myself. He said to open your eyes, he is standing there at the entrance to the tunnel. He is aggravated and Sergeant Major replied. What do we do now . I welcomed him to the entrance. Of the tunnel. The major was gone. He left the tunnel with the two lieutenants. That was the last thing that i could make out. I made an announcement i am taking over combat command at once. I run back to town. I said i dont know why they left and we have to get a man out of the tunnel and gather everyone and launch a counterattack. There is no other alternative. It was agreed. We pushed all the men from the back to the front, we evacuated the entire tunnel. Those were the first soldiers to leave the tunnels. The hand grenades struck in the front. Of them. [gunfire] machine gun fire hit the tunnel entrance. The americans had crossed the northern terrain and had the tunnel exit. How that was possible, i still cannot understand to this day. How many times that i climbed this mountain . What an effort it was. Not only a good military achievement but also a of the comrades on the other side. Unknown to the german commander, on the afternoon of march 6, one day before the americans reached the remagen the antiaircraft unit was replaced and sent down. The unit that came in to take its place never did get up to the top of the hill on the seventh of march. I directed the Task Force Commander to move the infantry across the bridge. While watching their progress over the bridge, i received a radio message from the division stating that Previous Missions were canceled and that the command was to move south across the river. They were to join up with the units of the third army that have been moving north from that direction. I did not know, exactly, how to react to this, as we were in the process of capturing the bridge, which i believed to be of considerable value to our forces. On the other hand, it was a direct violation of orders not to call off this attack and proceed to the south. There seemed to be one way of getting out of this dilemma, which was for the bridge to fall. I stood on the hill and i watched the bridge until the battalion had reached the far bank. My next thought was that i should get back and contact headquarters and tell them about the situation in that i had disobeyed orders. And that i had disobeyed their orders and received confirmation for the action i had taken. This was the best news we could have received at the time. I was somewhat excited about it. As soon as i finished talking, i called eisenhower and he was excited about it and we both realized that this was fine news, that it would save us the trouble, expense, and casualties of making an assault crossing the rhine. It really was one of the nicest things that happened to us during this time. I told bradley look, were going to capture this place with four or five divisions and the colonel surrendered. They were not allowed a lot they were not allotted to any other missions, so why not get them across . He said that was his plan but that he wanted to check in and we agreed to do it as quickly as possible. And we did. I forget the numerical designation. They went over very [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2015] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] here are some of our featured programs for this weekend on the cspan networks on cspan two at 10 p. M. Eastern on afterwards, Pulitzer Prize winning historian eric foner on the efforts of free blacks and white abolitionists to help slaves on the underground railroad. Sunday night at 10 00 p. M. ,hassan hassan on the rise of ices in the middle east. Starting at 9 00 eastern a and throughout the day on cspan three, American History tv joint historians and others at the Abraham Lincoln symposium live from fords theater. Sunday evening at 6 00 and american artifacts, a visit to the National Museum of health and medicine to view items from their civil war items including artifacts related to president lincolns assassination. Find our complete Television Schedule at www. Cspan. Org and let us know in you think about the programs youre watching. You ca