New WW2 U.S. Monument at „Op der Plank“ in VIANDEN

This type of howitzer ( M1 and/or M1A1) was used from the hills above Vianden by the 177^th Field Artillery battalion to destroy targets (primarily enemy pillboxes and bunkers)  across the Our river, located in the German “Westwall” or “Siegfried Line” borderlands. Similar and other pieces were used in the greater Diekirch-Bettendorf area from additional Corps-or Division level artillery units, to support the crossing of the “Our” river into German territory, beginning of February 1945  and to screen the construction of treadway and Bailey bridges by the 1255^th Eng. Bn. and other US engineer units in this sector.  The Howitzer shown here, is on loan from the collections of the National Museum of Military History (www.mnhm.lu) in Diekirch.