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Information Plate Walking bridge over the Our Dasburg

This information board on the Bunkerwanderweg ‘Dasberg von Grau zu Grün’ explains the ‘Der Steg über die Our’ on the border of Germany and Luxembourg.

At the time of National Socialism, a small wooden footbridge across the Our was located here. With high tide or ice, it often was washed away but was then rebuilt in the summer. After the failed Ardennes offensive, German troops withdrew and most bridges over the Our were blown up. However, this bridge was so small that it was probably forgotten.

On 5 February 1945, an American reconnaissance force tried to advance to the German side of the Our, but came under fire from the bunkers located here and had to retreat again. Even after the capture of Dasburg on 25 February 1945, US soldiers still crossed the border to secure the lower village on the bank via the footbridge.

The nearby bunker (presumably WH 101, Regelbau 105) and this entire area were part of the Westwall or Siegfried Line. This German defence line, which ran from the Dutch to the Swiss border, was abandoned after the conquest of France in 1940 but was reinstated when war opportunities returned. By now, the line no longer met the changed conditions and was then hastily modernised.

In February 1945, the area was captured by the Americans and after the war, most of the bunkers were blown up or rendered unusable.

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Source

  • Text: TracesOfWar
  • Photos: Hans Tasma

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