Kaiserbrücke (Mainz)
Encyclopedia
The Kaiser Bridge is a railway bridge on the Mainz rail bypass across the Rhine at the north end of Mainz
in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate
, Germany
. Built between 1901 and 1904, it was named for the German Emperor
Wilhelm II
(the 'Kaiser' of the time). It formed an important part of the German railway system, as well as being an important logistical link for war transports (which were closely tied to railway infrastructure).
The bridge was destroyed in 1945 by retreating German troops. To forestall a second Remagen, the Germans by 19 March
had blown all Rhine bridges from Ludwigshafen northward.
It was later reopened in 1955 as the Nordbrücke ('Northern Bridge'), with parts of the surviving foundations and sculptures adorning it incorporated into the new much less grand structure. The neo-roman gate castles were not rebuilt. The former arched trusses were also replaced with box trusses.
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Built between 1901 and 1904, it was named for the German Emperor
German Emperor
This article is about the emperors of the German Empire. For full list of German monarchs before 1871, see List of German monarchs.The German Emperor was the official title of the Head of State and ruler of the German Empire, beginning with the proclamation of Wilhelm I as emperor during the...
Wilhelm II
William II, German Emperor
Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, ruling the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. He was a grandson of the British Queen Victoria and related to many monarchs and princes of Europe...
(the 'Kaiser' of the time). It formed an important part of the German railway system, as well as being an important logistical link for war transports (which were closely tied to railway infrastructure).
The bridge was destroyed in 1945 by retreating German troops. To forestall a second Remagen, the Germans by 19 March
Operation Undertone
Operation Undertone was a large assault by the U.S. 7th and French 1st Armies as part of the Allied invasion of Germany in March 1945 during World War II. Opposing commanders were U.S. General Jacob L. Devers, commanding U.S. 6th Army Group and German SS General Paul Hausser, commanding German Army...
had blown all Rhine bridges from Ludwigshafen northward.
It was later reopened in 1955 as the Nordbrücke ('Northern Bridge'), with parts of the surviving foundations and sculptures adorning it incorporated into the new much less grand structure. The neo-roman gate castles were not rebuilt. The former arched trusses were also replaced with box trusses.
External links
- Nordbrücke Mainz / Kaiserbrücke (database entry from the StructuraeStructuraeStructurae is an online database containing works of structural and civil engineering of all kinds such as bridges, high-rise buildings, towers, dams, etc. Additionally, the database contains information on companies and persons involved in the design or construction of the structures...
website)