Karl Timmermann: from Pebble Creek to the Rhine”

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Full Citation: Alex Meyer, “Karl Timmermann: From Pebble Creek to the Rhine,” Nebraska History 76 (1995): 122-127 Notes: Lt Karl H Timmermann figured prominently in the success of the US Army in capturing the only bridge left intact by the Germans throughout the entire length of the Rhine River. This is the story of this West Point, Nebraska, native. URL of Article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/1995_War_08_Timmermann.pdf Photos: Lt Karl H Timmermann; Arnold Timmermann; Timmermann family home in West Point in 1927; John Henry Timmermann in his WWI uniform; Mary Weisbecker Timmermann with sons Karl and Fritz; Lt Karl Zimmerman and his brother Pvt Fritz Timmermann in Belgium, 1944; post card commemorating the fiftieth crossing of the Rhine at Remagen, the Ludendorff Bridge; Karl Henry Timmermann’s grave at the National Cemetery at Fort Logan, Colorado; Timmermann Memorial Field in West Point dedication May 30, 1965 By Alex Meyer On March 7, 1945, "occurred one of mere eighty miles away, the son of a those rare and fleeting opportunities German mother and an American sol which occasionally present themselves dier in the World War I U.S. Army of in war, and which, if grasped, have in Occupation.4 calculable effects in determining future As the first American officer across success."l So said Gen. Dwight D. the bridge, Timmermann earned the Eisenhower of the capture by American Distinguished Service Cross and a place soldiers of the only bridge left intact by in the ranks of his country's most valiant the Germans throughout the entire soldiers. His life, however, had tragic length of the Rhine River. Figuring overtones, including the return to the prominently in this unexpected military land of his birth as a member of an in success was Karl Henry Timmermann, a vading army and his untimely death at U.S. Army officer from West Point, Ne age twenty-nine. Fifty years after the braska, whose determination and gal event that catapulted him to fame, the lantry brought great honor to his coun details of Timmermann's unusual story try, his state, his hometown, and his deserve retelling. family. Arnold Timmermann, Karl's grandfa "To the Quick and the Brave Belong ther, was the vanguard of the family in the Reward" is the inscription on a me America, emigrating from Altemarhorstl morial at the site where the Ludendorff Twistringen, Germany, to Monterey railroad bridge once spanned the Rhine Township in Cuming County, Nebraska, at Remagen, Germany.2 The plaque was in 1871. Ten years later Arnold's parents placed there on March 7, 1985, by Ger (John Henry and Helena), his brother man army veterans who, forty years ear (John Henry), and his sister (Anna) fol lier, had attempted to prevent American lowed him to the same Pebble Creek troops from making their first bridge Valley locale north of the village of head across the river during the closing Dodge.s weeks of World War II in Europe. With Arnold and Anna Wortman were the Americans' capture of the Remagen married in June 1876 in West Point. Bridge before it could be destroyed, Their second son, John Henry (who was Germany's last great river barrier in the always called Henry before moving to west had been breached, disrupting the· Lt. Karl H. Timmermann. Courtesy of Mary West Point), born on July 28, 1884, was German defenses and damaging their Ann Hollman Timmermann to set the stage for his son Karl's unusual fading morale. odyssey during World War II.6 The momentous achievement ac Timmermann. A member of the Twenty After a sixteen-year attempt at farm knowledged by General Eisenhower seventh Armored Infantry Battalion of ing in the Pebble Valley north of Snyder and by the German veterans was due, the Ninth Armored Division, in Dodge County, Arnold relocated on in part, to the efforts of a twenty-two Timmermann had been promoted to another farm near Plainview in Pierce year-old Nebraska officer, 2d Lt. Karl command of Company A only a day County in 1910. He then moved with his before it spearheaded the capture of the wife and son, Henry, to a white frame 3 Alex Meyer, a native ofSnyder, Nebraska, is a Remagen Bridge. Ironically, he had house on Pine Street in Snyder about teacher in the Dodge, Nebraska, High School. been born near Frankfurt, Germany, a 1912, which would be the Timmermann 122 Karl Timmermann dan's home for decades. The elder reer by turning himself over to the army. Timmermann ran the "Livery and Feedn He was ordered to report to the nearest business in Snyder for about two years military post, Fort Crook, for disposition with the aid of son Henry, who also of his case. Apparently he was incarcer worked as a farm hand in the vicinily.7 ated only briefly. for he received a Henry Timmermann was among the "blue" or "other than honorable" dis thirty or so men from the Snyder area charge on August 16, 1928. Mary counted among the 57,500 Nebraskans Timmermann recalled helping secure who entered military service as a result his early release by pointing out that it of World War 1. Though Henry regis made little sense for the army to keep tered for the draft in June 1917, he was her husband in the stockade while the not inducted; he enlisted on April 9, county paid to take care of her and her 1919, at Fort Logan, Colorado. From children.II Camp Meade, Maryland, he shipped out The Timmermanns' West Point home for France, arriving at Brest on May 22, was on Oak Street in the southwest part then traveled by train to Koblenz, Ger of town. John Henry had a variety of many. There he was assigned to Com jobs induding farm laborer, WPA work pany M of the Eighth Infantry, part of the man, and nightwatchman. but never American Army of Occupation. In early seemed to have steady work as the fam September 1919 Henry was one of ily suffered through the long decade of about forty men from his unit absent the Great Depression. Another son, John without leave. During this period he met Rudolph CRudy"), was born in 1930. Maria Weisbecker, a German fraulein It was Mary Timmermann's determi from Niederad, a Frankfurt suburb. Fol nation that helped keep the family go lowing their engagement in October ing as she assumed a major role as 1921, Henry and his bride lived in the breadwinner. The four Timmermann Frankfurt vicinity, where their son, Karl, children attended Guardian Angels was born June 19, 1922.8 School and on their way home. often Rampant postwar inflation soon Arnold Timmermann. Courtesy of Carol stopped by the Goldenrod Cafe, made life in Germany impossible for the Keller where "Mrs. Timmy· worked. Mrs. Timmermanns. Through the efforts of Timmennann also took in washing and Miss Marion C. Fox, the British Quaker ironing and her daughter, Mary, re Society paid for the family's passage called. "Mother usually got only three back to the United States. where they ar hours of sleep. I don't know how she rived in January 1924 when Karl was did it, but that was the way she was for about eighteen months 01d.9 By spring years and years."l2 1924 the beleaguered little family had At school, Karl became interested in returned to Henry's parents' home on history, Latin, and militarY matters and Pine Street in Snyder. There, among the soon became an expert on famous cam many residents of German descent. the paigns. He was an astute student of family found respite. Julius Caesar's campaigI1.s. Caesar built Henry Timmermann did farm work a forty-foot-wide bridge across the Rhine for Carl Schneider and others in the River just a few miles upstream from area.!O Karl began school at Snyder in a Remagen exactly two thousand years building directly across the street from before the Ludendorff Bridge fell to the Timmermann home. In December American troops. One of Timmermann's 1927 the family, now numbering five schoolmates recalled being amazed at with the birth of Fritz in 1925 and Mary Karl's understanding of the military strat in March 1927, moved to West Point, egies of Alexander the Great and Cae where Karl's father became known as sar.lS "John Henry.» The Timmermann Family moved to this Karl's interest in the military led him In early July 1928 John Henry de house in West Point in 1927. Photo by to hitchhike to Omaha in the summer the author cided to resolve his clouded military ca- between his junior and senior years to 123 Nebraska History - Summer/Fall 1995 John Henry Timmermann in his World War I uniform. Courtesy of Mary Timmermann Roberts Ellis and Carol Keller Mary Weisbecker Timmermann with sons Karl (right) and Fritz.

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