Crossroads "Crossroads"

"Crossroads"

This monument had previously been vandalized by an unknown car. In August 2011 the monument was replaced by a new one. The memorial commemorates a brief clash between American and German forces that is described in detail on the text board below:

On October 5, 1944, at about half past five in the morning, this was the point at which the paths of the American soldiers of the Easy company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the soldiers of two German companies crossed. The German soldiers had crossed the Lower Rhine to presumably take part in a major attack in the vicinity of Opheusden. A patrol of five Americans was out on reconnaissance when they came under enemy fire. With a badly wounded soldier, this patrol managed to withdraw to the command post and reported there. Immediately a new patrol went back to the spot to answer the enemy fire.

The second patrol snuck in on the machine gun that the first patrol had been firing on. She successfully fired a few shots, after which she returned to her rearguard. The firefight broke out on both sides.

Later, the American commander came to the conclusion that the enemy was behind a higher road, while the Americans were in a shallow ditch and saw no safe possibilities to withdraw. There was no other option but to attack. At sunrise the orders came to attach the bayonets to the rifles and wait for the signal to attack.

Not knowing that 150 soldiers were hiding behind the road, the attack became a reality and about 35 men ran towards the higher road. Behind the dike, the soldiers of the German company were completely overwhelmed and the American soldiers saw a field full of enemy soldiers. An entire company panicked when they came under comparatively modest fire. During the firefight, a second German company crossed the dike by chance. With only a few men, the Americans managed to keep control of the fight.

Despite strong opposition, the Americans won this battle. On the German side there were at least fifty deaths and on the American side only one death. The latter young American soldier was wounded by a piece of shrapnel, which then hit his heart.

May this symbol remember all the soldiers who were involved in the battle here.

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