The Snapshots in Time Collection

Destroyed Railroad Bridge, 44th Infantry Division, European Theater, WWII

Destroyed Railroad Bridge, 44th Infantry Division, European Theater, WWII

A soldier of the 44th Infantry Division stands before the wreckage of a demolished railroad bridge, its steel spans twisted and collapsed into the river below. Retreating German forces frequently destroyed bridges and rail infrastructure to slow the Allied advance across France and into Germany during the winter of 1944-1945. This photograph, from the Norman Baget collection, documents the physical toll of war on the region's transportation network. Project: 218403