On the east side of the road.

On 16 April 1945, as U.S. troops approached the northern part of Halle, a small group of local Germans -- including the famous explorer Count Felix von Luckner and retired Major Karl Huhold - met with U.S. Newsweek correspondent Al Newman and Stars and Stripes correspondent Lieutenant Gayrold K. Hodenfield in a house on the corner of Köthener Straße and Trothaer Straße, which then served as the command post of U.S. Task Force Kelleher, formed around the 414th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division. Newman and Hodenfield had met von Luckner earlier, during his pre-War travels in the U.S. The Group discussed how to organize a surrender to avoid impending artillery and air strikes on the city and prevent further destruction and casualties, despite some continued German resistance.

Subsequently, 104th Infantry Division Commanding General Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen and 414th Infantry Regiment Commander Colonel Gerald Kelleher negotiated with the mayor of Halle and Count von Luckner to coordinate the city's surrender.

The original monument was dedicated in 2002, in a yard on the corner of Albert-Schweitzer-Straße and Wolfensteinstraße. In 2016, the monument was moved to a more public location where Carl-Robert-Straße passes under Paracelsusstrasse, along von Luckner Trail (Luckner Pfad) through Halle (Saale).

A memorial in the center of Halle also remembers this event.  See Site Halle- Gedenkplatz Timberwolve, Halle Surrender -104th Infantry Timberwolves Division Memorial.

Source of information: wege-der-befreiung.org, luckner-gesellschaft.de, dubisthalle.de

EIN HISTORISCHER ORT

ZUR RETTUNG

DER STADT HALLE

Hier trafen am 16. April 1945 gegen 17.00 Uhr

Felix Graf von Luckner

Major a.D. Karl Huhold

-engagierte Bürger der Stadt Halle-

auf die amerikanischen Kriegsberichterstatter

Al Newman ("Newsweek")

G.K. Hodenfield ("Stars & Stripes")

freiwillige Abgesandte der 104. Infanteriedivision

"Timberwolf"

In Folge der anschließenden Verhandlung mit

Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen

Colonel Gerald C. Kelleher

und anderen wurde ein bereits

befohlenes amerikanisches Bombardement

unserer Stadt

verschoben und letztlich verhindert.

Halle (Saale), am 16. April 2002

English translation:

A HISTORIC PLACE TO SAVE THE CITY OF HALLE

Here on 16 April 1945, at around 1700 hours met

Felix Count von Luckner

Major (Retired) Karl Huhold

- committed citizens of the city of Halle -

with the American war correspondents

Al Newman ("Newsweek")

GK Hodenfield ("Stars & Stripes")

volunteer representatives of the 104th Infantry Division

"Timberwolf"

As a result of the subsequent negotiations with

Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen

Colonel Gerald C. Kelleher

and others, an already ordered American bombardment

of our city

was postponed and ultimately prevented.

Halle (Saale), on 16 April 2002