Karl H. Timmermann
Karl Heinrich Timmermann (born June 19, 1922 in Frankfurt am Main ; † October 21, 1951 in Aurora , Colorado ) was a German-born officer in the US Army who led the conquest of the Ludendorff Bridge near Remagen in March 1945.
Life
Timmermann's father came from Nebraska and had German ancestors. He enlisted in the US Army in 1919 and came to Germany as part of the American occupation force . There he met a woman whom he married a little later. Shortly after Karl Timmermann was born, the family returned to the USA. During his time at the High School in West Point , Nebraska, Karl Timmermann underwent as part of the Citizens' Military Training Camp a paramilitary training.
In July 1940 Timmermann volunteered for the US Army. After completing his basic training, he was stationed with the 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Lewis , Washington . While his actual association was relocated to North Africa in October 1942, Timmermann attended an officers' school. In February 1943 he was promoted to second lieutenant and then took part in a tank course in Fort Riley , Kansas . He then became platoon leader in the A Company, 27th Armored Infantry Battalion of the 9th Armored Division . After his marriage to LaVera Meyer in May 1944, Timmermann's division embarked for Europe on August 20, 1944. His division was transferred to the Ardennes after arriving in France in September . There Timmermann fought after the start of the Ardennes offensive a . a. at Sankt Vith , where he was wounded in the arm by shrapnel fragments. The Allied breakthrough to Germany followed in the spring of 1945. Timmermann's daughter was born on February 28, 1945, but he only found out about it later. After his company commander was wounded, Timmermann was appointed company commander a little later.
On March 7th, he led an advance command of his division, which reached the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine at around 1 p.m. Timmermann then informed his commander, General William M. Hoge, who ordered an attack on the bridge. After two blasts by the Germans were unsuccessful, Timmermann was able to take the bridge with his soldiers. At around 4 p.m., he became the first soldier in the US Army to cross the Rhine. A little later, numerous units of the 12th US Army Group crossed the strategically important bridge.
After successfully conquering the bridge, Timmermann was brought to Paris , where he was interviewed by numerous newspapers such as The Stars and Stripes . He and 12 other soldiers who had made a name for themselves in conquering the bridge received the Distinguished Service Cross . After the end of the war, he was honorably discharged from the army in December 1945.
In 1947, however, he rejoined the armed forces as a reserve officer and was assigned to a reconnaissance force of the 7th Infantry Division as first lieutenant . In September 1950 the division landed in Incheon , South Korea to fight in the Korean War. He was recalled from the front because of severe pain. Testicular cancer was diagnosed at a military hospital in Aurora, Colorado . After treatment was unsuccessful, Timmermann died there on October 21, 1951. He was buried in Fort Logan National Cemetery in neighboring Denver .
Awards
Timmermann was decorated with the following orders and awards:
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Bronze star
- Purple heart
- Combat Infantryman Badge
- Gold Star Lapel Button
- Good Conduct Medal
Timmermann Park and the Karl Timmermann Memorial Bridge in West Point, Nebraska were named after him in his honor. The Timmermann Theater in Fort Dix, New Jersey also bears his name. The conquest of the Ludendorff Bridge is also a theme in the feature film Die Brücke von Remagen .
literature
- Stars & Stripes (Pub.): The 9th: The Story of the 9th Armored Division. Paris in 1944–1945. (the history of the 9th Armored Division; Engl.)
- Wolfgang Gückelhorn: March 7, 1945. The miracle of Remagen. Contemporary history guide to the events that made war history in March 1945. (Documentation) Helios, Aachen 2008, ISBN 978-3-938208-65-6 .
Individual evidence
- ^ Karl Timmermann: From Pebble Creek to the Rhine
- ↑ The improbable coup
- ^ Karl H. Timmermann at Find A Grave
- ^ Karl H. Timmerman Memorial Page
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Timmermann, Karl H. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Timmermann, Karl Heinrich (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German-born officer in the US Army who led the conquest of the Ludendorff Bridge near Remagen in March 1945 |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 19, 1922 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Frankfurt am Main , Hesse |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 21, 1951 |
| Place of death | Aurora , Colorado |