Pics : Alsace 1944 - 2007

Just found out that I was only 3 miles away from this museum. I can't believe I missed it! Now I have an excuse to to go back . They have so much material: even a T-34 Russian tank.

Musée de l'Abri de Hatten

 

ah the wines of the Alsace a gorgeous area I have been told by familie living on the other end - Saarland out of Heusweiler. It's on my schedule to visit one day and of course the mothers side of the tribe

good pics Martin yes the area has a bit of Germanic origins depending of course you talk with. have an old Christmas tape done up some years back sent to us, funny with the German feel and the French language intermixed

say what is a T-34 doing in a French museum ?

E ~

 

The T-34 is precisely a curiosity there are only 2 of them in France. It's far much easier to spot a Sherman.

 

yes understood but my question still stands ................ why in France ? It has to be more than curiosity yes ?

E ♫

 

I will ask the museum , but I believe they bought it to allow people from western Europe to get a chance to see one of these even if they were used on the East front. I would not have many other chances to see one otherwise.

 

Has anyone here gotten a little further north onto the Alsatian Plain and into the Vosges du Nord of eastern Lorraine? There are some pretty interesting things to see up there. There is a museum at Hatten. It's in one of the old Maginot Line fortresses, and has a Sherman tank (76mm) sitting up on top. Col. Von Luck wrote in his book Panzer Commander that the Battle of Hatten-Rittershoffen was particularly fierce. There is a memorial between the two villages donated by the veterans of the 25th Panzergrenadier, and I think, the 21st Panzer Divisions.

To the west, in the mountains are the locations of several major engagements including Wingen and the Mouterhouse-Barenthal area. The latter is where the 157th Infantry lost a full battalion. To the east along the Rhine is Herrlisheim where the 12th A.D. lost a combat command. There must be some interesting sights to see in these places.

Five-Zero-Nan

 

I sure did and posted the link of the Hatten museum (which I could not visit this time).
Musée de l'Abri de Hatten

I also posted a picture of a Tank taken at Phalsbourg which is one of the first place in lorraine after the Alsace border.

 

Thanks Skipper,

I had no idea that the good people of Hatten had put up a website for the museum. I'll enjoy looking at it.

I can't remember where Phalsbourg is, but will look it up on my map.

Five-Zero-Nan

 

5ZN

An Uncle who served in a US artillery Battalion served in the Lorraine mess and then into Central Germany during 45 till wars end. sorry cannot give you further details as he was always out of my car range when questions were to be asked first person. he passed away from cancer years ago.

a question to our fine members, some years ago a huge volume on the Lorraine Campaign and the Metz forts was produced. Does anyone by chance own this monster book or know of what I speak ?

E ~

 

Eric,

Sorry to hear about your uncle. The artillerymen were the Sunday Punch. On Time and On Target.

Is the book you're asking about Hugh M. Cole's The Lorraine Campaign? It's pretty massive. Anyway, I have a copy. Is there something I can look up for you?

Five-Zero-Nan

 

5-0-nan, is this the before and after title in that series ? I have to dig further if the one you speak of is what I am expecting

 

ok I do not wish to go OT with this but 5-0-nan curious, the book you mention does it cover the fortress plans in any way shape or form during their defense in late 1944 ? I know there were many used to slow down the Allied advance or so they thought...........

thanks

der Altenwolf kommt !

 

Eric,

The Lorraine Campaign is the complete title. The book is part of the US Army in WWII Series, and covers the Lorraine campaign from the pause at the Meuse until the end of the fighting in the West Wall in late December, 1944. It's 657 pages long, including the index, with 43 fold-out maps in the back.

I hope this helps to clarify.

Five-Zero-Nan

 

Eric,

Sorry, I missed your second post somehow.

The book does not include any diagrams or maps of the fortresses of Metz, the Maginot Line or the West Wall. There are some descriptions of the defenses, but they are pretty generalized, and are found within the narratives of various battles and engagements.

Five-Zero-Nan

 

5-0-N sorry I haven't gotten back still looking for the all illusive title and working on one of my book projects.

thanks for the description of the book you own on the Campaign. If I remember right the one I am thinking besides being just plain big and thick is loaded with maps, fortress plans and photos from both sides..........now to find the title and the author

 

If you find the title I would be interested.

 

I wonder if I would be able to get a copy of the book on the web?

 

I did find his battle of the bulge online, so I assume this one might be as well, but I couldn't find it/ Tryt google and do an advanced search on "the lorraine campaign" and "Cole" and specify PDF file format or word....these bring up interesting results.

I do have, in Word, "The Lorraine Campaign" by Dr Christopher Gabel. Only 37 pages from the Combat Studies Institute. Are you interested? I can mail it to you.

regards,

 

It'll be a pleasure. I speak Dutch by the way. I"ll send you an pm later today.

 

Stevin if possible can you mail me that 37 page book(let) on the Lorraine Campaign ?? I'd like to place that in with my 17th SS Pz. Gr. data

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