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Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Cologne District

Kall Bridge Memorial

North Rhine-Westphalia

Cologne District

Kreis Düren

Hürtgenwald

Kall Bridge Memorial

Highlight • Bridge

Kall Bridge Memorial

Recommended by 565 hikers out of 597

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Naturpark Hohes Venn-Eifel

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Location: Hürtgenwald, Kreis Düren, Cologne District, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

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Best Hikes to Kall Bridge Memorial

4.7

(181)

684

hikers

1. Lukas Mill Ruins – Kall Bridge loop from Vossenack

12.3km

03:24

210m

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

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Intermediate

4.7

(218)

820

hikers

2. Lukas Mill Ruins – Path Along the Kall Stream loop from Hürtgen

15.3km

04:19

310m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Intermediate

4.7

(37)

152

hikers

3. View of Simonskall – Simonskall Village loop from Vossenack

16.8km

04:57

460m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Intermediate

Tips

R.Bungartz

June 7, 2020

In November 1944, units of the 28th US Infantry Division advanced on the strategically important town of Schmidt via the so-called Kall Trail, an unpaved road through dense forest. After eight days of fighting, the Battle of Schmidt, also known as the All Souls' Day Battle, ended with the defeat of the Americans. The exhausted US soldiers were forced to retreat behind the front line in Vossenack.

During the retreat from Schmidt, the survivors had to cross the Kall Bridge when parts of the surrounding valley had already been recaptured by the Germans. Between November 7 and 9, the German medical officer Dr. Stüttgen was able to negotiate several ceasefires for the area around the bridge so that wounded soldiers on both sides could be cared for. The effect of these ceasefires was limited due to the confusing terrain. Nevertheless, German doctors and medics saved the lives of many US soldiers.

After the war, the governor of the state of Pennsylvania honored Dr. Stüttgen for this act of humanity. The events surrounding the Kall Bridge were immortalized in the painting "A Time for Healing," which can be seen in the United States National Guard Museum. A copy of the painting is in Vossenack's "Hürtgenwald 1944 and in Peace" museum.

Today, a sculpture by Michael Pohlmann stands on the bridge, reminding visitors of this moment of humanity in the midst of the horror. "I didn't want to create a hero's monument, no theatrical representation, no pathos, but rather to appear more modest with a simple form carved in stone, to honor the place where the events took place. A place where everything may have started out rationally, but then became more and more irrational and completely out of joint, until reason - or was it emotion? - made an encounter with humanity possible." Source: europeremembers.com/de/destination/kall-brucke

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Gerd

April 1, 2016

Historical place

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Axel 🥾🐕🚴🏃 OUTDOORSEITE

January 13, 2015

Historic place with a deep history

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Details

Informations

Elevation 250 m

Weather

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Monday 27 October

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6°C

100 %

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Max wind speed: 27.0 km/h

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Location: Hürtgenwald, Kreis Düren, Cologne District, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Schaumeiler im Huschelbachtal

Lakeside Trails by the Rursee

Steep Descent into the Kall Valley

Senkelsbach Stream

Lukas Mill Ruins

Wildpark Schmidt

View of Rursee from Hirschley

View of Vossenack

Bench With a View of the Rursee

View of Kalltal and Simonskall

View of Rursee from Schöne Aussicht

Kall Bridge Memorial

1. Lukas Mill Ruins – Kall Bridge loop from Vossenack

2. Lukas Mill Ruins – Path Along the Kall Stream loop from Hürtgen

3. View of Simonskall – Simonskall Village loop from Vossenack

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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