War Memorial Rittershoffen

As part of Operation Nordwind in Alsace, German troops attacked the villages of Hatten and Rittershoffen on the 9 of January 1945, leading to a massive tank battle.

The German 25th Panzer-Grenadier Division and the 21st Armored Division advanced through Hatten, encountering the American 42nd Infantry Division, which had occupied the village just a few days earlier. This "Rainbow" Division consisted of troops from the 222nd, 232nd, and 242nd Infantry Regiments, who were still in training when they arrived in France.

On January 10, the division was reinforced with veterans from the US 79th Infantry Division "Croix de Lorraine," who slowed the German troops. On January 11, a counterattack by the 25th Panzer-Grenadier Division encircled both American divisions in both villages. On January 12, the 14th US Mechanized Division arrived to assist, after which bitter fighting continued in the village streets until January 20, 1945.

After 12 days, 350 of the 365 houses had been destroyed, 2,500 soldiers and 83 civilians had been killed, and 42 Shermans and more than 60 German armored vehicles had been destroyed.

This battle is recorded as the last major tank battle of World War II.

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Source

• Text: Wilfrid Gigli & Francky De Rous
• Photos: Wilfrid Gigli