This is an overview of different sights in the Ardennes related to the “Battle of the Bulge”.
I visited most of the places as part of “Bastogne Historical Walk” weekends.
The map only shows places I have visited. The “other museums” listed below are missing.
- Blue: War Cemetery
- Yellow: Place of interest
- Green: Memorial
- Red: Museum
Museums
Museums I visited
Museum National d’Histoire Militaire
The national military history museum of Luxemburg focuses on the Battle of the Bulge with many original pieces and vehicles found after the war in Luxemburg.
Dioramas show different scenes of the Battle of the Bulge in general and Diekirch in particular.
Next to WWII topics the museum shows as well some items of recent activities (UN missions, etc.) of the Army of Luxemburg.
Large museum, audio guide available, small shop, limited parking
Baugnez 44 Historical Center
This museum is one of the best and most recent exhibitions on the Battle of the Bulge. Many dioramas, sometimes with light and sound effects, guide you through the different stages of the battle. The focus of the museum is the “Malmedy Massacre” that happened just outside the building (see “memorials”).
Fantastic museum, audio guide available, huge shop, easy parking, historical site and monument around the corner
Bastogne Historical Center
As well a modern and interesting museum outside of Bastogne just below the huge Mardasson Memorial. The new Bastogne War Museum EXPERIENCE will open again on March 22, 2014.
As well a fantastic museum, audio guide available, huge shop, easy parking, historical sites and monument around the corner
Bastogne Barracks
These former barracks of the Belgium army are now part of the Belgian Royal Army Museum. It hosts the former HQ of General MacAuliffe of the 101st Airborne, a military vehicle restoration center and exhibition hall as well as several other exhibitions.
This map was handed out during the “nuts weekend” in December 2012 and shows some additional events (e.g. “Bourse Militaria”) that are not available during the entire year.
101st Airborne Museum
This private museum is definitely worth visiting! It is located in a beautiful old building close to the Bastogne train station, that served as an officers casino for the Belgium army as well as a Headquarter of the German Army during WWII. The museum is only a few years old and the pictures, artefacts and dioramas are presented with great style. Next to the exhibition on 3 floors a small militaria shop can be found in the basement.
Other museums
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Other articles on this blog that might be interesting to you:
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Memorials and places of interest
Foxholes near Foy
This is the location of the heavy Flak-88 barrage on the 101st position shown in episode 7 “Breaking Point” in “Band of Brothers“. I am not sure how “original” these foxholes are or whether they have been digged by reenactors in recent years. But it is anyways an interesting and moving original site.
101st PIR 506 E Company Airborne Memorial near Foy
This is a Memorial for the company portrayed by the HBO Mini Series “Band of Brothers”. The following soldiers that died in the Bastogne perimeter and are listed on the Memorial Are as well in the series:
17th Airborne Division Memorial in Flamierge
Memorial Former American Cemetery near Foy
Mardasson Memorial near Bastogne
Malmedy Massacre Memorial in Baugnez / Malmedy Military Cemeteries I visited
War Cemeteries
A typical American cemetery: light, beautiful, heroic, polished like a golf course and embedded in a nice landscape. With the grave of Patton and several members of Band of Brothers.
5.076 soldiers buried.
A typical German war cemetery: dark, oak trees, flat ground, many names per cross.
10.913 soldiers buried.
Detailed information (in German) here.
Same layout as Sandweiler.
6.776 soldiers buried.
Detailed information (in German) here.
German War Cemetary Bitburg
A visit to this cemetary initiated the “Bitburg Controversy”: US-President Reagan and German Chancellor Kohl visited this cemetary that keeps as well graves of several men of the Waffen-SS:
“On 11 April 1985, then White House press secretary Larry Speakes informed the media of the planned visit to Bitburg. When asked who was buried at Kolmeshöhe, Speakes said he thought both American and German soldiers were there. Reporters soon discovered that no American servicemen were in the cemetery (in fact, the remains of all U.S. soldiers had long since been removed from German soil) and that Waffen-SS graves were located close to the proposed ceremony. When questioned, Bitburg Mayor Theo Hallet pointed out, all German military cemeteries were likely to contain at least a few SS graves. Such distinctions, though, failed to placate those who were opposed to Reagan’s visit on moral and political grounds. Decorations and memorials on the Waffen-SS graves were removed just prior to Reagan’s visit, and replaced right after.” (Wikipedia)
One of the popular German critics was German writer and Nobel Prize winner Günter Grass, later to be identified as a member of the Waffen-SS (10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg) himself. He would have been buried at such a cemetary if he would have died in WW II.
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You can find more pictures on the Bastogne Historical Walk, nearby locations and events here.
Tanks, tactics, trenches 