My Ardennes Trip, February 2008

[Owen]

Originally Posted by Slipdigit

I went back and looked it up. The 22nd IR of the 4thID was figting over Prum in mid-February 45.

Tyring to find more info on 4 ID at Prum.

Lone Sentry: Famous Fourth: The Story of the 4th Infantry Division -- WWII G.I. Stories Booklet

D OUBLE Deucers drove through snow, rain, and mud, deeper and deeper into the Rhineland. Germans fought and fell back from village to village; nowhere did they stand more than a day. On Feb. 9, the 8th crossed the Prum River. Two days later, the 22nd took Prum.

I'd like to see a 1945 "then" shot of Prum Abbey.



EDIT, oh look ATB no 46
ATB Contents

Readers' Investigations - The Drive on Prüm - Professor Frank T. Edwards follows the battle for this German village in February, 1945.

[von Poop]

Combat History of the 6th AD: Dasburg - Prum River Campaign

[Owen]

I'd also like to know what went on around Mooshaus, if anything?

[marcus69x]

Don't know about Moonshaus Owen, but you've done well with them photos mate. Brilliant. You know you make me sooo jealous. Ha. I still haven't even done my d-day beach tour yet. But i'm working on it.

[CROONAERT]

Originally Posted by Owen D

I'd like to see a 1945 "then" shot of Prum Abbey.



EDIT, oh look ATB no 46
ATB Contents

From ATB. Will this do, Owen? (There are another 2 photos showing this, but this is the best and clearest shot)...

Dave.

[Owen]

Cheers Dave, I really should invest in more issues of ATB and plan my holidays rather better.
Then again the day we went to Prum we were meant to meet up with Rich Payne but he was ill.

[II./KG26]

Very nice photo's here.
Like the Then & Now pictures.

I see the Tiger in la Gleize has some new paint...
La Roche is a beautifull town to visit, allready 4/5 years ago since the last time I've bin there.

Keep it up!

Regards,
Nick

[James S]

I remember staying in Prum back in 1988 en route to the Nurnburg Ring - a nice town , from what I recall one of the staging posts for the "Watch on the Rhine" attack .
Great thread and photos - thank you Owen.

[Owen]

Blimey was that all 2 years ago this week?

Time goes too quick....

[robmcroy]

Who was PAULIN MOXHET from Vielsalm ?
Some of you (Owen and Slipdigit) were interested to know a little more on this man who is remembered with a street name in Vielsalm (Belgian Ardennes). Hereafter some information who was not to find before now on the Internet.
Mr. MOXHET Paulin, Pierre, Jean, Alphonse born in Vielsalm on 07/08/1889, unmarried and pharmacist as profession lived at Place du Marché in Vielsalm (Belgian Ardennes).
Entered in the resistance (underground) end of 1941 as member in sector 7, zone V of the Belgian Secret Army. He recruited and organized two resistance groups at Vielsalm and Grand Halleux, which he linked up to the Belgian Legion on 13/10/1942.
He developed particular activities such as distribution of the illegally printed war newspaper “La Libre Belgique”, intelligence on German troop movements, sabotage of blast-furnace installations, shelter and lodging of escaped French soldiers and German deserters, weapon transports and organizing an escape line for French soldiers.
Arrested for the first time on 29/11/1942 by the German Geheim Feldpolizei and imprisoned at Saint-Leonard, Liège. Be released on 14/02/1943 he started over again with all his underground activities. Arrested over again on 14/01/1944 and deported via Arlon, Saint-Leonard, Vught, Sachsenhausen-Heinkel, Sachsenhausen to Buchenwald. Tortured several times he died on 13/03/1945 at Swieberge, Kommando of Buchenwald.
As member of the Belgian Secret Army he was recruited by Mr. Franz Hentjens (code name Francis Daniel) editor of the war newspaper “La Libre Belgique” and commander of the underground intelligence group “Francis Daniel”. His grade was warrant-officer.
Decorations for important war service: Croix de Guerre 1940 avec Palme, Chevalier de L’Ordre de Leopold avec Palme, Médaille de la Résistance à Titre Posthume, Médaille D’Honneur de la Croix Rouge de Belgique.
A while after the war the Place du Marché in Vielsalm was renamed PLACE PAULIN MOXHET in honour to this man.

Regards, Rob McRoy