Stefan Michels, Kestert

"Storm on the Middle Rhine" – The American River Crossings between Braubach and Kaub in March 1945

‘In the Shadow of Remagen’ on March 25 and 26, 1945, units of the 3rd U.S. Army crossed the Middle Rhine between Koblenz and Bingen at a total of five different locations. The weak German defense forces in the area of today’s Rhein-Lahn district had little to counter the American superiority. Nevertheless, fierce fighting ensued in some areas. The lecture is intended to provide an overview of the individual river crossings and the battles that took place up to March 27, 1945.

Stefan Michels, born in Lahnstein and living in Kestert since childhood, developed a strong interest in the war events of 1944/45 in the Rhein-Lahn area from a young age due to his connection to the homeland and intensive contact with contemporary witnesses. Since 1996, he has been intensively involved in the analysis and processing of contemporary historical sources in German and U.S. archives as well as in private hands. The result of his research is the monograph published in 2013, “Storm on the Middle Rhine – The German Retreat Battles in the Vorderhunsrück and the Rhine-Moselle Triangle and the End of the War in the Rhein-Lahn District in March 1945.” Stefan Michels is the 1st Chairman of the Heimatverein Kestert 2015 e.V.

The lecture series is moderated by Ulrich Linnemann, Bad Schwalbach, and Klaus D. Schoch, Wesel.
It is under the patronage of the Mayor of Lahnstein, Mr. Lennart Siefert.

The lecture series takes place at the Sporkenburger Hof in Lahnstein.
Admission with Get Together starts at 18:45; lecture begins at 19:30.

Tickets are available for €7.00 (no discounts) in advance online at Ticket Regional, at the Tourist Information Lahnstein at Salhofplatz, as well as at all other advance sales points of Ticket Regional or at the box office. Please note the limited number of seats available.