The attack on the village of Sadzot

On December 25, as the 2nd SS Panzer Division 'Das Reich' advanced on the road between Manhay and Erezée, Corporal Richard F. Wiegand destroyed the first Panther tank with a bazooka shot, blocking the rest of the column. Remaining elements of this unit, informed of a gap of about 1 kilometer between the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 289th American Infantry Regiment, changed their attack plan and decided to cut through the woods towards Sadzot.

On December 28 around 2 a.m., the men of the 87th Mortar Battalion positioned in the village were awakened by machine gun fire and deafening shell explosions. The sentinels guarding the village had been stabbed by German scouts. Surprised in the darkness, the American soldiers tried to reorganize. The explosions set the houses on fire, and two unfortunate civilians trapped in the chaos were killed. After the initial attacks, the men of the 87th Mortar Battalion retreated to a defensive position north of the village.

The 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment was called back to envelop Sadzot from west to east. They quickly encountered Kampfgruppe 'Krag', against which they fought in the dark. Friendly fire was lost on both sides. On December 28 at 11 a.m., they tightened the noose on the German soldiers in the village. As the gap in the American lines was gradually sealed, Sadzot was completely liberated on December 29. The defense of the village contributed to the retreat of the 6th SS Panzer Army, marking a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge. Near the crossroads, a monument pays tribute to the American fighters, and an explanatory panel details the events.