Rhine Gallery

Commandos Crossing the Rhine at Wesel; Second World War, 194

Sketch showing the night crossing of the River Rhine, made by British Royal Marine Commandos of the 21st Army Group, near Wesel in Germany, 23rd March 1945. This illustration shows the Commandos in their Buffalo amphibious transports leaving the West bank of the Rhine and heading towards the opposite shore. In the right background of the picture, can be seen the fires then burning in Wesel. This drawing was made by Captain Bryan de Grineau, Illustrated London News Special Artist, who was then attached to the 21st Army Group

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Switzerland - Chur - the riverbank of the Plessur River

Chur or Coire - the capital and largest town within the Swiss canton of Grisons and lies in the Grisonian Rhine Valley, where the Rhine turns towards the north, in the northern part of the canton. The city is reputedly the oldest town in Switzerland. The Plessurquai. The Plessur flows through the Schanfigg valley before emptying into the Rhine at Chur. Date: circa 1920s

Rhine crossing: two Commandos looking out for snipers

Photograph showing the Rhine crossing: two Commandos looking out for snipers among the ruins of Osnabuck, 4 Apr 1945. Armed with a Bren Gun and Thompson sub-machine gun, the commandos were probably members of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando which captured the town alongside 6th Airborne Division. No. 10 (Inter-Allied) was recruited from the volunteers of many nations who had fled to Britain to carry on the fight after their own countries had been occupied by the Germans. Date: 1945

© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library