Munshausen: Nicolas Hamus: November 9, 1944 – 86 years old. The tragic death of this man is due to human error on the part of our liberators. In the village called “Hémecht,” the 86-year-old owned a hedgerow where he cut and bundled firewood for the winter. The narrow path between “Hémecht,” just behind the village cross, and Frummeschgaass was mined by the Americans every evening at a specific time as protection against enemy surprise attacks. This very precaution proved fatal for N. Hamus when, after finishing his work and before the curfew, he made his way home along the path. He came into contact with the wire of the mine and was struck in the head by the exploding shrapnel. He died from his severe injuries in the American military hospital at Antoniushof. The Americans responsible for this death through their negligent performance of duty were transferred to the front.(1)
(1) The statement that the American soldiers were transferred to the front as a result of this incident is not entirely accurate. This transfer had been planned for some time. The units of the 8th US Infantry Division stationed at Munshausen were relieved by a unit of the 28th Infantry Division, which came from the Hürtgen Forest. This unit then took up the positions of the 28th Infantry Division in the Hürtgen Forest.
