Major exercise on the Lower Rhine: Soldiers master the Rhine crossing!

Major exercise on the Lower Rhine: Soldiers master the Rhine crossing!

A large-scale exercise called “Grand Crossing 2025” began today in the Kleve district and will last several days. The exercise started on Friday night and envisages comprehensive international cooperation. The soldiers from Germany, Great Britain, Italy and the Netherlands have a clear mission: They must learn to cross the Rhine under realistic conditions. The experience they gain here will be particularly valuable for possible future emergencies where bridges might be destroyed or inaccessible, such as WDR reported.

These days the focus is on building bridges. The challenge is to bring military vehicles weighing up to 100 tons across the Rhine. The exercise involves the use of ferries and bridges in strong currents and other complex conditions. In particular, collaboration in logistics and the sharing of materials come into play.

Reinforcement by international partners

In total, around 1,200 soldiers and 500 vehicles are involved in this sub-maneuver Time reported. This large multinational exercise is a first in Germany and brings together the capabilities of different nations. In particular, the German-British Pioneer Bridge Battalion 130 has the task of building ferries so that safe crossing of the Rhine is possible.

The training not only concerns the crossing, but also planning and coordinating under difficult conditions. Soldiers must find ways to optimally utilize their resources to ensure smooth teamwork. Marching columns can already be seen moving to the Kleve area via normal traffic routes.

NATO and international security

The importance of such exercises is also underlined by membership in NATO, which was founded in 1949 to ensure the mutual protection of member states during the Cold War. NATO now includes 30 member states. Germany joined in 1955 and has since committed to actively working on collective defense. This international alliance ensures that cooperation and security remain a high priority and is therefore also taken into account in the training of soldiers Studyflix explained.

The maneuver will last until the end of next week, with further exploration and testing before the major Rhine crossing. Even though the progress is remarkable, onlookers are asked to keep enough distance from the combat vehicles. The exercise not only serves as training, but also as a showcase for international military cooperation.