WWII Sites - Audie Murphy/Bastogne/Patton

[VaTom]

Just returned from a trip overseas. Visited some WWII sites while there. Here are a few pictures. Was in Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. Audie Murphey Medal of Honor site at Colmar, US tank at McAuliffe Square in Bastogne, Easy Company - 101St memorial at Bois Jacque (Jack's Woods outside Bastogne) (remains of foxholes still there). General Patton's grave in Luxembourg at US Military Cemetery.

Unbelievable trip-Enjoy!

 

[soFlaNative]

Thanks, Tom.
Can't help but wonder what punched thru
the 1/2" (?) armor in the side of that tank...

 

[eveled]

Tanks are only safe to a point, then they are coffins.

Thanks for posting the pictures. Sounds like a good trip.

 

[the ringo kid]

Thanks, Tom.
Can't help but wonder what punched thru
the 1/2" (?) armor in the side of that tank...

Probably a Panzerfaust warhead or a shell from a Panzerscreck? (German bazooka.)
Panzerfaust:

German bazooka:

 

[fiasconva]

Still hard to believe that Audie achieved what he did at the ripe old age of 19.

 

[the ringo kid]

This is a copy of my one original photo of someone with a panzerfaust. The officer is Knights Cross recipient: Hauptmann Peter Kiesegen who is instructing members of the Hitler Youth on how to operate one. This is one of a series of I think? three PK press photos of the Hauptmann with these kids.

 

[VaTom]

Thanks, Tom.
Can't help but wonder what punched thru
the 1/2" (?) armor in the side of that tank...

There is also a hole in the back. More jagged like an angled shot but all the way through. The cannon on it is a 105 mm. Was an actual tank knocked out in the Bastogne defense.

 

[fordson]

Good photos, thanks. Been to a number of those sites several times now. Heading back again next month. The Audie Murphey sites at Colmar, by everything I've read, is pretty much as it was in 1945. The only additions are that more of the road has been paved and a soccer field was added just south the site. Otherwise the woods and fields are as they were.
Those 105mm M4 Shermans (there were three types) were called Assault Tanks used for infantry support and bunker busters.

 

[Cyrano]

It sure looks to me like that Sherman has a 75 instead of a 105mm cannon.

 

[klondike]

My sister was in France about 15 years ago, I told her to stop at Colmar and see where our father fought was the 36th Texas. She asked the waiter at a cafe, who told some city official, who along with the mayor of Colmar took her on a guided tour of the various locations where his unit fought. She was amazed at the red carpet response.

 

[VaTom]

Good photos, thanks. Been to a number of those sites several times now. Heading back again next month. The Audie Murphey sites at Colmar, by everything I've read, is pretty much as it was in 1945. The only additions are that more of the road has been paved and a soccer field was added just south the site. Otherwise the woods and fields are as they were.
Those 105mm M4 Shermans (there were three types) were called Assault Tanks used for infantry support and bunker busters.

If you haven't been to the museum in Bastogne in the last few years I understand it was updated. Went and it was great. I reccommend you read the book "The Longest Winter" by Alex Kershaw and visit the village of Lanzareth, Belgium where the I&R Platoon of 18 men held off the initial German attack on December 16th for 24 hours. There is a small memorial there. Also came across a 1st Infantry division memorial in Bullegen on the way there.

Yes the village near Colmar where Audey Murphey made his stand is virtually unchanged.

 

[fordson]

VaTom -- the last time I was in Bastogne was late Fall, 2012. It was cold and raining. The museum was still under construction at that time. Did climb to the top of the monument but couldn't see much because of fog - very evocative though. Thanks for your recommendation; I'll add it to my stack of reading material on the Bulge. - Fordson

 

[Cardboard_killer]

She was amazed at the red carpet response.

My father was stationed in Germany from 1950-52, and he says that all of Europe loved Americans, even then five years after the war ended.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

There is also a hole in the back. More jagged like an angled shot but all the way through. The cannon on it is a 105 mm. Was an actual tank knocked out in the Bastogne defense.

From the size of the hole and the "exit wound", I'd guess it was a 75mm\L70 gun, which was the armament on the PzV Panther and was also mounted on at least one of the German tank destroyers (JgPzIV)

EDIT: The internet is a wonderful thing. The tank was hit by a 75mm shell from a PzIV. That 75mm gun was lower velocity than the Panther's gun. Here's the full story of the Sherman:
M4A3(75)W Sherman Tank Barracuda Battle of the Bulge 1944 Bastogne in Belgium
Two of the crewmen were Jewish and after capture were used as slave labor.

 

[VaTom]

Thanks for posting link to the story. There are two more us tanks in the museum there. One is a tank destroyer type. The other has a massive hole in the side big enough to stick your head through and see inside.

I am sure the museum has a website.

 

[VaTom]

If you go there I suggest renting a car and touring countryside on your own. Good roads and gives a good feel for the lay of the land. We rented from Avis at the Liege train station. Learn some basic French phrases as most locals speak French.