Karl Timmermann: from Pebble Creek to the Rhine”

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Article Title: “Karl Timmermann: From Pebble Creek to the Rhine”

For more articles from this special World War II issue, see the index to full text articles currently available.

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

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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. Courtesy of Carol Keller join the Citizens' Military Training Corps. According to Fritz Timmermann's wife, quainted with LaVera Meyer, whom he About the time he was beginning his se "It was very important to all four of the saw every day of his short furlough. The nior year in school at West Point, war Timmermann kids that they could re couple parted, knowing that something broke out in Europe in 1939. deem their name."ls Eventually all four special was happening, and Karl soon The Timmermann children, as well Timmermann children joined the U.S. proposed via a letter, and enclosed a as the parents, experienced resentment Army, along with Mary's husband. ring. On May 25, 1944, the couple was or discrimination from some West Point Karl Timmermann enlisted in Omaha married in Omaha. 17 residents on account of John Henry's on July 6, 1940, and was stationed at Timmermann's unit embarked Au expedient desertion from duty in occu Fort Lewis, Washington, when Pearl Har gust 20, 1944, for the European Theater pied Germany in 1919. Young Karl may bor was attacked. He completed infan on board the Queen Mary. The ship have been exposed to taunts about his try officer candidate school and was docked in Scotland on August 27, a father's "cowardicen or the family's im commissioned second lieutenant at Fort cold and clammy day that moved Karl poverished circumstances. His sister re Benning, Georgia, on February 16, 1943, to "put on my wool underwear ... to called that Karl's desire to serve his then sent to Fort Riley, Kansas. In the keep my legs warm.nl8 On September country came from a feeling that "my summer of 1943 he returned home on 14, he wrote, "Dear Ma, I haven't re dad disgraced the Timmermann name, furlough. 16 ceived any mail from you in a long time. but I'm going to make it right again.nl4 While in West Point, he became ac ... I don't know where Fritz is, nor have

124 Karl Timmermann

I heard from him. Has he been writing to you?" 19 On September 28 the Ninth Armored Division embarked for the Continent. When the division arrived in France, Karl penned a letter to his mother, re porting he had heard from Fritz, who was in Belgium.20 After putting up with miserable weather throughout the next month, the green soldiers finally were sent to the front lines in Luxembourg in early November. In December, Karl was briefly reunited with Fritz, who was serv ing in an engineer battalion. Although Allied armies were poised to attack the German heartland, no spectacular breakthroughs had been made. The Ninth Annored Division was sent to the relatively quiet Ardennes sec tor in Belgium, where the American lines were thinly held. The interlude was about to end, however, both for Timmermann and for his comrades. On December 16 Hitler launched his des perate Ardennes offensive, which be came known as the Battle of the Bulge. Timmermann's company, part of the Ninth Annored's Combat Command B under Brig. Geo, William M. Hoge, was in the thick of the fighting around St. Vith. The company's entire kitchen crew and its supply sergeant were cap tured and later executed during the infa mous Malmedy Massacre.21 Timmermann was wounded in the arm by shell fragments for which he re ceived the Purple Heart. For an untested outfit, the Ninth Armored Division had . fought skillfully, giving ground with great reluctance and absorbing a lot of punishment. The Germans twice an nounced the division's destruction, prompting its members to call them selves, the "Phantom" Division.22 After the German offensive had been turned back, Allied armies resumed their drive toward the Rhine. In late Feb ruary 1945, the Ninth Armored Division was assigned to support infantry divi sions protecting the right flank of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's pending drive across the Rhine into northern Lt. Karl TImmermann (left) and his brother, Pvt. Fritz TImmermann, in Belgium, Germany. December 12, 1944. Courtesy of Mary Ann Holiman Timmermann

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On February 28, unbeknownst to Karl, LaVera Timmermann gave birth to '~Oth Anniversary their daughter, Gay Diane. The same day Timmermann's company again LudendorlfBridge found itself heavily involved in the fight .Remagen, Germany ing. On March 6, the company com mander was wounded and Karl was ap pointed to take charge of Company A.23 Almost before he could grasp his new responsibilities, Karl was sum moned by task force commander Lt. Col. Leonard Engeman, who informed him that Company A was to be the ad vance guard for a combined armor and infantry drive to penetrate to the town of Remagen, located about ten miles away on the banks of the Rhine. The mission began early on the morning of March 7 and just before noon, the col umn had come in sight of the Rhine. Alerted by the reaction of two of his ': ~ soldiers, Timmermann "emerged from : " .~.:. ~ ::: .: ." .. the woods and found himself con A postcard commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the crossing of the Rhine at fronted by a breathtaking view. Far be Remagen. Courtesy of the author low, the river wound through its narrow valley and off to his right, clearly out sian, seemed to lift in the air, and foothold from which they could notbe lined against the sky, was the prize no settled back on its supports. dislodged. By this time pontoon and man dared hope for-the Ludendorff Incredulous to see the bridge still treadway bridges had been completed Bridge, still intact, spanning the standing, Timmermann's men neverthe on either side of the old railroad bridge. Rhine."24 less obeyed his orders and began the Although the Rhine would eventually Once General Hoge had been ap dangerous sprint over the l,069-foot have been crossed regardless, the cap prised of the situation, he issued orders structure, followed by engineers who ture of the bridge at Remagen undoubt to seize the bridge before the retreating frantically began cutting wires on the edly saved thousands of lives and short Germans could blow it up. Timmermann's German demolition charges. After si ened the war in Europe. company and two others were already lencing German machine guns, the men After remaining on the line a couple in Remagen and moving quickly toward of Company A completed the crossing of days longer, Timmermann received a the bridge. By 3 P.M., the Americans and began flushing the defenders out furlough. Rumors that he was a father had secured the bridge's western ap of the railroad tunnel at the east end of were confirmed by a Stars and Stripes proach, though the Germans had al the bridge. Sgt. Alex Drabik was the first article he saw when he reached Paris.25 ready set off charges that blew a thirty American soldier to set foot on the east By this time his exploits and those of his foot-wide crater in the road. bank of the Rhine, and Lt. Karl men had received worldwide publicity. Although the Americans could see Timmermann was the first American Like other soldiers thrust unexpect German soldiers at the far end of the officer across. By 5:30 P.M. Company A edly into the limelight, Timmermann bridge and assumed that the bridge had routed or captured the German de was somewhat bewildered by all the at might blow up in their faces, General fenders and the bridgehead was rela tention. It was coincidence that had Hoge, through infantry battalion com tively secure. Faced with the unex placed him in a position to be the first mander Maj. Murray Deevers, ordered pected prize of an intact bridge over the American officer across the Rhine, Timmermann's company to fight its way Rhine, General Eisenhower authorized a though his performance was exemplary across. Timmermann realized that he major effort to secure and expand the and had a major effect on the outcome might be leading his men on a suicidal bridgehead. of the war. Being a patriot mission, but he quickly gave the order When the fatally weakened bridge fi Timmermann probably felt he had re to advance. At that moment, the bridge nally collapsed into the Rhine on March sponded as any good soldier would shuddered from a tremendous explo 17, American forces had established a have under the circumstances.

126 Karl Timmermann

Yet Lieutenant Timmermann's cross reasonably comment that his feat was lived with you, alone, waiting out the ing of the Rhine was rich with ironies he merely a slight repayment for the free days. probably did not fully realize at the air of liberty that he and millions of his It is a grateful town and country that says to you, Baby Gay Diane: "Karl time. What other American officer had a kind had found in a tolerant United Timmermann pressed to the mark. He father who may have crossed that same States."27 finished his course. He kept the faith. bridge as an American soldier in World Boyd Von Seggern, editor of the We thank him."28 War I, a father who had deserted his hometown West Point Republican, ren Timmermann was discharged from duty, but who had reared three sons dered perhaps the most poignant tribute the army December 12, 1945. After a and a daughter dedicated to exonerat short stint as a salesman in Fremont, he ing the family name? What other Ameri reenlisted as a technical sergeant in the can officer had been born a German Regular Army on October 28,1947, and citizen only a few miles from the was assigned to recruiting duty before Remagen Bridge and who risked en becoming an instructor with the offic countering his German relatives among ers' reserve corps. He was commis the bridge's defenders? sioned an officer on December 26, 1948, " \"\. As a young, untested company com '\.' . \ l. sent to Fort Omaha in January 1949, and mander, Karl Timmermann had none 1 !; "i :~ )' attached to the Seventh Mechanized theless earned the respect of his men, Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop of the ; \.: \ : ~ i ~ ,\ ! who responded when he ordered them Seventh Infantry Division.29 forward on what appeared to be a sui During the Korean War Timmermann cidal mission. Regardless of the unique participated with his division in the coincidences that brought Lieutenant Inchon Landing in September 1950 and Timmermann to the banks of the Rhine the subsequent fighting for the Suwon on March 7,1945, he proved himself Airfield. A nagging pain he had been dramatically suited to the task at hand. .\ ... suffering since before the landing led The reports of "one of the war's most him to consult the doctors at the 8054th ., .. >, I I I ; _.) J..' electrifying feats" soon filled the front Evacuation Hospital, where he was diag pages of Allied newspapers around the nosed with a tumor.30Transferred to world, and were recalled in the halls of Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver for an Congress. Nebraska Congressman Karl operation and treatment, Karl Stefan of Norfolk proclaimed to the Timmermann died October 21, 1951, at House of Representatives, "The lieuten age twenty-nine. The final act in his mili ant leading the first company of men Timmermann's grave in the National tary career was his burial at Fort Logan, across the river was Lt. Karl Cemetery at Fort Logan, Colorado. Colorado, where his father's less illustri Courtesy of Doug Moench Timmermann of West Point, Nebraska .. ous military service began more than .. I know my colleagues are as thrilled three decades earlier. as I was over the announcement. Lt. in a letter to Gay Diane Timmermann A Denver newspaperman captured Timmermann and his company of that appeared in the paper when Karl the tragedy of Timmermann's death, American heroes represent those fine came home from the war in the fall of noting that "the cancer called war had American GIs who were so frequently 1945: failed to take his life in two tries." Yet described by Ernie Pyle. "26 Dear Little Miss: Timmermann's final battle was reflec The Omaha World-Herald editorial This,week was a very happy one in your tive of his military career. LaVera ized that "the young lieutenant from very young life-Your Daddy came home Timmermann recalled, West Point, Nebraska, pulled off a from across the seas to see you and your He detested cancer because of the fact Mommy and all of the folks he holds so bridge finesse that will go down in his that it was killing him and depriving him dear. You, being only eight months old, tory. Lt. Timmermann led with the only of a soldierly duty.... He made me prom are too young to realize that your Daddy is ise to polish up his silver stripe, his but card he had, raw courage." Continuing, a national hero, but some day you will tons and his medals for the burial. He the editor remarked upon the "return of look at him and say, "Thanks, Daddy, for wanted every battle ribbon in proper helping to keep America strong and free." the native" in recalling Timmermann's place on his chest. He wanted to be as birth on German soil not far from the ... Ifyour Daddy is a hero, we must add soldierly as possible."31 that there are some heroines in your fam bridge at Remagen. "He learned in ily. Your grandmother who knew the an American schools to appreciate democ guish of having two sons fighting against Karl Timmermann's Nebraska home racy and to despise tyranny. He might her family in Frankfurt; your.mother who towns, Snyder and West Point, acknowl

127 Nebraska History - Summer/Fall 1995

20 Karl Timmermann to Mary Weisbecker edged and celebrated his accomplish 6 Cuming County Democrat (Jiest Point), Oct. 6, 1955,7. Timmermann, Oct. 14, 1944. Letter in possession ments with ceremonies on March 7, of Mary Timmermann Roberts Ellis. 1995. West Point concluded the Jubilee 7 Deed Record 19: 402, Dodge County Register of 21 Hechler, The Bridge at Remagen, 8. Celebration on June 18 when his sister Deeds, Fremont, Nebr.; 1910 U.S. Census, Thomp-· son Precinct, Pierce County, Nebr. (microfilm at 22 Ibid. Mary, his siblings' families, and Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln). Remagen historian Ken Hechler were 23 Ibid., 23. 8 Cuming County Democrat, June 6, 1917,4; Ken scheduled to pay tribute to the "Hero of Hechler to author, Apr. 10, 1995. 24 The account of the capture of the Ludendorff the Rhine.ft32 Bridge is drawn primarily from Hechler, The 9 Hechler, The Bridge at Remagen, 25. Motivated by duty, honor, and patrio Bridge at Remagen, 79-168 passim. 10 Interview of Ruth Schneider Beck, Oakland, tism, Karl Henry Timmermann accepted 25 Stars andStripes (paris ed.), Mar. II, 1945,5. Nebr., by author, Feb. 9, 1995. responsibility to redeem the family's 26 Hechler, The Bridge at Remagen, 2, 188-89; name. When confronted with the oppor 11 Ken Hechler to Gerhard and Bob Wostoupal, Rep. Karl Stefan, remarks to the House of Repre Apr. 10, 1995, enclosing copy of John Henry sentatives, Mar. 9, 1945. tunity at the Remagen Bridge on March Timmermann discharge, copies in possession of 7, 1945, he proved more than equal to the author. 27 Omaha World·Herald, Mar. 10, 1945,4. 28 West Point Republican, Oct. 25, 1945, 1. the challenge. 12 Interview of Mary Timmermann Roberts Ellis, Omaha, Nebr., by author, Feb. 5, 1995. 29 Ibid., Oct. 25, 1951, 1. Notes 13 Hechler, The Bridge at Remagen, 53. 30 Karl Timmermann to Mary Weisbecker Timmermann, Sept. 14, 1950. Letter in possession 1 Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower's Own Story 14 Ellis interview. ofthe War (New York: Arco Publishing Company, of Mary Timmermann Roberts Ellis. 15 Telephone interview of Mary Ann Hollman 1946),91. Timmermann, Leavenworth, Kans., by author, Feb. 31 Rocky Mountain News (Denver), Oct. 25, 1951. 2 Omaha World-Herald, Mar. 7, 1985,39. 1995. 32 Nebraska Governor E. Benjamin Nelson pro claimed Mar. 7,1995, as "Karl Timmermann Day" 3 Ken Hechler, The Bridge at Remagen: The 16 Hechler, The Bridge at Remagen, 26; West Amazing Story ofMarch 7, 1945, The Day the Point Republican, Oct. 25, 1951, 1. in Nebraska. Portions of this article were ex- . Rhine River was Crossed (Missoula, Mont.: Picto cerpted from a series on Timmermann and his 17 Telephone interview of LaVera Meyer rial Histories Publishing Company, 1993 rev. ed.), family published in the Dodge (Nebraska) Crite Timmermann Hansen, Mesa, Arizona, by author, 26. rion, Jan. 19 - Mar. 23, 1995. Feb. II, 18, 1995.

.--...... =..-...-.-.. ---.---.-~..- ...-.-..- .. ---... -~-.-~ . riMMERMANM lLll;:ST

Timmermann Memorial Field in West Point was dedicated May 30, 1965. Seated are LaVera Meyer Timmermann Hansen (left), Gay Timmermann Estey, and Frank Estey. Behind them are Fritz and Mary Ann Timmermann, their children, and Remagen histOrian Ken Hechler. David and Mary Timmermann Roberts and family are seated behind the lectern at right.

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For permission to re-use materials or for photo ordering information, please see: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/magazine/permission.htm

Article Title: Karl Timmermann: From Pebble Creek to the Rhine

Full Citation: “Karl Timmermann: From Pebble Creek to the Rhine,” Alex Meyer, Nebraska History 76 (1995): 122-127

Notes: Lt Karl H Timmermann figured prominently in the success of the U S 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 or Article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/1995_War_08_Timmermann.pdf