Hill 490 (Berlé): the German position Multi-Cache
eyeblinker: I removed the box today.
26th Reconnaissance Troop
Hill 490 (Berlé): the German position
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Hill 490: the German position
This multi-cache of approximately 2 miles will show you an impressive German position (Hill 490-Pommerloch) in the area of the Mon Schumann Battle that took place from December 28, 1944 to January 11, 1945.
The house near the Schumann crossroads was marked “Mon Schumann” on the maps used by the American troops and consequently the combat area is often referred to as such in U.S. documents.
In the woods of Hill 490, elements of the 9th Volksgrenadier Division were dug in with tanks, Nebelwerfer (Screaming Meemies) and 120mm mortars, reinforced at likely points with automatic weapons.
Despite the presence and the support of the 26th Infantry Division’s organic artillery with its 105mm howitzers which had been pushed to within fifteen hundred yards of the rifle line, the 26th Infantry Division’s advance ground to a halt in the Mon Schumann sector at the beginning of 1945.
The wooded hill overlooking the highway was finally taken in the morning of January 9, 1945 by the 359th Infantry Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division. The attack went on towards Trentelhof (Pommerloch), an enemy strongpoint. In a night attack on January 10-11, the crossroads east of Doncols were taken (Poteau de Doncols).
Lieutenant Colonel John F. Smith, commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his action in this area.
For further reading I recommend the excellent book by John Toland “Battle: the Story of the Bulge” and the very detailed brochure “Schumanns Eck 1944-1945 Liberation Memorial” published by the National Liberation Memorial a.s.b.l. in 1994.
Be conscious that you move in a former combat zone and that ordnance is still unearthed these days.
-Park your vehicle at the given coordinates and have a look at the relief map.
By which association was the map dedicated? ABCD
When? EFGH
-Go to N 49° 57.CC(CxH)’ / E 005° 51.(B+C)(AxC)G’
How many windows has the tower? I
How many air pipes has the reservoir? J
-Go to N 49° 57.(I/A)(I+E)J’ / E 005° 52.(J-B)(H+A)(F-G)’
Look for a metal shim: KLMN
-Go to N 49° 57.(K-N)(N-M)M’ / E 005° 51.K(J+L)(N+M)’
Look for a metal shim: OPQR
-Move to the final at: N 49° 57.OPQ’ / E 005° 51.(R+M)QQ’
Logs in English please.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ebhaq zrgny fuvzf: ybj ba n fueho (Fgntr 3) naq ybj ba n fghzc (Fgntr 4).
Svany vf va n zhygv-gerr.