Moerdijk bridges.
On this page you will find original photographic material of the Moerdijk bridges during the Second World War.
The photos show many interesting details. For the Germans, the Moerdijk bridges were already extremely important in May 1940 for the advance toward Rotterdam and The Hague. Heavy vehicles such as tanks were no longer a problem for the strong road bridge over the Hollandsch Diep. In a few photos, several bunkers also appear to be visible. In some images, anti‑aircraft emplacements can be seen on top of the bridge (for example, photo 1).
The bridges were a popular photo subject for the German soldiers tasked with guarding them. Many German vehicles crossed the bridges during the war, and often a snapshot was taken from inside the vehicle.
Finally, several measures taken by the Dutch army during the mobilisation period can be seen, intended to block the road bridge if necessary. A barrier could be lowered onto the bridge itself to prevent vehicles from crossing. At the start of the bridge, additional obstacles could be placed to deny access, especially to vehicles.
In November 1944, both bridges were blown up after the Germans had retreated across them.
1. The road bridge at Moerdijk during the Second World War.
10. The Moerdijk railway bridge during the Second World War.
11. German soldier guarding the Moerdijk road bridge during the Second World War.
12. Cyclist and a German sentry on the Moerdijk bridge during the Second World War.
13. A nice photograph of the Moerdijk railway bridge taken during the Second World War.
14. The Moerdijk road bridge during the Second World War.
15. German vehicles on the Moerdijk road bridge during the Second World War.
16. A German soldier standing guard on the Moerdijk railway bridge during the Second World War.
17. A photograph of the Moerdijk road bridge during the Second World War.
18. Another photograph of the access ramp to the Moerdijk road bridge during the Second World War.
19. The Moerdijk road bridge.
2. The access ramp to the Moerdijk road bridge during the Second World War.
20. Moerdijk road bridge.
21. German soldiers on the Moerdijk road bridge.
22. German motorcyclists on the Moerdijk Traffic Bridge.
23. Traffic on the Moerdijk Bridge.
24. German vehicles on the Moerdijk Traffic Bridge.
25. The Moerdijk traffic bridge.
26. Railway bridge at Moerdijk.
27. German vehicles on the Moerdijk traffic bridge.
28. German trucks on the Moerdijk traffic bridge.
29. Troop movements across the Moerdijk Bridge between Brabant and Dordrecht.
3. German vehicle on the Moerdijk road bridge during the Second World War.
30. German troops in a truck on the Moerdijk Bridge.
31. German troops march across the Moerdijk Bridge between Brabant and Dordrecht.
32. German troops in a truck on the Moerdijk Bridge.
33. German troops on the Moerdijk Bridge between Brabant and Dordrecht.
34. German bicycle troops on the Moerdijk Bridge between Brabant and Dordrecht.
35. A German vehicle on the Moerdijk Bridge between Brabant and Dordrecht.
36. German vehicles on the Moerdijk Bridge.
37. German troops on the Moerdijk Bridge.
4. A cyclist near the Moerdijk bridge during the Second World War.
5. The Moerdijk railway bridge during the Second World War.
6. German soldiers on the Moerdijk road bridge during the Second World War.
7. German troops on horseback on the Moerdijk road bridge during the Second World War.
8. Horses and wagons on the Moerdijk road bridge during the Second World War.
9. Cyclist on the bicycle path near the Moerdijk bridges during the Second World War.