New Delhi, Delhi, India

On the occasion of Victory in Europe Day(V-E Day) also known as VE Day which marked the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its arms, the German authorities are now auctioning part of the remains of the "Bridge at Remagen" -- a World War II bridgehead into the country immortalised by a 1969 US film. 

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"There are already a few people interested" in the towers that once flanked the bridge's eastern end, spokesman for the BEV railway authority Juergen Rothe told DPA news agency Monday.

The BEV advertises the building as a "monumental bridge structure with military historical significance stretching beyond the local region" on its website.

Christened the Ludendorff bridge after a famous World War I field marshal when it was built in 1918, the crossing took on vital strategic importance towards the end of World War II in early 1945.

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It was one of the two bridges that remained across the river Rhine in Germany when it was captured during the Battle of Remagen by the US army during the end of World War II. 

It was built to deliver reinforcements and supplies to the German troops on the Western Front while also linking  Remagen on the west bank and the village of Erpel on the eastern side between two hills flanking the river.

After the US forces captured the bridge, German forces tried to destroy it multiple times. This included infantry and armor, howitzers, mortars, floating mines, mined boats, a railroad gun, and the giant 600 mm Karl-Gerät super-heavy mortar. They also attacked the bridge using the newly developed Arado Ar 234B-2 turbojet bombers. 

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To protect the bridge against aircraft, the Americans positioned the largest concentration of anti-aircraft weapons during World War II leading to "the greatest antiaircraft artillery battles in American history." 

It finally collapsed on March 17, ten days after it was captured, killing 33 US Army Engineers and wounding 63. Capturing the bridge shortened the war and VE Day came on May 8. After the war, while the bridge still stood, it was not rebuilt the towers on the west bank were converted into a museum and the towers on the east bank area performing arts space. 

Authorities warn potential buyers that the towers are "in dire need of repair", "not for living in" with no water supply or heating, and must be insured against possible harm to passing cars, pedestrians, and cyclists from falling chunks of the crumbling facade.

The listing did not set a price for the bridge towers, rather stating that they will go to the highest bidder. Interested buyers have until May 18 to make their offers.