Remnants of War – Escape at Tangermünde

The escape of the German 9th & 12th armies at Tangermünde.

In today’s new episode of the Halbe Pocket Podcast, episode 1.14, I cover the events after the link-up between the German 9th & 12th armies, and I take a special look at how between May 4th – May 7th 1945 the broken remnants of the two armies, along with thousands of men, women, and children, managed to cross the Elbe to surrender to American forces at Tangermünde.

The final number is disputed, but most historians agree that at least 100 thousand people escaped over the Elbe to reach American lines.

Whilst the twisted and half-destroyed road bridge at Tangermünde is most well-known for its scenes of troops and refugees staggering across, in actual fact crossings were made at multiple points along this section of the Elbe, including at a ferry crossing at the village of Ferchland, 12km south of Tangermünde.

Plus, in their determination to escape the oncoming Russians, many German troops and refugees would take to crossing the Elbe in selfmade pontoons, or they would brave the rapid waters to swim across.

To hear how the dramatic crossings unfolded and to learn how they created a major humanitarian and diplomatic headache for the Americans, check out the latest episode of Encircled: the Halbe Pocket Podcast.

Photo credits:
1. LIFE Magazine Archives
2. National Archives Washington DC
3. Imago/leemage