2 stops in walking order

Historic Site

Saarlouis is a town in the state of Saarland, in western Germany, located on the banks of the Saar river. With a population of over 37,000 (2024), it is the fifth-largest city of Saarland and serves as an important regional center. Saarlouis lies near the border with France and Luxembourg. The town functions as the administrative seat of the district of Saarlouis and is part of the cross-border SaarLorLux Euroregion. Saarlouis was founded in 1680 by order of Louis XIV of France as a fortress town designed by the military engineer Vauban. The stronghold was intended to secure France’s new frontier after the Treaty of Nijmegen. The star-shaped fortifications gave the city its characteristic layout, parts of which remain visible today. Saarlouis became part of Prussia following the Treaty of Paris of 1815.

~20 min at this stop

Historic Site

26th (Saarland) Airborne Brigade was a formation in the Special Operations Division of the German Army with a strength of about 3,500 men and its brigade headquarters in Saarlouis. The Brigade was also called the Saarland Brigade as almost all its troops were stationed in the federal state of Saarland. Other elements are based in Rhineland-Palatinate. Most of the 26th Airborne Brigade belonged to the intervention forces of the Bundeswehr, and the formation therefore provided an overwhelming proportion of paratroopers and airborne troops for the intervention forces of the Army. The Brigade motto was: Einsatzbereit – jederzeit – weltweit ("Ready for action - anytime - worldwide"). The Brigade greeting was "Glück ab". The brigade was previously part of the 1st Airborne Division alongside the 25th and 27th Luftlande Brigades.

~20 min at this stop