The story
January 3 was bitter cold, the roads were icy and refugees were streaming out of Strasbourg. They believed the Americans were about to abandon the city to the Germans and were fleeing back into liberated France.
Through the afternoon of the third and the darkness of the early hours of the fourth the 242nd moved into Brumath and two Battalions, using all the regimental transportation, moved on northward and began the relief of the 314th Infantry. The Second Battalion was left in the town to await the return of the vehicles. They were there when the Germans launched their attack the following day.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.