26th Infantry Division: patrols west of Wiltz
On January 9, 1945 by nightfall, 3rd Battalion, 104th Infantry Regiment of the 26th Infantry Division captured the high ground south of Winseler, two miles from Wiltz.
Four days later, on January 13, the 104th and the 328th Infantry Regiments moved into positions northeast and east of Doncols. The GIs of both units continued to maintain defensive positions overlooking Wiltz and Winseler, patrolling along the Wiltz River.
During the week of January 13 to 20, 1945, the situation in the 26th Infantry Division zone remained stable with periodic relieves of front line battalions. Limited attacks were made to eliminate enemy resistance pockets south of the Wiltz River and there was constant combat patrol activity.
Finally during the night of January 20-21, 1945, the 328th Infantry Regiment established a bridgehead across the Wiltz River 2 miles south of Oberwampach on the Schleif crossroads, thus initiating the final movement for the liberation of Wiltz.
On January 21, 1945 the 26th Infantry Division liberated first Grümelscheid, Noertrange and Winseler, then Wiltz.
In his book “Normandy to the Bulge: an American Infantry GI in Europe during World War II” edited by the Southern Illinois University in 1997, Pfc. Richard D. Courtney of the 104th Infantry Regiment writes:
“As we next passed through Winseler, to our surprise, we came upon a civilian funeral procession. There was a fancy carved funeral carriage, drawn by two black horses, with a coffin aboard but no flowers. It seemed so out of place. With so many dead soldiers, both German and American out in the snow, here was a small village going about the business of honoring one of its own. As we passed by, we felt like interlopers and those in the procession looked at us as if to say, “Move on”, which is what we did.”
Maybe the GIs had witnessed the funeral of Winseler’s eldest inhabitant: 83 years old Jean Breyer who died of exhaustion on January 19, 1945.
Lest we forget…
This multi-cache of approximately 4 km is going to show you the area where GIs of the 26th Infantry Division went on combat patrols. It will take you to a high-ground overlooking Winseler and Wiltz and to the banks of the Wiltz river. You might need a compass.
-WP1: Park your car at N 49° 57.640’ / E 5° 51.695’ and look for a yellow pole with a phone number: A B C D E F G H
-WP2: Go to N 49° 57.(DxF) E (B+C)’ / E 5° 52.D G B’ and look at 75° / What do you see? a shed I=1 / a bridge I=3 / a pond I=2
-WP3: Go to N 49° 57.(A+E) E H’ / E 5° 52.D I D’ to the yellow and green panel. Number of letters of the last word = J / Number of letters of the first word = K
-WP4: Go to N 49° 58.(A/C) K F’ / E 5° 52.B K C’ / Convert the 3rd word to numbers: L M N O P Q R
Now follow the road in northern direction and take the first path uphill on your left.
-WP5: Go to N 49° 58.(M-P) (I+Q) (L-Q)’ / E 5° 52.(O-A) K Q’ to the red and rusty steel beam and look for the metal plate. How many holes = S / How many screws = T
-Find the U.S. infantry position and step into the foxhole at N 49° 57.(TxT) (K-I) S’ / E 5° 51.J (T/I+T) K’
Look for the oak with the box at: (T/I)(S-T)(R/C)° / (TxT)(T/I)m
To get back to the car I recommend "azimuth", it's more interesting. You can also walk back by staying on the paths...
Logs in English please.