Then and Now - Wacht am Rhein/Battle of the Bulge - Ardennes in December

[Frosch]

For anyone with even a basic interest in the events that surrounded the awards and other trinkets that so many association and forum members covet, the Ardennes must mean something to you.

I was at the memorial celebrations at Maleme in 2001, Normandy in June of this year and this coming December will be the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. This is something I don't want to miss, circumstances permitting.

Is anyone interested in following the "Kampfgruppe Peiper" trail in the Ardennes in December?

Routes, suggestions, accommodation? Who knows? What do you all think?

/David

[Graeme G]

Hi, I went to the Bulge in late August for the first time and was very impressed with the local museums and local collections I visited. The tiger and museum at La glieze is definitely worth a visit. As ever local knowledge is the key and I was lucky to have a great local guide. I managed to buy a German pioneer axe at a village brocante for the huge sum of 2 euros ! There seems to be a lot more local collectors in this area than in Normandy, I could well be wrong on this one maybe some of the French and Belgium members could comment on this.

[Panzer]

My advice is to buy a copy of "The Battle of the Buldge-Then and Now" and carry it in the car! It has taken me to battlesites, both large and small as well as museums and tanks on display. The maps explaining the progress of the battle are perfect for navigation now and invaluable.


Make sure you miss the Memorial museum in asdtone...it is rubbish! Make sure you go see the museum in Diekirche...it is the best. Also look as you enter the lower part of town for a freight yard on the left side (as you head INTO town) there is a 2 story guardhouse block which still has shell damage and bullet holes on it. A nice little treat.

And have fun....because nobody is shooting at you while you are doing it!
Cheers, Wade K.

[Greg]

Oh man - how I wish I could join whoever goes! My favorite WWII battlefield. I have followed Peiper's trail many times when I had the opportunity to live in Europe. Here are some views to whet your appetites. There's a LOT of great stuff and locations to see there.

Regards,
Greg


http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...9&page=1&pp=15

[Ardennes]

Not me - nope, doesn't interest me a bit

[Eric K.]

Once again.I'm in


Eric

[Jürg]

Ardennes

Hi

I have been there many times and I also say that the Bastogne museum is rubbish and the Diekirch museum is a MUST! Another nice one is the museum in Thimister-Clermont near the cemetery of Henry Chapelle. La Gleize as well as Poteau are also very fine museums.

Near Krinkelt Rocherath is a small part of forest called Hasselpath. there you can still see many of the foxholes. Elsenborne is another nice museum run by the Belgian Army. Also not to miss is the museum in La Roche en Ardennes. Here is a pic shown some paras of the 5th FJR which can be seen in Diekirch.

[Si1964]

David,

I may or may not, depending on exams, wife etc etc...... If you can keep me in the loop it would be greatly appreciated, just in case