On the 8th of October 1944 the U.S. 7th Armored Division arrived in the area to defend the frontline from IJsselstein to Hunsel, along the Wessem, North and Deurne canal. The posts were about 800 yards apart, so in fact they had to do the job of 2 divisions. On the 27th of October more than 20.000 German soldiers of the famous 9th Panzer division and the 15 Grenadier division crossed the North and Deurne canal and attacked Meijel, Ospel and tried to cross the Wessem canal by making 2 bridges over the remains of the blown up bridges.
The 7th Armored Division destroyed the bridges in a commando raid with 12 volunteers of the 33rd Engineer battalion. After the Germans took Ospel, they were stopped by the 7th at Geheugden, a small neighborhood of Ospel. At Meijel the 87th Recon, troop C, about 300 men of the 7th Armored fought also very hard to stop the attack.
From the 27th until the 29th, the 7th fought the enormous German force that crossed the canals. Some German units managed to get as far as the “Dennendijkse Bossen” at Liessel, but the headquarters of general Silvester of the 7th never had to leave Asten, the direct objective of the attack. On the 30th of October they were relieved by the 15th Scottish Division and went to Nederweert to reorganize and to set up a new attack. On the 2nd of November the 7th Armored attacked Ospel and the 15th Scottish division at the same time attacked Meijel. The 7th Armored took Ospel but the 15th Scottish were not able to take Meijel. It was then decided to abort the attack.
The 7th Armored Division came to halt between Meijel and Ospel. 54 men that are mentioned on this Monument were killed and about 300 were wounded or went missing, so they paid a very high price for the liberation of Ospel. On the 8th of November 1944 the 7th Armored Division was relieved by the 51st Highland Division and sent to the south of the Netherlands to recover from the fighting in the Peel area and new replacements came in. On the 16th of December they were sent to St. Vith in the Ardennes where they made their legendary stand to defend the town against overwhelming odds. This monument will make sure that they are not forgotten!
Respect the Monument!
Photos copyright Niek Hendrix