Winter 1944-45

During the winter of 1944-1945, the Allies and German forces clashed in the Battle of the Ardennes, an intense conflict that devastated the region. The Ettelbruck area was included in the fighting, which lasted several weeks. Due to its strategic position, the Karelshaff became a major point of interest. Indeed, it offered a clear vantage point for shelling the city of Luxembourg using artillery.

More than 200 American soldiers, equipped with several long-range cannons, reconnaissance aircraft, and tanks, were stationed without hesitation at the farm. The Karelshaff was transformed into a true logistical center: it housed an operations room, a command center, and quarters for the soldiers.

When German troops attempted to seize the American position in a final offensive, they failed due to insufficient fuel supplies to support the attack. The Germans tried to transport ammunition and fuel through the forests surrounding the Karelshaff using carts and ox-drawn wagons, but their efforts were quickly thwarted by the American troops. Had the Germans succeeded in capturing the Karelshaff, it is likely the farm would have been bombed by the Allies.

Despite these risks, the Karelshaff escaped massive destruction. However, on December 24, 1944, the American soldiers celebrated Christmas in the farm’s barn. While preparing their meal, an uncontrolled fire broke out, causing severe damage to the left side of the farm. The barn’s roof was completely destroyed in the fire, and the American troops lamented the loss of the turkeys, which burned in the flames, more than the barn itself.