Battle of the Bulge & „Bowling Alley“ Echternach

E Company was stationed in the centre of Echternach and G Company in Lauterborn with its headquarters in Dieschbourg's mill.

On 16 December 1944, the Wehrmacht surprised the Americans with a large-scale offensive, the Battle of the Bulge.

It started at 5 o'clock in the morning. At that time, there were two companies from the 12th Regiment 4th Infantry Division in Echternach. The E Company was stationed in the centre of Echternach and the G Company in Lauterborn with its headquarters in the Dieschbourgs Mill.

At around 3 pm, all four posts had to retreat to the former hat factory in the centre of Echternach. The Wehrmacht bypassed E Company, which had entrenched itself in the hat factory, and moved along the main road, Route de Luxembourg, in the direction of Lauterborn. Here a fierce firefight developed between the two companies, with the Wehrmacht suffering heavy losses. Despite this, the Germans managed to control the road and move on towards Lauterborn. G Company had to entrench itself in the Dieschbourgs Millen and could no longer access the road.

As soon as an American was sighted on the road, he immediately came under heavy fire, as the road was under constant observation and was also within firing range of the Westwall bunkers opposite.

The Americans gave the street the nickname ‘Bowling Alley’ because as soon as they entered it, they were met with a barrage of gunfire from the German side.