Honningen, Germany
Home of 6th Marines and 12th Field Artillery |
|
In May 1919 a pontoon school was established at Honningen, about
twenty-five kilometers down the Rhine from Engers, and Companies “D" and "F" were
sent there for instructions and training. After ten day's practice
with the German pontoon equipment they were to build the bridge
complete across the Rhine. Another Engineer Regiment had already
established a record of two hours and twenty-five minutes, and the
German soldiers, themselves, after two or three months practice
and training had a record of about one and a half hours. The Rhine
at this place is one thousand four hundred and forty feet wide and
flows seven miles per hour. Ninety-five boats, one thousand six hundred
and fifteen chess, six hundred and sixty-five balk, and one thousand
three hundred and thirty pieces of lashing were used in the completion
of the bridge. It took four hundred men to put the bridge across
— two hundred had drilled ten days and two hundred, which had
come from the other Companies, had drilled only three days — but
everything worked smoothly on the bright Sunday morning, May 25th,
1919, and the bridge was completed in fifty-eight and a half minutes,
which smashed all records. |
|
Pontoon Bridges |
 |
On the field pictured here, the Marines did considerable drilling. This field borders the Rhine River. The roadway leads to the river bank.
The 2nd Engineers built the pontoon bridge just beyond where the church stands in front of the house with the cross over it. Their pontoon school was in this town. |
 |
"One minute Up" Progress at 9:01 A.M. |
 |
Pontoon Bridge at Hönningen
Progress at 9:33 A.M. |
 |
Pontoon Bridge at Hönningen
Progress at 9:37 A.M. |
 |
From the back of this photograph we learn that it was 'B Battery' of the 12th Field Artillery that crossed the 2nd Engineers pontoon bridge after it was completed. |
 |
Battery B, 12th Field
Artilery crossing pontoon bridge built by 2nd Engineers at Honningen,
Germany |
 |
Pontoon bridge complete at Honningen with the light Artillery crossing over. |
 |
Battery B, 12th Field
Artilery |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Pvt. John M. Davison, 78th Co. 6th Marines at a Pontoon Bridge constructed by the 2nd Engineer Regiment crossing the Rhine River at Honningen, Germany. May 25th, 1919. |
 |
Pontoon Bridge at Rheinbrohl, Germany which may have been built
by German soldiers in 1919. |
|
| Pontoon bridge at Honningen, Germany built May 1919 |
| |
| |
|
1918, US Army: Pontoon Bridge Construction —
In the last couple minutes of this film you will see a 2nd Division insignia cross the bridge at Honningen, Germany. |
|
