80 Years Since the End of WWII in Herdorf

This podcast episode commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Herdorf. In the spring of 1945, particularly around March 28th, the 8th US Infantry Division (comprising the 13th, 28th, and 121st Regiments) advanced on Herdorf. Initially encountering little resistance south of the town, fierce fighting erupted at the edge of Herdorf, including house-to-house combat. The II. Battalion of the 13th Regiment played a significant role in the assault. Despite German resistance from units including Volkssturm and regular Wehrmacht, Herdorf was captured by American forces around March 28-29, 1945. The fighting resulted in casualties on both sides, including German soldiers, American soldiers, and local civilians. Following the capture, Herdorf transitioned to American occupation, facing challenges such as looting by both foreign slave workers and locals, necessitating the establishment of a local police force. Earlier in the war, the region, including nearby Betzdorf, had been subjected to Allied air attacks. These events in Herdorf marked the end of the war for the town and the beginning of a period of occupation and rebuilding.

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