This memorial remembers the stories of two soldiers who fought on opposite sides. They are American Soldier Richard Spencer Burrows and German soldier Heinrich Brungs. Both took part in the battle at the Siegfried Line near the German city of Roetgen.

Burrows died on 12 September 1944, becoming the first American soldier to fall on German soil. His German opponent Brungs was killed one day later on 13 September.

In 2019, the local Heimat- und Geschichtsverein Roetgen combined their stories to one by erecting a memorial at the site in front of the remaining dragon teeth (anti tank defences) of the Sigfried-Line. A granite board attached to a large stone shows the pictures of the two soldiers next to each other, this also includes details on the soldiers in both English and German.

Above on the memorial, an inscription states that the memorial commemorates all victims of the World Wars of the 20th century. Due to the fact that the memorial does commemorate a German solider, this has seen the memorial damaged in 2023.

Nevertheless, the fact that the memorial commemorates two soldiers who were enemies introduces new perspectives on remembrance along the Second World War. The memorial brings together perspectives that are usually considered irreconcilable. This shows how peace and reconsiliation is now used to learn the lessons from the war.

Burrows served in the 33rd Armored Regiment, US 3rd Armored Division. He is buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Plot E, Row 14, Grave 9. He was a recipient of a Silver Star and Purple Heart with oak leave clusters.

Brunk is buried in the military cemetery in Hurtgenwald-Vossemack-Kriegsgraberstatte.