Houffalize: “Memory” cycling route

Since 3 January 1945, the counter-offensive led by the Allied armies had been a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge. With General Patton's Third Army having broken through the encirclement of Bastogne, it was decided that the armies would link up at Houffalize. General Hodges' 1st US Army, coming from the north, was to meet the 3rd US Army arriving from the south.In a race against time, their junction was completed on the morning of 16 January 1945, almost simultaneously at Houffalize and Rensiwez. A patrol from the 84th Infantry Division, arriving from Mormont and Filly, met up with men from the 11th Armored Division at the bridge. This significant event in the Battle of the Bulge is commemorated by a plaque affixed directly to the rock since the 50th anniversary commemorations.Further information: The junction of the 1st and 3rd American Army

This tragedy plunged three localities in the current municipality into mourning: Nadrin, Wibrin and Houffalize.For the members of the affected families who are still alive today, time has not erased the pain. During the first attack, Émile Remy (aged 50), Sylvain Martin (aged 43), Léon Dethor (aged 33), Antoine Bollet (aged 24) and Jean Nadin (aged 18) were shot in the back of the neck by Nazi police officers.Eudore Weinquin, who was supposed to suffer the same fate, managed to escape. Although seriously wounded by a bullet, he was not recaptured by the enemy. The following day, Sunday, the same SS officers arrested Alfred Huberty (42) and Armand Bastin (27). They were taken to the same Parc Lambin and shot in the back of the neck, just like the previous victims.Thanks to Eudore Weinquin, the bodies of the five martyrs of the 23rd were exhumed on 2 February 1945.But it was not until 23 April that the bodies of the two victims of the 24th were discovered unexpectedly, even though they had been buried hastily only a few metres from their companions in misfortune.This stone was therefore placed in memory of the victims.More information: bel-memorial.org/cities/luxembourg/mont/mont_mon_resistants_abattus.htm

Monument to the link-up on 16 January '45 of the troops of Patton's 3rd Army with those of Hodge's 1st Army. (Place de janvier 1945).(Text source by Guy Blockmans / OPT)

This M4A3 Sherman tank is an American armoured vehicle from the Second World War. Equipped with a 75 mm gun, it was manned by a crew of 5. It fought in the village of Wibrin during the Battle of the Bulge and helped liberate it on 14 January 1945. Destroyed during the fighting, it was repatriated to the centre of the village and is now a monument to the liberators.The vehicle has been beautifully restored, but still bears the scars of the fighting. In addition to its exploded gun, a shell hole is visible at the front of the tank, where the armour is thickest. The cut-outs at the rear of the vehicle are the result of the post-war period. When resources were in short supply, scrap dealers came to salvage the metal from the wreckage.Further information: The Sherman tank of Wibrin

The German tank at Houffalize is a Panzer Mark V Sd. Kfz. 171 Ausf. G known as PANTHER 111. Its first missions were during the Battle of Normandy. It took part in the retreat of the German army to the interior of its borders. At the dawn of the Battle of the Bulge, he was incorporated into the 116th Panzer Division and returned to the front.Very early on the morning of 15 January 1945, he fell ass over head into the Ourthe. When the tank driver engaged the Panther on the Rue de La Roche bridge, part of the arch gave way under the vehicle's 44 tonnes. The bodies of four crew members were buried in 1947, when the tank was raised by the Belgian Engineers in Namur and the bodies finally made accessible. It was removed from the Ourthe on 20 or 28 September 1948.Further information: The Panther tank of Houffalize