​​Heartbreak Crossroads​

​​In Wahlerscheid, the Allied armed forces encountered strong fortresses, mine fields and wire obstacles. On the other side, the German troops reacted with heavy shelling. Additionally, heavy snowfall and very bad radio contact hindered the American advance.

On the morning of 16 December, American soldiers finally made it to their temporary target, a forester’s house located in the woods at Wahlerscheid, on German ground. However, that same day the German armed forces started the Battle of the Bulge. Because of this new German Offensive, the next day the American forces had to give up their hard-fought grounds.

This quick turnaround is why the intersection earned the name "Heartbreak Crossroads”.

​It was only on 1 February 1945, after the failure of the Battle of the Bulge, that Allied troops were able to re-conquer the grounds at Wahlerscheid. Wide areas of spruce tree forest and the forester’s house were destroyed during the battle.