Germany and allies hold large-scale military drills on Rhine
Photo: Bundeswehr and allies test a river crossing over the Rhine (Getty Images)
The Rhine becomes the site of large-scale drills as Germany and its allies train to cross troops and heavy equipment, according to dpa.
On Saturday, June 28, military units from four countries conducted a major crossing of troops and heavy equipment over the Rhine River in Germany during joint exercises.
According to the Bundeswehr (Germany’s armed forces), around 1,200 soldiers and 500 vehicles will take part in the 14-day drills, which are set to conclude by the end of next week.
During the Grand Crossing in Kalkar, the German-British 130th Pioneer Bridge Battalion from Minden was reinforced by Dutch and Italian companies.
The task was to build ferries using in-house systems to enable waterway crossings after several days of detailed preparation and reconnaissance.
Notably, the Rhine at Kalkar spans about 300 meters. Troops and vehicles were transported to the site via public roads.
Another river crossing is scheduled in the coming days, this time across the Weser River near Hamelin in Lower Saxony.
Earlier this month, NATO naval forces participating in the Baltops 2025 exercises in the Baltic Sea practiced the use of unmanned aerial and underwater drones in operations.
