The result of long planning long preparation with the loss of often thousands of men. But when something comes along that is unexpected and you have this great prize, there is great alarm. In other cases you planned for it, expected it. Here you come along with something that gives a quick lift to the morale of the whole force. Everyone, from private up to those in washington and london, they knew that the war was over. Everyone of us realize that if hitler had the slightest sense [no audio] the gallantry of the men that did it is something that should never be forgotten. And something that the American Government should like to keep. The people they love their bridge. They loved it because it was an attraction for visitors from all over the countryside. They loved to stroll across it on sunday afternoons, to have technics near the site of it and they were right proud of the fact that the bridge was a strategic link between the german ruler of the north and the region to the south. Everybody knew that it would take a long amount of planning to cross the river. This was the big natural barrier between the secret line and a straight shot between berlin. Even before we landed in normandy, the supreme headquarters began to delay strict teacher lands. A little bit of back background is necessary. At that time hitler still had a very strong army west of the rhine. We counted almost on the certainty that he would not allow them to withdraw, that once they saw the situation to be hopeless they would then take the bulk of their forces back across and therefore defend that very great obstacle in such a way that we would have a terrible time getting across. So, we began to plan the basic what you might say the power crossing of the rhine for a crossing just to the north. This would be in the zone of the 21st army group under general montgomery. To that forced i had attached the ninth army in order to reinforce the blow. Of course, we give them considerable time to prepare for what you might call that power crossing. In the meantime, however, we went about the business of destroying the German Forces to the west of the rhine. That series of probes have been taken up first by the bradley army group and finally down into the army group from the french and American Army in his command. There was considerable argument as to how we should cross it once we reached the west bank. The british in particular argued that we should only cross in the north and make the attack to the north. The natural number of divisions that you could supply was Something Like 25, but he wanted to take these divisions and let the rest of us stay on the west bank in defensive positions. Americans argued that that was no way to do it, but if the germans could not concentrate on the broad front they would have better mobility in security places where they were weakest. So, my plan was to cross the first time just to the south and then the third army would cross somewhere near the copelands and then join together and attack sweep around to the south on the south and east side connecting up with the ninth u. S. Division under marty on the east side. As a matter of fact, later we did do that and secured Something Like 368,000 prisoners. At the end of february, 1945 the night on the division, have you quit having been reequip had moved up behind the first army and attack or signed the river to the north. They then moved out onto the plane, where they encountered small pockets of resistance. With those Aircraft Defense guns that had been lowered, they could fire their antitank guns. Owing to the lack of color and very flat terrain, these were very serious obstacles. But we were moving forward at the rate of five Miles Per Hour to 10 Miles Per Hour. One of the reasons the americans made such great progress was the fact that hitler insisted that every position be held to the last man. This meant that the americans could bypass many of these strong points that the germans had set up. There was great confusion in the german defenses on march 7, 1945. The captain and engineer commander had been sent there in 1943 in order to assume command. He was replaced as the Top Commander in 1944. These two commanders tried in vain to sort out the miscellaneous units that kelp cap filtering through. As the americans approached in early march, i had at my disposal the bridgehead and a company of 125 men. They were sided with the planking of the Railroad Ridge in order to make it passable for traffic. The men had to work day and night in order to complete the bridge. Besides these men, the bridge Defense Company was also under my command. It consisted of 35 men. All of home are still on the statement. Some of these men were not able to manipulate the gun. The town had some advantages for both the attacker and the defender. From the standpoint of the attack there was high ground going into the canal where you could direct operations from but it was very easy to defend because of the crooked and narrow streets. Particularly the 600 foothigh cliff on the opposite side that provided wonderful observations from 10 miles around from which the defenders could see anyone approaching the town. On the morning of march 7, we received orders and were given to cover the area. On the map we noticed the bridge. No one paid any attention to the bridge on the map because we had received no orders pertaining to the bridge or to capture the bridge. All that we were told was that we would attack the town, take it, and swing to the south trying to connect up with pattons army. They were not too fast. It was just 10 miles until the rhine but it took considerable time to get there. We met socalled light resistance, but ive always felt that a 30 caliber a 30 caliber bullet aimed at the right spot is just as good as an altered an artillery shell if the man dies. Realizing our mission, we look forward to some anticipation to reach this historical river. Some of us recognized that it itself had a great deal of impact on the outcome of the war and had to be cross. How it was going to be done . We were not advised. It was told that when we did reach their we would be given a bombing outfit and we will not be able to cross initial some kind of bridging has been us that list. Early in the march of 1945 the was a whole series of new Company Commanders conserved as platoon leaders. They advance resulted in a number of casualties to the officers. On the night of march the sixth, the attempt was for the next Company Commander for the day. His orders were to capture the town and then to stop. By the morning of the seventh of march, at a moderate around 1130 they saw a great deal of excitement at the head on the edge of the woods. At the edge of the words they look down on the broad river and there they saw the electrifying site of a bridge Still Standing. The bridge that the americans never expected to find standing. At 10 20 a. M. The entire line of american infantry had reached the end of the bridge. With that bridge Defense Company there and its machine guns, upon which the american injured infantry had retreated and for the time being had remained quiet. At 11 50 a major in uniform arrived and introduced himself. He told me that he had orders to take over. At that moment, i breathed a sigh of relief. I thought that now we would get the promised addition of battalions. My First Impression was where are the battalions . And then which battalions . I almost suspected that something was not quite in order. When he first saw that the bridge was Still Standing, his first reaction was to get the artillery down on it. Look at the german vehicles and troops on the crossing. However, the impact, nothing but air force on that ridge was Still Standing. He was then ordered by the kernel and Task Force Commander to make a reconnaissance, which he proceeded to do. They then attacked the town, hugging close to the walls of the building of the town cleaning it out within two hours. Gunfire [gunfire] on the bridge they captured a number of soldiers, civilians, and some Railroad People in uniforms. I remember it came back to me that several of these reported that the bridge was to be blown up at the fort. I dont think that there was a truth in that, but at the time we informed the Task Force Commander that he should speed up his attack, as the bridge was supposed to be blown at 3 00. 4 00. It was then 3 30. The Infantry Battalion commander asked the lieutenant do you think you can get your company across that bridge . He said well, we could try. He was told to go ahead. Ps what if the bridge blows up in my face . The Battalion Commander did not answer, he just walked away. No one ever answered the question what if the bridge blows up in my face . While the troops were taking their position on the west bank of the bridge, and explosion occurred leading to the bridge on the causeway. There was dirt, smoke, and afterwards i saw it, it was about her defeat in diameter. It formed an obstacle to the crossing of vehicles. A powerful detonation occurred on the bank immediately behind the bridge. I did not know how to explain this. The bridge commander had blasted the other side of the bridge at the ramble, a demolition that had already been researched. This was assigned to me and the americans were approaching. So far as the main demolitions were concerned something peculiar happened on the morning of the seventh of march. They had ordered summers are tnt some reserve tnt to arm the explosives. When the truck came up on the morning of the seventh of march they were horrified to discover that they had gotten just got half of his much explosives as they had been promised and in addition to that, it was an industrial type of explosive instead of the military explosives that were far more powerful. The captain was calling for the kernel. Captain, captain i rushed over to him. Completely out of breath, he reports to me the americans. The mill was located immediately behind. As it was, they had reached the bridge. I told him that the bridge will blow up. But i had no provision. There was only one who could give the order for demolition. At that moment, he was on the other side. 350 meters away from us. Only to be reached by foot. I took off to reach the major and reported to him the americans are going to cross the bridge. He told me to stay calm. I said major, if we do not get orders to blow the bridge, i will do so. He said go ahead, have the bridge blasted. I raced back to the captain. Minutes passed in the region. He shouted full cover, full cover. In order to escape the tremendous blast that was expected. Us far as we know, we saw the bridge lifting off of its foundation there was dust and debris all over. After a while, you could not see the bridge anymore. It was not too long when the dust cleared in the bridge was Still Standing and timmerman said ok, move out. My hands came up to my neck. I knew. I knew that if the bridge did not go down into the water, my life would be at stake. Something had to happen. I rushed back to report demolition of the bridge has failed. I had hardly reached him when someone else called for the commander to be upfront. And he said to have a look at what was going on. I again went back to look at the civilians, there were soldiers amongst the civilians. Already they shouted americans cross the bridge. That was all we needed. In a few moments, counterattack, there cannot be many of them. They became excited immediately. But they saw the tremendous gunfire aimed at the tunnel. You cannot subject anyone to that. The only possibility was to cross the retreat i told him that americans were crossing the bridge. Did you want to get the people out . I told him no, go ahead. He told me that he had summoned everyone. Here are 1, 2, 4, 9 men, run along, get me my men. They should be put into action. I looked for some more men. I shouted that i had five men now. Its impossible, i think to myself. He said to open your eyes, he is standing there at the entrance to the tunnel. Sergeant major replied. I welcomed him to the entrance. That was the last day that i could make out. I made an announcement i am taking over combat command that once. [inaudible] from the back to the front, we evacuated the entire tunnel. Those were the first soldiers to leave the tunnels. They struck in the front. Gunfire, machine gun fire hit the tunnel entrance. The americans had crossed the northern terrain and had the tunnel exit. How that was possible, i still cannot understand to this day. How many times that i climbed this mountain . What an effort it was. Not only a good military achievement but on a of the comrades on the other side. Unknown to the german commander, on the afternoon of march 6, one day before the americans reached the area, the antiaircraft unit was replaced and sent down. The unit that came in to take its place never did get up to the top of the hill on the seventh of march. I directed the Task Force Commander to move the infantry across the bridge. While watching their progress over the bridge, i received a radio message from the division stating that Previous Missions or castle were castled and that the command was to move south across the river. They were to sign up with the units of the third army that have been moving north from that direction. I did not know, exactly, how to react to this, as we were in the process of capturing the bridge which i believed to be of considerable value to our forces. On the other hand, it was a direct violation of orders not to call off this attack and proceed to the south. There seem to be one way of getting out of this dilemma which was for the bridge to fall. I stood on the hill and i watched the bridge until the battalion had reached the far bank. My next thought was that i should get back and contact headquarters and tell them about the situation in that i had disobeyed orders. Like this was the best news we could have received at the time. I was somewhat excited about it. As soon as i finished talking, i called eisenhower and he was excited about it and we both realized that this was fine news , that it would save us the trouble, expense, and casualties of making an assault crossing the rhine. It really was one of the nicest things that happened to us during this time. I told bradley look, were going to capture this place with four or five do four or five divisions and the kernel surrendered. They were not allowed a lot it now to any other missions, so why not get them across . He said that was his plan but that he wanted to check in and we agreed to do it as quickly as possible. A did. I forget the numerical designation. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2015] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] since 1985, John Douglas Hall has been portraying James Madison at a variety of events and museums, including mount vernon and gatsbys tavern in alexandria, virginia. Next, to mark the 200th anniversary of the treaty, they hosted an event with mr. Hall is president madison using his years of experiencing experience. He discusses popular opinion of the time and the origins of the war of 1812. This event is about 13 minutes. Good day to all of you. I am pleased to welcome my friends here to the home of the taylors, which mr. Madison and i have an occupying since last september. Weve been here since february of 1815, certainly in anticipation of great alterations to national circumstance. I find that, from time to time as president there is a necessity of explanation to the american people. As the circumstances press forward with the actions taken by this administration, there have been many reports of
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