#Story

The “Wibrin - Achouffe” retreat route

At the beginning of January 1945, the German High Command finally admitted that the Allied Reconquest was inexorable. With the Battle of the Bulge turning in the enemy's favour, it ordered a systematic withdrawal of the most advanced divisions in the salient. The Achouffe bridge became a crucial crossing point for the retreating units.

With the town of Houffalize blocked by ruins and the Allies having cut off the roads further north in their advance, German convoys soon had only one available route of retreat, via Achouffe. Endless columns of motley vehicles stretched towards this narrow crossing point, insignificant on military maps, but whose bridge suddenly assumed considerable importance. The roads leading to it were icy and snow-covered. Teams were busy spreading gravel on the road and clearing out vehicles that had broken down or were stuck in ruts. Once over the bridge, the traffic then began the arduous climb towards the village of Mont, before the shreds of units took the most direct route to Germany.

Some units were ordered to cover the withdrawal. Combat groups, often supported by a few tanks, were formed to protect the axis of withdrawal. Numerous anti-aircraft guns protected Achouffe, which for a few days became an exceptional strategic location. Fortunately for the German troops, the overcast skies limited the intervention of the Allied air force, but whenever the weather permitted, American fighter-bombers harassed the crossing point. One of them was shot down on 13 January and crashed into the hillside.

Starting from January 14th, the defense of the bridge was entrusted to Oberstleutnant Helmut Zander of the 60th Panzergrenadier Regiment of the 116th Armored Division, with the mission to destroy it only at the last moment. On January 15th, a strong American push was exerted towards Achouffe. At 11:00 AM, elements of the 66th Regiment of the 2nd American Armored Division entered the village, tailing the German rearguard which had just withdrawn after blowing up the old bridge.

The American engineers restored the crossing later that same afternoon. The German defensive strategy, with meager means, made it possible to evacuate the remnants of four armored divisions as well as numerous combat groups and various units. 

6661 Achouffe
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