70 years ago: a Fallschirmjäger and a Roman bridge

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Tiberius Bridge over the river Marecchia was begun in 14 BC by Augustus and completed by his successor Tiberius in 21 BC, and it is one of the most beautiful bridges of the Roman era and one of the symbols of the city of Rimini ....

this year celebrates 2000 years! the stamp for its birtday,...

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.... is still used every day and "working perfectly"....

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..... was originally the northern entrance of the city, today is practically in the center of the city and the beginning of the touristic port (the river Marecchia was diverted)

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and the protagonist of our story : the para-pioneer parachutist Feldwebel Willi Trageser.

The 20 September 1944 (exactly 70 yers ago!) the german paratroopers have been ordered to leave Rimini because Canadians have broken through the front just above the city.


There remain only the Pioneers that have to blow-upt the buildings corner and all the bridges on teh Marecchia of the city.

The Feldwebel Willi Traser and his men of the 2nd Comp. work in no hurry, because the Greeks and Canadians are coming into town with great caution.
And Willi is one of the last Germans to leave the city. He detonates two road bridges and one rail bridge then goes to the last, the Roman Bridge of Tiberio.

There is a partial explosion that will not do any harm, then a second with just a lot of smoke. Then the Trageser "decides" that the bridge is blown and does withdraw his soldiers, and announced that the demolition order was executed.

And everything suggests, interviews and statements postwar his comrades and superiors, that if the Willi not be heard to destroy this monument (Willi will not suffer any punishment) ....

in 1957 during some lacori road will be found the six charges of mine inctat (then it Traeser has detonated only two)

(From Mntemaggi Amedeo : Il Ponte di Tiberio di Rimini 1957)

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... Rimini photographed during the allied bombing : il "Ponte di Tiberio"

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in a photo after the passage of the front ...

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candian soldiers of the 48th Higlanders of Canada on the Tiberio Bridge the 21 september 1944!!

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a photo of George Kaye (New Zaeland) september 1944....

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and finally in memory of our Falls-Pio. Feldwebel Trageser a para badge
like his on his pocket

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.....

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[wayne gosley]

A man who respected history, this FJ and not destructed it.
Cheers
Wayne

[blinky]

Great story!
Thank goodness for men like Willi

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A man who respected history, this FJ and not destructed it.
Cheers
Wayne

thnaks Wayne!
Oriano

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Great story!
Thank goodness for men like Willi

many thanks!
Oriano