44th Division Monument
Details:
At the intersection.
The monument is comprised of a large, smooth, brown block plinth set on a square base and is topped by a carved “44” stone which depicts the division’s insignia. On the top of the front face of the plinth, a green plaque which bears the commemoration message is affixed. The plaque is inscribed in French and English text in white lettering. The memorial is in remembrance of the 44th that liberated the town in 1944 and was dedicated in March 2015 during the town’s 70th Anniversary of liberation.
The 44th Infantry Division landed in France via Cherbourg, 15 September 1944, and trained for a month before entering combat, 18 October 1944, when it relieved the 79th Division in the vicinity of Foret de Parroy, east of Lunéville, France, to take part in the Seventh Army drive to secure several passes in the Vosges Mountains. Within 6 days, the division was hit by a heavy German counterattack, 25–26 October. The attack was repulsed and the 44th continued its active defense. On 13 November 1944, it jumped off in an attack northeast, forcing a passage through the Vosges Mountains east of Leintrey to Dossenheim, took Avricourt, 17 November, and pushed on to liberate Strasbourg, along with the 2d French Armored Division. After regrouping, the division returned to the attack, taking Ratzwiller and entering the Ensemble de Bitche in the Maginot Line. On 14 December, regiments of the 44th Division took part in assaulting major Maginot line fortifications. The division's 71st and 324th Infantry Regiments assaulted Fort Simserhof and nearby Hottviller. After six days of fighting, Simershof was captured on 20 December. Displacing to defensive positions east of Sarreguemines, 21–23 December, the 44th threw back three attempted crossings by the enemy of the Blies River. An aggressive defense of the Sarreguemines area was continued throughout February 1945 and most of March before the division moved across the Rhine.
Other source of information: https://en.wikipedia.org
Monument Text:
70e ANNIVERSAIRE DE LA LIBÉRATION
70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION
aux SOLDATS
de la 44e DIVISION D'INFANTERIE U.S.
qui ont combattu en ces lieux durant l'hiver 1944-45
pour préserver notre liberté.
(-44th Division insignia-)
In memory of the US Soldiers
belonging to the 44th INFANTRY DIVISION
who fought in these places during the winter 1944-45
to preserve our freedom.
