MV Rally Belgium 20/21 Dec 08 Bat Baugnez (Malmedy)

[zundappuk]

The Baugnez '44 Historical Centre will be hosting its first international military vehicle meeting and rally on 20th and 21st December 2008 to commemorate all those who suffered during the Battle of the Bulge (BoB) offensive in December '44/January '45.

The event is open to all US and German military vehicles that are suitable for road use and were of a type in use in December '44.

For further information and to request a registration form, please see:

http://www.baugnez44.be/News/index/language/en

[Bob Carter]

Please bring a camera and take some (many) photos for those of us who can't be there !

[Nico C]

I will be there for sure and I will take some pics

[Werra]

A very nice museum. I was there. But there are some (or many) copys. Unfortunately. But as well many unique originals. So have a good time and ejoy it. If you want come over to the Westwall and I'll show you some hidden places and the grave of fieldmarshall Model

Gruß

Werra

[GD/LW]

When you come over, do visit the museum, it's well worth the visit

[sdkfz181]

Nice i go there and make pics :-)

This could be fun. But do they publish a list of vehicles who join this party
I think i will go there to Just one hour drive for me ..
I hope there will be a lot of snow, just like the bulge in '44

[Gran Sasso]

I hope there will be a lot of snow, just like the bulge in '44

During the 1st week of the attack - when the battles in that area took place - there was no snow.

[Nico C]

Gran Sasso is indeed right.
No snow during the first week. If I'm right, it started snowing around Xmass.

[Werra]

Right now there is some snow. Last week there was some more, but I think you will be lucky this year.

Gruß

Werra

[zundappuk]

As a prelude to the 20/21st I had a group that could not make that date take the tour yesterday and today. They are a group of 5 Dutch R75 owners (and a few passengers) on the tour of the Kampfgruppe Peiper route from Losheimergraben to Stoumont in the Belgian Ardennes. I rode as a passenger with Gerrit, and navigated the route and gave little talks at important places.

Best bit, two of the machines were marked with the leaping horseman of the 24th Panzer division, and when we stopped at the water troughs in Honsfeld on the 13th a little old man approached, pointed at the the symbol and said "Mein divisionen"! Turned out that he was in the Belgium Army in 1940 and captured by the Germans. However as an ethnic German from what was then German speaking area he could "volunteer" to join the German army and get out of the POW camp. So he did, and got sent to Stalingrad amongst other places (from which he escaped).

When finally captured he spent six years as POW of the Russians.

Here we are at the Petit Spai Bridge Near Trois Ponts. (The original bridge had collapsed under the weight of a JagdPanzer IV that was part of a relief force trying to break through to Peipers Kampfgruppe at La Gleize.

Saturdays weather was cold, starting at Losheimergraben in -5 degrees C, Sunday was warmer at 0 degrees C!




Here Gerrit who drove for me poses by the rear of the King Tiger at La Gleize.




Best David

[thomas.ham]

Great pics, nice story!
I was seriously considering doing the Peiper route this year, wish I had now, maybe next year!