35th Infantry Division Memorial -Flavigny Bridge
Details:
The memorial sits at the southwest corner of the bridge in a roadside clearing. It faces east toward Flavigny-sur-Moselle and the D-570.
The black granite monument features gold leaf text and an inscription in both French and English. It also includes unit insignia and is mounted in a granite base. Two flag poles flank the memorial to the west, and a short fence frames it on three sides. A small information sign is set adjacnet ot the fenced in area.
The memorial was inaugurated in 1987 to recall the "Night of Hell" of 10-11 September 1944, when the 2nd Battalion of the 134th Regiment was decimated when it attempted to cross the river. Some 500-600 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured, or lost. The 60th Engineering Battalion and the 110th Medical Battalion also suffered great losses in what became known as one of the bloodiest battles of the Lorraine Campaign.
Monument Text:
35th Infantry Division
On September 10th, 1944, at 10 p.m., the 2d Battalion of the 134th Infantry Regiment of the 35th US Infantry Division, commanded by Major Frederick C. Roecker, crossed the Flavigny Bridge. It was the only bridge still standing over the Moselle, south of Nancy. Three and a half hours later, the Battalion was left stranded on the enemy bank, when the bridge collapsed under German artillery fire. The Gis had no escape route, and the enemy hiding in the Bois d'Azelot, violently counter-attacked with heavy artillery and armored vehicles.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division
35th Infantry Division
United States Army
XII Corps
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Lorraine Campaign
Other images :
