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Musée de l'Abri Hatten

<< Back to Hatten -Rue di l'Abri

Details:

Just south of town center next to a park.

Museum

A Maginot Line bunker transformed into a museum

The Abri (shelte)r was located 1 km behind the Maginot Line and was used during the war as a barracks with 240 beds and a location for casemates. 28 rooms have been restored to their original condition; there is also an exhibition room. In addition to the bunker, there is a large collection of military material from 1939 to today, a room of models, a room dedicated to the Malgré-Nous (men of the Alsace-Moselle conscripted into the German army), as well as a hall containing American and German equipment from 1939 to 1945. Reconstructions recall the battle of January 1945 in Hatten. German and American fighters confronted each other in and around the village from 9 to 21 January 1045, during Operation Nordwind launched by Hitler. During this German offensive, Hatten and the neighbouring village of Rittershoffen were at the heart of one of the largest tank battles in France. Both villages were 85% destroyed; there were 83 civilian victims in Hatten, 31 in Rittershoffen. Outside, on the museum site, the Bois du Souvenir is a place of contemplation dedicated to the civilian victims of the battle. 114 trees were planted in tribute to the 114 civilian victims from the 2 villages.

Source: https://www.visit.alsace/en/219006467-shelter-museum/

Source of photos: https://www.landmarkscout.com

Monument Text:

Commemorates:

Units:

14th Armored Division

242nd Infantry Regiment

315th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division

42nd (Rainbow) Division

42nd Infantry Division

79th Infantry Division

7th Army

French Army

Wars:

WWII

Battles:

Norwind Defense

Other images :