The bridge is notable for its capture on March 7–8, 1945, by Allied forces in the Second World War which allowedthe Allies to establish a bridgehead across the Rhine.
The bridge capture was an important strategic turning point during WWII because it was the only remaining bridge which led over the Rhine River into Germany's heartlands and was also strong enough that the Allies could cross immediately with tanks and trucks full of supplies. Once it was captured, the German troops began desperate efforts to knock it down,damage it beyond use and slow the Allies' use of it. At the same time, the Allies worked just as hard to defend it, expand their bridgehead into a lodgement sufficiently large that the Germans could no longer attack the bridge with artillery, and keep it in repair despite the ongoing battle damage.
A Hollywood film inspired by a book written about its capture, The Bridge at Remagen, was made in 1969.
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