Elbe Bridge at Schonebeck, Germany April 1945

Does anyone have pictures of the bridge crossing the Elbe at Schonbeck, Germany, from April 1945? This was apparently destroyed by German artillery shelling, on April 12, 1945 just as the American troops were arriving. Attempts were made to repair it, by the 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion(?), but the shelling was too intense. Thus, those plans were abandoned and they utilised another bridge at nearby Barby.

Looking for pictures of either the bridge before the shelling, the destroyed bridge after the shelling, or any repair attempts. Events surrounding this bridge seem to be, understandably, overshadowed by far more significant events in that area at that time.

Thank you very much.

 

No photo yet.
SUNDAY LIGHT Sunday, Aug 07, 1966 San Antonio, TX Page: 10

 

Ah, that's great, thanks for posting that.

This is rather confusing, but I *THINK* I've got it straight now:

From what I have read elsewhere, the 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion was tasked with building two crossings "at Schonebeck". One cable ferry, at an existing ferry site in town, and another (pontoon) a little north of town. This article also references the pontoon bridge. So this must be the one just outside Schonebeck, to the North, and actually closer to Westerhausen. Which would make it the "Roosevelt Bridge".

Depending on the source and context, it seems that the Roosevelt Bridge is typically described as being at Magdeberg” or “at Schonebeck”. Which is somewhat understandable, as geographically it sits between the middle of those two larger Towns. However, it should be noted that, due to heavy artillery fire, the Roosevelt Bridge was never actually completed as a bridge crossing.

A second pontoon bridge, crossing the Elbe, was also constructed in this general area. The Truman Bridge, located south of Schonebeck, near the smaller Town of Barby. Thus, any and all references I have seen to “POW’s crossing the Elbe via bridge at Schonebeck”, must have been via the Truman Bridge, at Barby, since the other bridge was never finished.

I still looking for a photograph of the *original* bridge, in town, either before or after being blown up. Not sure why it is proving so difficult to find, but I will keep looking.

Thanks again.

 

The Rock Island Argus Rock Island, Illinois 26 Apr 1946, Fri • Page 18

 

Here are 2 links that talk about constructing bridges over the Elbe river.

Our History.htm - 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion
The years 1942 and 43 were devoted to the construction of hundreds of Army ... for the 82nd to construct a bridge and a ferry at the village of Schonebeck, ...

82nd - Our History.htm
Treadway bridge “Roosevelt Bridge” across the “Elbe river”, at Westerhusen, Germany on April 13-14, 1945
Treadway bridge "Roosevelt Bridge" across the "Elbe river", at Westerhusen, Germany on April 13-14, 1945 - 17th Armored Engineer Battalion in World War 2







That same evening, CCB’s southern column reached the town of Schönebeck on the Elbe, ten kilometres
south of Magdeburg. A column of tanks commanded by Major James Hollingsworth made a run for the bridge
but the Germans turned to fight and, although the Americans got to within a few metres of the span, they had to fall back in the face of determined enemy fire. The bridge was blown before a new attempt could be made.

After the Battle The Battle for Magdeberg - EBIN.PUB

page 7

 

Dad was with the 967th FA at the end of that war. He scored a few rolls of Kodachrome 25 and tromped around the area snapping pix. His color picture of an abandoned Sturmtiger nearby is probably the only color picture of that type from the war. And he got both the Truman and Roosevelt bridges.