On the First day of May, in the Year 1945

 

Quietly flowed the green river Inn at 10 minutes before 12 noon 

on the 1st day of May in the year 1945,

when suddenly he was torn from his reverie by two mighty explosions.

Some fanatical members of the German 'Wehrmacht'

blew the pedestrian/vehicular, as well as the railroad bridge to smithereens.

The 'Rainbow 'and the 'Black Cat' Division of the U.S. Army 

were delayed at this crossing for one day.

To all intents and purposes this devastating 2nd World War was over.

The unconditional surrender documents were signed 7 days later, 

on the 8th of May 1945.

and yet......

The remnants of the Pedestrian/Vehicular Bridge.

three pictures, those of the destroyed bridges

and the one of the U.S. soldiers crossing the Pontoon bridge, 

were obtained from the Archives of Braunau.

30 Minutes after the first explosion, the Railroad bridge was also destroyed, (above)

Forces of the liberating U.S.American troops crossed this hastily erected Pontoon bridge

on the 2nd of May.

Several years later, this new Pedestrian/Vehicular bridge (above)

and the railroad bridge (below) were rebuilt.