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Baraque de Fraiture is an important crossroads known by the historians as "THE PARKER'S CROSSROADS". It is located at the crossing of the roads Bastogne - Liege and Saint-Vith - La Roche.
History
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| On December 19, 1944, in the afternoon, a group of about 100 men of the 589th Field Artillery Battalion (106th Infantry Division) under command of Major Arthur C. Parker established there a defensive position. On the following hours, they received reinforcements of several units: • a few men of 87th Reconnaissance Squadron (7th Armored Division) • a small outfit of 203rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery AW Battalion (7th Armored Division) • a few tanks of 3rd Armored Division. • a few 3 Inch guns of 643rd Tank-Destroyer Battalion. • a small outfit of the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion. • "F" Company of the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment (82nd Airborne. |
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| From December 19 through December 23, about 300 men resisted against the German 560th Volksgrenadiere Division and later the German 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich". On December 23, around 5 p.m., after a heavy artillery shelling, the 4th Grenadier Regiment overwhelmed the position and forced Americans to surrender. Most of the defenders were taken prisoners and about only 50 men could escape. In 1980, in a letter to Major Parker, General Gavin commander of the 82nd Airborne, Stated: "The stand that your defenders made at the crossroads was one of the great actions of the war. It gave us at least twenty four hours respite, so I thank you for that, and all the brave soldiers who were under your command". |
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50 years later
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CRIBA together with the town of Vielsalm dedicated a memorial at Baraque de Fraiture to honor all the American soldiers who were involved in the Battle of the Bulge. This place has been chosen for several reasons: • The defense at the crossroads is a typical example of the courage of so many small groups which stopped the German Breakthrough. • It was one of the doors the Germans needed to reach the Meuse River. • More than ten U.S. divisions and their attached units fought on the Vielsalm territory. • This marshy and misty area is the highest point in elevation in the perimeter of the Bulge (652 meters). In the winter, it gives the best picture of the Ardennes that the GI's of 1944 remember.
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The memorial
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The memorial consisted of a US 105mm Howitzer of 1941 donated to CRIBA by the US Government. It is set on a concrete base in form of the American star. On one side of the gun, stand the memorial dedicated in 1984 by the "Lion's Club Haute Ardennes" to the memory of Major Parker and his men. On the other side, a memorial with the shield of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge (VBOB) and words of gratefulness.
US 105mm Howitzer of 1941
Memorial with the shield of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge (VBOB) and words of gratefulness.
Memorial dedicated in 1984 by the "Lion's Club Haute Ardennes"
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The dedication by the town of Vielsalm and CRIBA taken place on May 7, 1994 at 1100 hours A.M.
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Since the dedication
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The people of Vielsalm's area and CRIBA are honored by the visit of American Veterans and their families at the Memorial since May 1994.
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ANDRE HUBERT, HONORARY PRESIDENT, CRIBA
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