14 May 2021 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

A rifle man of the 70th Division batters down a house door in a sniper search in Wingen, France.German mountain fighters infiltrated into our lines after first seizure. then they were drivien out a second time. Dated 17 January 1945.

Information

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[Ovidio]

Black Edelweiss and 7 Days in January (if I recall correctly). Two great books about that last German offensive.

[donki1967]

I think I live near this town, is it Wingen/Moder in Alsace?
Regards

[Ovidio]

Yes, it’s that one.

[Mark in Rochester]

I think I live near this town, is it Wingen/Moder in Alsace?
Regards

Battle of Wingen-sur-Moder
In early January 1945, Wingen was the location of a minor, but strategically important battle between German and American forces. On New Year's Eve, Germany launched a surprise offensive—Operation Nordwind—in northern Alsace. At the start of the offensive, Wingen was controlled by Allied forces and a modest number of soldiers from the Seventh United States Army were positioned near the town. At dawn on 4 January, two battalions of the German 6th SS Mountain Division Nord managed to quickly capture Wingen. Over 200 American soldiers positioned in the town were caught off guard, captured, and held captive in the Catholic church and a nearby house without food or water until they were liberated on 7 January. The two sides fought house-to-house for the ensuing three days until the Germans retreated in the early hours of 7 January. The fighting damaged nearly every building in Wingen

Wingen-sur-Moder - Wikipedia