KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Planners who want to honor 11 black American soldiers massacred in Belgium during World War II are seeking donations to help build a memorial.
The money is being raised by an American and by a Belgian organization. The American donations are being collected by Alabama resident Norman Lichtenfeld, whose father was captured during the Battle of the Bulge.
So far, more than $4,000 has been raised for the memorial. Lichtenfeld said an additional $3,000 to $5,000 is needed.
The memorial will be placed in the field in Wereth, Belgium, where on Dec. 17, 1944, the German SS killed the 11 U.S. soldiers after finding their hideout in a nearby farmhouse. The Americans were part of the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion and had been separated from their unit. A Belgian family took the cold, hungry soldiers in for a brief time.
The groups already have paid for the land for the memorial. They plan to install plaques in four languages, as well as stone steps so visitors will not have to walk through the muddy farm field, Lichtenfeld said. The memorial is believed to be the first honoring African-American soldiers in Europe, he said.
Contributions can be sent to: U.S. Wereth Memorial, c/o Norman Lichtenfeld, M.D., 6701 Airport Blvd. Suite B-110, Mobile AL 36608; or U.S. Wereth Memorial c/o Adda Rikken, 31a Rue d’Ourthe, Gouvy 6670, Belgium.
