Willemsbrug ( de maasbruggen)

The Willemsbrug played an important role during the Second World War. Marines from the nearby Marine barracks on the Oostplein defended this bridge and the adjacent invasion on 10 May 1940, defended this bridge and the railway bridge and quay 'Boompjes' located next to it.
The resistance of the Dutch marines was much stronger than the Germans had expected. expected. The marines were able to hold back the advance of the German troops until the Germans decided to bombard the center of Rotterdam on 14 May 1940.

The capture of the Willems Bridge at Rotterdam was an important first-day objective for German air landing and Paratroops taking part in the invasion of Holland. These comprised a Railway Bridge and a road bridge known as Willemsbrug. The former was of limited use to the invasion forces because it had been examined pre war and considered not suited to the passage of tanks due to it being on a steep raised embankment that would make getting on and off it difficult. The Willemsbrug was however a traffic bridge which although old, had a good carrying capacity and was reasonably wide. The particular value of these bridges was because they were the only ones across the NiewMaas River near the valuable shipping port of Rotterdam.