Scenes after the destruction of the Tangermünde Bridge over the River Elbe in Germany at the end of World War II in Europe. Wide view of heavily damaged Tangermunde Bridge. It had been blown-up by German forces a month prior during their retreat toward Berlin. American soldier wearing garrison cap or side cap stands on bridge checking papers of German civilians who are attempting to cross the bridge in advance of incoming Soviet forces (preparing to surrender to American and British allies rather than to Soviet forces). German civilians walk along the damaged bridge. The twisted metal requires that the citizens hold on tightly to their belongings and to small children during the crossing, to avoid falling into the river. A young man holds a young child and belongings as he crosses carefully. Other scenes of men and women holding small children and babies, and luggage and belongings as they cross.
Defeated German soldiers and German citizens prepare to cross damaged Tangermünde bridge over River Elbe in Germany at end of World War II. They are fleeing westward away from the advancing Soviet forces (fearing Soviet retribution more than being in American or British controlled areas of Germany). A board reads 'American 102th Division greets the fighters of Russia'. It is signed by the 405th Infantry regiment and stands ready to greet the Soviet forces who have not yet arrived. Surrendered and defeated German soldiers and civilians prepare to cross the damaged Tangermunde Bridge.
Scenes following the Battle of Tangermünde in Germany during World War II. Wounded German civilians and soldiers on a landing craft. They cross the Elbe River to the American side. A child on a stretcher with his hands and legs bandaged. Soldiers and attendants get off the landing crafts.
German soldiers assist a wounded soldier to walk, with the wounded man putting an arm over the shoulders of each helper for support. A United States officer interrogates a German prisoner. German prisoners and soldiers move across the bombed Tangermünde bridge. A few civilians swim in the river Elbe below. View of the damaged Tangermunde Bridge. A landing craft moves in the Elbe River.
German civilians and surrendered German soldiers walk along the damaged Tangermünde Bridge. Uniformed German woman soldier (a Wehrmacht auxiliary soldier or Wehrmachthelferin) holds hands with two young German children as they walk. Other Wehrmachthelferin walk by. One is smiling. Numerous bandaged and wounded German officers and German soldiers walk along the bridge, with some of the more able bodied assisting the wounded. A German soldier with severe head and and face wounds that are bandaged. A young German boy soldier sits on a pile of rubble with an expression of disbelief. His hands appear to be injured or burned. A mocking poster created by the 102nd division, 405th Infantry of the U.S. Army reads, "Das verdanken wir unserem führer" (Translted: "We owe this to our Führer").
Damaged Tangermünde Bridge. A surrendered German officer in his amphibious car in the Elbe River. German and United States officers across the bridge. A German officer and a German soldier help German civilians on the bridge. German officers and soldiers cross the damaged bridge including some higher ranking German officers.
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