SM4A1 Sherman Tank "Lieutenant Jean de Loisy"

The American Sherman tank baptized "Lieutenant Jean de Loisy" is an M4 A1 with which the French army continued to be equipped after the war. Located near the entrance of the village of Rosenau. The tank has been placed in its present position after the war and memorizes the fact that Lieutenant Jean de Loisy and his comrades in arms were the first soldiers of the French army who reached the River Rhine at Rosenau.

While the Germans still occupied Mulhouse, a small detachment of the 2me Peloton of the 4me Escadre 2me Régiment des Chasseurs d’Afrique Division Blindée (Division Leclerc) broke through the lines under the command of Lieutenant Jean De Loisy and reached the River Rhine as the first French troops.

Three days later the original tank of Lt. De Loisy, called "Austerlitz", was taken out at the conquest of Mulhouse. The tank was hit twice by a Panzerfaust (anti tank grenade). Lt. De Loisy was killed and his tank is still positioned in Mulhouse on the spot where it was immobilized.

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Source

• Text: Kees Jan Koster
• Photos: Peer Franken (1, 2, 3, 4), Kees Jan Koster (5)