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[merovingian]

Indeed there is a bridge on the map.

However, Georgij K. Korolkov in his monography on the Lodz operation states that Gen. Rennekampf asked the Northwestern Front prior to the breakout of hostilities to build a bridge at Plock and to form a battle group on the left river bank that would lift V Siberian Corps isolation in Wloclawek. The Front failed to act on either suggestion and on Oct 29th Gen. Rennenkampf on his own ininitiative ordered VI Siberian Corps to cross at Plock using the measures "available on the spot", but there were none and it took asking the Modlin fortress commander to provide crossing equipment.  As a result a pontoon / floating  bridge was constructed on Oct 30th-31st with the use of barges and steam powered ferries.

Hence apparently there wasn't any bridge at Plock at the time. Moreover, Korolkov writes that there weren't even any harbors, marinas or bulk berths to speed the building of the pontoon bridge.

Re the bridge at Plock:

Good catch.  You are correct about Korolkov.  As to what happened to the bridge between 1910 & Oct 1914, I find this passage in
 ВОСТОЧНО-ПРУССКАЯ операция - СБОРНИК документov (East Prussian Operation -- Collection of Documents) at p. 50

"Warsaw Bridges - one rail and two for wheeled transport, at Novogeorgievsk - one for wheeled traffic (It can be adapted to railroad), at Plock and Vlotslavsk - on pontoons, both shall be destroyed in the first days of mobilization." (translated from the Russian).

Also during the Lodz operation German troops were ordered to Plock to build there a reinforced bridge but were prevented by ice floes.

Some VI Siberian Corps units did cross at Plock so it appears that the Russians were able to build a temporary bridge.  The rule allowing engineers to bridge the Vistula thus appears to be a good simulation of the situation at Plock during the campaign.


Merovingian