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| Rosport: The Germans Advance |
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| The Germans advanced from the broad valley in the photo at the left, crossed the river by the parking area, and swept up and over the saddle in the photo on the right. This surprise approach placed them behind the US observation points, which mostly overlooked the Sauer river and highway. In Feb 1945, an unfortunate American patrol based in Log City in the Manertchen Forest ran into a minefield on the hills to the right of the photo above right. One by one, six soldiers were wounded trying to rescue their wounded buddies in the snowy field at night. They were evacuated to the aid station in Dickweiler, now a restaurant. |
| Standing in the parking lot by the waterworks, look back toward Rosport to see the US command post in Rosport. The selection of this strategic building as a CP is clear but it didn't prevent the Germans from circling around behind Rosport. More photos and stories from Tony Vaccaro are here. |
| Once the German infantry crossed the river in rubber boats, the motorized advance crossed the Rosport bridge and came up this street as the Americans pulled back to a safer area. Remember that most of the civilian population were evacuated on order of the US Army in October 1944 when artillery attacks increased. |
| Rosport residents had hoped the offensive would only last a week or two but as the weeks dragged on the fate of their village was unclear. Almost five months to a day after the evacuation, the all clear came on 21 March 1945: the Rosporters could go home. Approximately 25-30% of the dwellings were destroyed, and virtually every house had been plundered. Clothes, bedding, kitchenware, furniture - most of it was gone, either used as needed by both combatants, or systematically stolen and taken to Germany. The war was over but the struggle was not. |
| The Rosport CP from the side |
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