ˈæftɚ dʒˈɜːməni sɚɹˈɛndɚd ˌɔn ˈeɪt mˈeɪ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi fˈaɪv, ðə bɹˈɪdʒ wʌz ɪnˈɪʃəli mˌeɪd ˌɑːpɚɹˈeɪʃənəl ˌɔn ɐ mˈeɪkʃɪft bˈeɪsɪs, bˌʌt sˈuːn ɹˌiːkənstɹˈʌkʃən bɪɡˈæn ɪn ˈɜːnɪst.
After Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945, the bridge was initially made operational on a makeshift basis, but soon reconstruction began in earnest.