Us Official Photographs

Aachen viaduct demolition

While 9th AF fighter-bombers were attacking strongpoints in the city of Aachen, Germany, preperatory to an assault by ground troops, the German defenders blew up a viaduct leading into the town. How the Americans circumvented the enemy demolition is shown in this photograph of a tank-dozer smashing an entrance through the railroad station adjacent to the viaduct. A few minutes later the first U.S. tanks and ground troops entered the city.