On January 29, 2000 the people of the Holtzwihr, France located within the district of
Alsace, commemorated a memorial to the men who fought and died with the 3rd
Infantry Division under the command of the 1st French Army. With this in mind, Audie
Murphy was singled out by the people erecting the monument as the soldier who
best exemplified the courage, valor, and sacrifice these soldiers made. The monument was
erected at the exact spot of the famous one-man-stand Audie waged against the Nazi enemy.
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Holtzwihr, France Memorial to Audie Murphy
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Photo Provided by
Donald G. Hagenseker
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The memorial is quietly nestled in the woodline on a country road and cannot be seen from any
highway or main thoroughfare. The monument is intended to be seen by people like those who
commonly walk through for exercise and relaxation ... a popular custom of this region.
It is to remind them that their enjoyed freedom came at a great cost of others.
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Engraved Plaque
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Photo Provided by
Bob Michel
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Translated Plaque Inscription
IN MEMORY
THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED
TO THE S0LDIERS OF THE 3RD D.I.U.S.1
AND THE CC42
UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE 1ST FRENCH ARMY
WHO LIBERATED HOLTZWIHR ON THE 27 JANUARY 1945
AFTER BLOODY COMBAT UNDER MOST TRYING CONDITIONS.
IT REPRESENTS THE HEROIC ACT THAT
LIEUTENANT AUDIE L. MURPHY
OF THE 15TH R.I.U.S.3
ACHIEVED AT THIS SITE ON 26 JANUARY 1945,
IN ORDER TO PUSH BACK AN ENEMY COUNTERATTACK.
FOR THIS ACTION HE WAS DECORATED
WITH THE HIGHEST AMERICAN
AND FRENCH HONORS.
VISITOR, RESPECT THIS MEMORIAL
AND FORGET NOT THAT THESE SOLDIERS HAVE DIED
SO THAT YOU LIVE FREE.
HOLTZWIHR, 29 JANUARY 2000
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FOOTNOTES
1US Infantry Division
2Combat Command 4 or possibly 4th Combat Command
3US Infantry Regiment
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Map To The Memorial
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For those interested in the exact location of the memorial and the site of Audie Murphy's
famous Medal of Honor action, use the map below. Note the small but bright red "x"
which has been added to the north-south road that passes through the woods above the small
community of Holtzwihr. This mark is where the memorial is found.
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You will also notice, should you attempt to enter the woods and locate the memorial,
that the main road into the forest is well marked with signs indicating the direction of the memorial.
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Press For More
On Holtzwihr |
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