Memorial

This memorial commemorates two very young people of American and German nationality who lost their lives as soldiers. The American private named David A. Read in the fight for freedom and the German sergeant Hans Hermann Paulsen, instrumentalized by a Nazi regime.

A place that reminds of a dark time and a forest that has drunk so much human blood.

The forest section "Hasselpath" and the surrounding villages of Rocherath and Krinkelt were considered the interface of the Ardennes offensive. Here in December 1944 fierce fighting between Germans and Americans took place. Among other things, the 99th US Infantry Division, a unit with 10,000 young and inexperienced soldiers, was located in this forest area. They were called "Battle Babies" by other units.
On a hiking trail 800 m long, which leads 100 m after the information board to the left into the forest, nine information boards paint a vivid picture of the trenches in which the soldiers entrenched themselves with their machine guns and grenade launchers. Trenches and the remains of earth bunkers, battlefields and earth hospitals still bear witness to the events of that time. Source: ostbelgien.eu/de/fiche/virtualtour/gedenkstatte-hasselpath