CELLES, DECEMBER 24 1944 - On this day, elements of the German 2nd Panzer Division were able to take the small village of Celles in Belgium. After almost two days of fighting, Allied troops retook the town on December 25th. Celles marked the furthest point of advance for the German Ardennes Offensive during the Battle of the Bulge.
The Panther tank was the leading Panther of Kampfgruppe Von Cochenhausen, which after detonating a mine on December 24th left the tank immobilized in a field near Celles. It was after the battles that the road wheels, tracks and hatches were removed. Years later the tank was moved to this crossroad as a monument. It still has no wheels, tracks and a hatchet, but you can take a look at the tank.
Today I visited the village for the first time where this German Panther Tank stands at the crossroad in the village. It looked sad and very much in decline. The fence didn't make it look better, but it was probably the weather.