The Veterans of the U.S. 100th Division Re-encounter an Historic Flag

The most emblemmatic photo of the Liberation of Bitche shows a soldier planting an American flag on the front of the rue Teyssier. This flag exists today. Michele Rohr showed it to the veterans of the US 100th Division, who actually were in the Region of Bitche.

Michel Rohr spread out the flag with care. In spite of the years, the material still possessed astonishingly fresh colors. The stitches are still intact. "My mother, Maria Oblinger, made this American flag while she was hiding in the cellar in rue Teyssier during combat. It was very stressful because it was necessary not to be seen," explained Michele Rohr. But March 16, 1945, Bitche was finally liberated. The American soldiers could henceforth hoist up the flag of Maria Oblinger on the facade. The instant symbol is immortalized by a photograph taken from a window of the MOntag house. The photo is without doubt one of the most known of the Liberation of Bitche. One finds it in works of history.

Emotion was not absent Tuesday evening when Michele Rohr showed, 59 years later, this starred banner to William S. Glazier, veteran of the US 100th Division that liberated the city.

Unique Flag

William Glazier presently accompanies an American delegation visiting the Region of Bitche on the occasion of the May 8 ceremonies. Nine veterans as himself who fought in Lemberg, Bitche, and Rimling make up this delegation. Some descendents of soldiers of this division are also here. In order to recall. "Personally, I return regularly to Bitche and I hope to be here next year for the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the city. But 7 veterans return for the first time on the field of battle since 1944/45," indicated William Glazier.

The former soldier, today a reverend, posed for the photograph with Michele Rohr holding the former flag of freedom. "Observe well, it is unique this flag. There are six stars across and eight stars down. Normally at the time in 45, it was the opposite," noted William Glazier, a big smile on his lips.

The American group is here since May 6 and participated in commemoration ceremones in Lemberg, Danbach, Bitche, and will be in Rimling on Wednesday. They return to the United States on May 15 after a stop in Germany.

The Liberators Return to the Fields of Battle

An American delegation, made up of 9 Veterans of the US 100th Division and descendants of soldiers who liberated Bitche, Lemberg, or Rimling are visiting the Region of Bitche 59 years later.

On the counter of the Hotel of the Relais des Chateaux forts in Bitche, the veterans consulted old issue s of LIfe magazine, books, and photo albums of the era. The fingers slide also on a map, retracing the events of the battle of Bitche.

Since May 6, a delegation of former members of the US 100th Infantry Division have stayed in the Region of Bitche and pile up remembrances. There is William S. Glazier of Connecticut, who returns regularly to Bitche, a city with which he has fallen in love. The others, on the other hand, have not returned to the fields of battle since 1944/45. There are 59 years, these veterans were here to liberate this sector. Wiliam S. Glazier is inexhaustible on the combat of Bitche, on his compatriot who fell on teh heights of Lemberg, and for th estele erected for him in the deep forest. he recalled particularly that night of the new year of 1945, spent in the snow, on the side of th eroad that enters Bitche, with his anti-tank gun, when Operation Nordwind blocked the Allies' advance. Finally, it was only March 16, 1945, that the town of Bitche was liberated. Previously, during the 101 days, the population sought refuge in cellars and underground in the Citadel of Bitche, symbol of the heroic resistance of 1870. The bombardment claimed 35 victims in Bitche and 119 wounded. 104 houses were destroyed. One imagines, consequently, with what relief was the reception of the liberators of the US infantry division. "600 veterans of thhis division that liberated Bitche are still alive. They mostly live in the United STates but some are married in Germans or in the Netherlands," indicated William Glazier, who participated with the other members of the American delegation, in the May 8 ceremonies in Lemberg and Bitche. The group will be in Rimling for a commemoration Wednesday. The return to the United States is planned for this weekend. "I hope that we will be able to return in March next year for the 60th anniversay of Bitche. That will be truly good," concluded William Glazier.

Caption: On the occasion of their stay in the Region of Bitche, the veterans of the US 100th Division who liberated the sector or the descendants of the soldiers who were part of this unit consult many documents of the era.