War Memorial Zutendaal

This memorial commemorates the heroes of both world wars.

Zutendaal played an important role in "Operation Bodenplatte" , the last massive air raid by the Germans in World War II. It is that attack by the German Luftwaffe that brought the end of the war in 1945.

The Operation Bodenplatte was an air raid in which approximately 1,100 fighter aircraft of the German Air Force participated. Bombs were dropped on 1 January 1945 at Allied airfields in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Northern France. Also in Zutendaal. The aim of the 'Luftwaffe' was to destroy the enemy airfields, hangars and aircraft close to the front of the Ardennes offensive in one fell swoop.

In Wiemesmeer, a sub-municipality of Zutendaal, the attack was aimed at Y-29, the airfield of the US Air Force . Americans spent the night in tents, but also in the houses of Zutendaal families. It was the last straw for the Germans to eliminate the allied troops, the battle took place above Zutendaal.

Willem Vandenameele