On May 7, 1945, Konstantinovy Lázně were liberated by the American 97th Infantry Division commanded by Brig. Gen. M. B. Halsey. Three days later, they were replaced by J. L. Pierce’s American 16th Armored Division.
In 1945, the command of the American forces was situated at Konstantinovy Lázně House no. 64. They organized the local repatriation and internment camps; around 50,000 POWs passed through these.
This spa town was liberated by the 97th Infantry on May 7, 1945. But it only stayed a few dozen hours, since already by May 10, the units of Major General Pierce’s 16th Armored Division had come into town. Steps to maintain order were taken almost immediately.
Liberation monument
KVĚTNA 1945 BYLY KONSTANTINOVY LÁZNĚ OSVOBOZENY AMERICKOU 97. PĚŠÍ DIVIZÍ BRIG. GEN. M. B. HALSEYE. TŘI DNY POTÉ BYLA VYSTŘÍDÁNA AMERICKOU 16. OBRNĚNOU DIVIZÍ BRIG. GEN. J. L. PIERCE. V TOMTO DOMĚ ČP. 64 BYLO V LÉTĚ 1945 UMÍSTĚNO VELITELSTVÍ AMERICKÝCH JEDNOTEK, KTERÉ ZŘÍDILY ZDEJŠÍ REPATRIAČNÍ A INTERNAČNÍ TÁBORY, JIMIŽ PROŠLO NA 50 000 LIDÍ.
“ZAPOMENOUT NA MINULOST ZNAMENÁ OHROZIT BUDOUCNOST“
“TO FORGET OUR PAST MEANS TO THREATEN OUR FUTURE“
KONSTANTINOVY LÁZNĚ WAS LIBERATED ON MAY 7, 1945 BY THE AMERICAN 97TH INFANTRY DIVISION UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL M. B. HALSEY. THREE DAYS LATER, THIS UNIT WAS REPLACED BY THE 16TH ARMORED DIVISION UNDER THE COMMAND OF J. L. PIERCE. IN THE SUMMER OF 1945, A COMMAND POST WAS ESTABLISHED IN HOUSE NUMBER 64. THE AMERICAN UNITS THEN SET UP A FACILITY WHICH SERVED AS A CAMP FOR 50,000 WAR PRISONERS AND REFUGEES.
These tour routes copy the movements of the US Army during the liberation of West Bohemia in the spring of 1945. Commemoration sites are connected into these tour routes in a way that ensures each site leads into the next. You’ll also find regional and private museums, as well as tourist activities connected with these military memorial sites.
We present to visitors a timeline that follows the advance of the US Army and individual parts of it from the German border to Domažlice and from there on towards Pilsen. The time information in this timeline will gradually gain in scope and detail.
The Paths of Liberation — The Pilsen Region