Fair to give the Remagen "adventure" credit for the first crossing of the Rhine, even if, as Scott suggests, not the first entry into Germany.
But I wonder how important it was in the larger scheme of things.
On March 7 the US 9th Armored Division got a toe hold across the Rhine at Remagen.
The Remagen crossing was useful, no doubt. But the Rhine was going to be crossed in decisive fashion in the month of March, Remagen bridge or no Remagen bridge.
Montgomery's Twenty-First Army Group was already just two weeks away from their forced crossing (Operations Plunder and Varsity), which was a coordinated effort of three armies (2 British, 1 American) that rivaled Overloard in the size of forces and amount supplies being marshaled for the job.
9th Armored was in the US 1st Army, part of Bradley's Twelfth Army Group. Even Twelfth Army Group was not sitting on it's Remagen laurels. Patton's 3rd Army (also in the Twelfth AG) also did a crossing in March, just ahead of Montgomery. Tweaking his nose a second time, perhaps?
In any case, Remagen was but one bridge in a fairly remote location. Across at Remagen or not across at Remagen made almost no difference in my view. Bragging rights? Sure, fair enough. Important? That's a different question.
-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)
