The Turco House

On August 6, 1870, the "House of the Turcos" was the scene of fighting between the 2nd Regiment of Algerian Riflemen, the so-called Turcos, and the Prussian and Bavarian troops. The focal point was the Turco House, which was the target of German artillery throughout the battle. The regiment consisted of 84 officers and 2,216 men. Under the command of Colonel Pierre-Jean-François Suzzoni, the 2nd Regiment of Algerian Riflemen attempted to push back the 5th Prussian Corps and the 1st Bavarian Corps. Lacking ammunition and outnumbered, the Turcos continued to fight with bayonets. But despite their efforts, they could not stop the German troops. During these battles, the 2nd Regiment of Turcos lost 67% of its men. Only 8 officers and 441 men managed to withdraw. These ruins are located next to the grave monument of the captain of the Turcos Corps, P. A. Anglade, and the communal burial pit of 20 French and 5 German soldiers. Opposite them stood another small house of the same type along the side road, the so-called Vineyard Road, which connected Froeschwiller with Woerth. This building, also used during fighting, was demolished at the end of the 1940s. Both buildings caused considerable confusion, both in publications after 1900 and in the production of postcards.

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Source

• Text: Le-Souvenir-Francais
• Photos: Frank Jongeling
• https://le-souvenir-francais.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Recueil-Bas-Rhin-1870.pdf