Liberation Memorial

On the edge of the Moder discharge canal stands a stele commemorating a key episode of World War II. On March 16, 1945, after nearly three months of fierce fighting, American troops finally crossed this swollen waterway to definitively liberate Haguenau. This victory marked the culmination of a German counteroffensive, the Nordwind offensive, which had pushed the Allies back after an initial liberation in December 1944. The front line then stabilized along the Moder, making this sector a strategic point of combat.

The current monument replaces an earlier tribute inaugurated on July 14, 1947. The original, topped with a point symbolizing the advance of American tanks toward Germany, was swept away by floodwaters in January 1955. The commemorative plaques, the only survivors, were then mounted on a simpler support, still visible today. The upper plaque depicts infantrymen advancing under the protection of armored vehicles, while the engraved symbols evoke the forces involved: the star refers to the United States, General Patch's 7th Army, and the 36th Infantry Division of Texas. The lightning bolts illustrate the speed of the actions taken, and the broken chains symbolize liberation.

This site also recalls the passage of the famous Easy Company of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division in February 1945. Their engagement in Haguenau was popularized by the miniseries Band of Brothers, which celebrates the courage of the soldiers who helped liberate the city.