222 Infantry Regiment (USA) crossing the Rhine
The crossing was made over a pontoon bridge which stretched across the swift-flowing Rhine only a few yards from the wrecked permanent structure
in the heart of the city of Worms. While passing through the city itself Rainbowmen had their first glimpse of the damage that could be wrought upon
a large city by the Air Force. Hardly a house in the entire city possessed a roof, rubble was piled high in the streets and civilians were busy looting a huge wine cellar. Whole blocks of buildings were completely leveled. All these sights were to become familiar to every man in the Division before the month of April, with its marching and fighting from one large city to another, was over.
Division convoys sped ahead to reach the new positions against a rapidly withdrawing enemy over roads which were jammed with traffic. Trucks and
tanks and jeeps had been pouring over the Rhine bridges at Worms in a never-ending stream for three days. Truck after truck and convoy after convoy roared through tiny German villages all day and all night. Villagers stood outside their homes or leaned out of windows and gaped in amazement. Never had they seen anything like this. Never had they believed it possible that one army could have so many vehicles. The German army that was to stop this terrific machine was fleeing on foot or with horses and battered trucks barely able to run. Now they knew the war could not last much longer. Nothing could stop this power of the Americans.
Photo: On Easter the Rainbow crossed the Rhine on an engineer bridge beside this wrecked structure at Worms and raced east to meet the enemy.