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Wallonie

Start of the Ardennes Offensive 1944 Memorial

Wallonie

Start of the Ardennes Offensive 1944 Memorial

Highlight • Monument

Start of the Ardennes Offensive 1944 Memorial

Recommended by 131 hikers out of 139

This Highlight is in a protected area

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Naturpark Hohes Venn-Eifel

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Location: Büllingen, Verviers, Liège, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Start of the Ardennes Offensive 1944 Memorial

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1. Pond in the Oleftal Valley – Westwall Passage loop from Miescheid

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2. Meanders of the Olef – St. Edward’s Forest Chapel loop from Miescheid

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3. Pond in the Oleftal Valley – Meanders of the Olef loop from Miescheid

13.2km

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Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Tips

PeterH65 (a.k.a. "Waldorf")

April 4, 2023

>

"The aim of the "Ardennes offensive", planned in the greatest secrecy, was to recapture the port of Antwerp in order to interrupt the Allied supplies. At the same time, a "wedge should be driven between the British and American troops in the Aachen and Maastricht area" in order to then destroy the north of the to enclose and destroy the British advance. The time of the attack was set during a wintry period of bad weather, which prevented the superior Allied air forces from intervening. By Christmas, the Wehrmacht had advanced to within nine kilometers of the Meuse, but was held back by the Allies by the turn of the year 1944/ Forced to withdraw 45. At the end of January, the Americans had restored the starting point of December 16.

As part of the "Ardennes offensive" from December 16, the 277th Volksgrenadier Division attacked to the west near Hollerath. During their retreat in January, the Westwall bunkers lay under deep snow, meanwhile looted and without weapons or ammunition. At the beginning of February, with the advance of the 1st US Infantry Division and the 82nd Airborne Division, there was complete confusion: nobody knew who was in which bunker! The six-slit domes on the Hollerather Knie were fired upon by the Americans with phosphorus shells. Individual German bunker crews turned themselves in, others allowed themselves to be locked in and then broke out. On February 4, the US 26th Infantry Regiment of the US 1st Infantry Division occupied Hollerath.

CONTINUED and MORE INFO:

kuladig.de/Object-View/O-101314-20140826-2

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Peter 🥾🐾🌲

April 27, 2025

Lasting memory of the start of the Ardennes offensive. Never again war!

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April 3, 2025

A new information board has been put up.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 680 m

Weather

Today

Saturday 20 December

9°C

2°C

13 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

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Location: Büllingen, Verviers, Liège, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Westwall Dragon's Teeth and Memorial Plaque at Hollerath

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Hasenbrückchen

Höckerlinie (Westwall Tank Barriers)

Kirmesbach Bridges on the EifelSchleife 3-Bäche Trail

Westwall Remnants at Hollerath

Holzwarche Valley Nature Reserve

Daubenscheid Shelter

Stairway to Olef Valley Wild Daffodil Reserve

Forest Stream in Naturpark Hohes Venn-Eifel

Ford Across the Prether Bach

Kirmesbach Stream

Start of the Ardennes Offensive 1944 Memorial

1. Pond in the Oleftal Valley – Westwall Passage loop from Miescheid

2. Meanders of the Olef – St. Edward’s Forest Chapel loop from Miescheid

3. Pond in the Oleftal Valley – Meanders of the Olef loop from Miescheid

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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