War Monument Houffalize "Panther" — Attraction in Houffalize

This German Panther tank was issued to the Panzer-Regiment 24 on 5 June 1944, one day before D-Day. After participating in the attritional Battle for Normandy it was fighting in the Netherlands and the Hürtgenwald. During the Ardennes offensive the tank belonged to the 116. Panzer-Division „Windhund“. At the final stage of this battle the tank accidentally fell off a bridge into the Ourthe river in the town of Houffalize in the night of 15 January 1945. The driver‘s fatal error led to the demise of all five crewmen. In September 1948 the tank was recovered from the river and put on display to serve as the town‘s war memorial – albeit with the wrong turret number 401. From 2017 to 2023 the Panther was carefully restored at the Bastogne Barracks with the help of the Krings Collection. When the Panther returned to the extensively remodeled memorial at Houffalize it had gotten its original turret number 111 back, as well as its last division‘s...

There is only a tank here, nothing more. And it wasn't there when we visited December 28th, as it was being restored at the Bastogne Barracks.

Although the town is quaint, head instead down N30, where you will find WWII attractions worthy of the men and women they honor.

We stopped there for a nice lunch after visiting an incredible gem called the Bulge Museum. Make sure you go there! It's small but has an incredible array of War artifacts, documents, weapons, etc.

Pictures are of the surrounding area, all off the main roadway where the Panther was supposed to be. Walking from monument, take right at the first little roundabout and the restaurant we dined at is on the left,...

This Panther Ausf.G. with turret number 111 originally came from Pz.Regt I./24 and was with Pz.Regt I./16 when it was knocked out. According to statements by veterans of the 116th PD and residents the tank fell over due to detonation pressure by dropped bombs into the Ourthe river and landed on the turret. The crew died because of the impact or drowned.

This Panther was recovered out of the river Ourthe by French engineers on 20th September 1947, the remains of the crew killed in the attack were discovered when the Panther was pulled from the river.

It was taken to the Bastogne Barracks Museum for restoration and will be...