RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, January 1 1945-May 8 1946. Directorate of Transportation 21 Army Group - BLA. - Paperback

by Anon (Author)

From January 1945 to May 1946, the Royal Engineers' Directorate of Transportation managed railway construction and repair for the 21 Army Group, later the British Army of the Rhine. Tasked with restoring vital supply lines across Belgium, the Netherlands, and into Germany, the work was carried out by specialised Railway Construction and Maintenance Groups and Companies.

A highlight came in March 1945 with the construction of the Waterloo Bridge, the first Allied bridge across the Rhine, completed in just 13 hours with assistance from the Pioneer Corps. Prior to this, the Directorate had focused on repairing tracks and yards devastated by bombing and sabotage to sustain the Allied advance.

Following Germany's surrender, the Directorate transitioned from military logistics to post-war reconstruction, restoring the Deutsche Reichsbahn and integrating local staff to support civilian transport and administration in the British Zone. Across these operations, the Directorate of Transportation played a crucial role in maintaining supply lines during the final offensive and rebuilding Europe's railway network during the early occupation and integration of local railway staff into the recovery effort.