The engineers ferried two battalions across the Elbe river before starting the construction of the floating bridge at – Westerhusen.
In the night spanning 12 to 13 April 1945 a bridge across the river was made.
Starting at 11pm Companies D and E, 17th Armored Engineer Battalion built the bridge.
It was a very dark night making it difficult even with the use two search lights.
In the dark the bridge quickly came together.
 As day light came, engineers put smoke pots, for smoke screen, on both sides of the bridge to hide the construction completions from the enemy.
But, at 6am enemy shells destroyed five bridge pontoon floats, work was stopped.
By 7am work started again to complete and repair the bridge.
By 2pm the bridge was also most complete with 25 feet to complete.
But so much enemy artillery fire was raining in the engineers were ordered to abandon the bridge and load up their trucks and pull out, to prevent further damage.
PFC William Horne with the 82nd Engineer Combat Regiment helping with the bridge was killed during construction.
The unit moved to Grunewalde were a ferry would move them across.
17th engineers help in the ferry operations with their DUKWs.

On 17 April the 17th Armored Engineered Battalion completed constructed of a bridge across the Elbe River at Magdeburg.
The construction team came against enemy fire and once a Luftwaffe attack.
25 April 1945 is known as Elbe Day as the West and East armies connected near the bridge here.
The engineers ferried two battalions across the Elbe river before starting the construction of the floating bridge at – Westerhusen. In the night spanning 12 to 13 April 1945 a bridge across the river was made. Starting at 11pm Companies D and E, 17th Armored Engineer Battalion built the bridge. It was a very dark night making it difficult even with the use two search lights. In the dark the bridge quickly came together.  As day light came, engineers put smoke pots, for smoke screen, on both sides of the bridge to hide the construction completions from the enemy. But, at 6am enemy shells destroyed five bridge pontoon floats, work was stopped. By 7am work started again to complete and repair the bridge. By 2pm the bridge was also most complete with 25 feet to complete. But so much enemy artillery fire was raining in the engineers were ordered to abandon the bridge and load up their trucks and pull out, to prevent further damage. PFC William Horne with the 82nd Engineer Combat Regiment helping with the bridge was killed during construction. The unit moved to Grunewalde were a ferry would move them across. 17th engineers help in the ferry operations with their DUKWs.
On 17 April the 17th Armored Engineered Battalion completed constructed of a bridge across the Elbe River at Magdeburg. The construction team came against enemy fire and once a Luftwaffe attack. 25 April 1945 is known as Elbe Day as the West and East armies connected near the bridge here.
17th Armored Engineer Battalion