Sentier des mémoires de la seconde Guerre Mondiale

HOLTZWIHR RIEDWIHR The WWII Remembrance Path project Audie Murphy A number of memorable places are located within the boundaries of Holtzwihr and Riedwihr( now called commune nouvelle PORTE DU RIED ). The aim of the Remembrance Path is to make these places accessible to the public in order to bring closer to the younger generation historical events that took place during world war two and to pay tribute to those who fought for our freedom. The creation of this Remembrance Path within and around the woods of Porte du Ried will allow us to link various places and important episodes of WWII, particularly with regard to the heroic action done by US. soldier Audie Murphy (January 1945) and the Royal Air Force Lancaster bomber that crashed in these forrest (December 1944). The Lancaster Crew The idea is to revive these historical events with the help of information boards, illustrations, videos and accounts from eyewitnesses and make these thank to modern technologies accessible to all, and specialy also to our English and German speaking friends and visitors. Lancaster Memorial in the forest F/O G.L.Wall RAAF Pilot of the Lancaster, avoids the crash in the village and survied of the crash. Sgts E.F. Dunn, P/O W.H.Wulff RAAF, F/O R.E.Hill, survived this terrible event also and like G Wall finished Prisoner of War. Still Missing in action : P/O A.H.Clarke Royal Australian Air Force, he was seen jumping out of the plane. Died in the crash, Sgt E.Sharp, Sgt W.F.Turner. Royal Air Force. Audie Murphy Memorial It represents the heroic act that Lt Audie Murphy achieve at this site on 26 january 1945, in order to push back an enemy counterattack. For this action he was decorated with the highest american and french honors.