Trying to solve a WW2 Mystery - A Bridge on the River IJssel

I am trying to solve a mystery that I thought people on here might be able to help with.

This is a photo I took of a sketch my Grandmother has framed on her wall. She has indicated this shows a bridge over the River IJssel in The Netherlands that my Grandfather helped defend (guard) during World War 2. She can't remember where on the River IJssel this might have been - she is 93 this year. I would love to help solve this mystery for her & for me, as I would like to know. I think for part of WWII they may have lived in Deventer.

Anyone recognize the bridge in the sketch & where it might have been located in the Netherlands?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

Looks a bit like Remagen bridge.

 

Or the original rail bridge at Nijmegen;

 

No direct help but the Nijmegen bridge and the Ludendorff bridge at Remagen were, I believe, both twin track railways while the sketch shows a single track, but then that could be artistic licence?

 

I agree with Owen that it's likely to be the bridge at Deventer. Everything seems to match including the number of tracks, the shape of the bridge and towers including the positioning of the doors and windows and the castellated look of the towers etc. QED?

 

Hi,
There is a river Issel in Hamminkeln Germany.
It was an important crossing point during operation Plunder/Varsity and would have been guarded and is not so far from Dutch border.
it does look anything like the drawing,could your grandmother be mixing up memories?
What outfit was your grandfather in?
Rob

 

Hi Rob,

The bridges over the River Issel at Hamminkeln are much smaller spans by comparison. You can see a modern replacement of the one captured by 2 0BLI on the Lightbobs site:

http://www.lightbobs.com/operation-varsity-battlefield-visit.html

Attached is a pic that I believe is one of the Hamminkeln Bridges taken from a Lost Evidence video. Since it is still intact on March 25th this is probably the bridge taken by 1 RUR.

Regards ...

 

Owen,

You nailed that one... In fact the drawing looks like it was based on the old photo (or post card?).

Regards ...

 

The drawing could even be a tracing of the postcard. Even the barbed wire movable barricade is standing in the same spot!.....

Cee beat me to it!

 

Thanks everyone for all these photos! I had a feeling she was right about the details just not sure where the bridge was. These are alot of nice images of the bridge & at least I know the bridge was demolished at the end of WW2 & replaced.

I do live in Canada, but my Grandparents & my mother emigrated to Canada in 1952, along with my Aunt & Uncle. My Grandfather was involved with the Dutch Military Police for a time during WW2. I will have to ask my Grandma again the next time I see her to see what other info I can find out from her regarding my Grandpa. It has been a while since she talked about the time during WW2.