First Across the Rhine: The 291st Engineer Combat Battalion in France, Belgium and Germany - Softcover

Pergrin, David; Hammel, Eric M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 093555341X ISBN 13: 9780935553413

Publisher: Pacifica Military History, 1999

Synopsis

From Normandy to the heart of Germany itself, the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion literally paved the way for the Allies' final march to victory in Europe. This book shows how this important division provided critical access over the Rhine in the face of enormous resistance.

About this title

Synopsis

The 291st Engineer Combat Battalion was one of the tough, hard-working U.S. Army engineer combat units that literally paved the way across Western Europe. Landing in Normandy shortly after D-Day, the 291st quickly earned a reputation as a savvy, can-do unit. In December 1944, the lightly armed 291st found itself virtually alone astride the route of the Ardennes Offensive's northern panzer spearhead. Tough and confident, the 291st blew up bridge after vital bridge in the face of the assault and thus denied Germany her victory in the West. Weeks later, the 291st was selected to throw the first bridge across the Rhine River - in the face of enormous resistance. It built the longest combat bridge in Europe in record time and opened the German heartland to the Allied juggernaut.

From the Inside Flap

t, there was no bridge too far. From Normandy to the heart of Germany itself, the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion literally paved the way for the Allies' final march to victory in Europe. Comprised of the best and the toughest among American enlisted men, proving they could take the worst of combat, and more important, give it back, the 291st both built and blew up vital bridges, stood its ground against the crushing Panzer spearhead during the Battle of the Bulge, and provided critical access over the Rhine in the face of enormous resistance.

This is the 291st's story, dramatically told by the man who served as its commander.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pacifica Military History
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 093555341X
• ISBN 13: 9780935553413
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 354