70th Infantry Division 'Operation Norwind' Defense Memorial
Details:
Next to the town war memorials.
A brass inscribed plaque attached to a large local red sandstone rock.
The memorial remembers the soldiers of the 274th and 275th Infantry Regiments of the 70th Infantry "Trailblazers" Division who defended this area of the Alsace against the enemy "Operation Norwind" in January 1945.
A picture of PFC Hood Cole of the 276th Infantry Regiment was also attached to the memorial (temporarily). PFC Hood was missing in action during this battle and in 2023 his body was identified and repatriated to his home state of Georgia. He was previously listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Epinal American Memorial and Cemetery; a rosette is now placed by his name on the wall indicating that his body was recovered.
Monument Text:
The plaques are inscribed in English and French. The English reads:
IN TRIBUTE
TO THE MEN OF THE 275TH INFANTRY REGIMENT
AND THE 1ST BATTALION, 274TH INFANTRY REGIMENT
US 70TH DIVISION
WHO IN DEFENDING THE ALSACE STOPPED THE
GERMAN "OPERATION NORWIND" ATTACKS AT
PHILLIPSBOURG AND BAERENTHAL
2-5 JANUARY 1945
AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR
LIVES IN BATTLE
DEDICATED BY THE 70TH INFANTRY (TRAILBLAZER)
DIVISION. ASSOCIATION AND THE CITIZENS
OF PHILLIPSBOURG
17 JULY 1994
SYMBOL OF THE 70TH INFANTRY DIVSION
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
274th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division
275th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division
276th Infantry Regiment
70th Division
70th Infantry Division
7th Army
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
