Band of Brothers: The Actors Tour

Local departure by coach, then to Belgium for a four-night stay.

The fascinating sites we visit on this day feature in episodes 5, 6 and 7.

We begin with Easy Company’s arrival at Bastogne in December 1944, and follow them up to the defensive perimeter which was then being established around the town.

We visit Mande Saint Etienne and then Noville, one location where the Germans tried to break through. In the Bois Jacques, we see where the front-lines were established, and where the remains of foxholes and positions used by the Airborne are still visible. To get an idea of what happened on some of the patrols, we walk the woodland following in their footsteps, and also see the 101st Airborne Memorial.

After lunch in Bastogne, we have an included visit to the superb 101st Airborne Museum in the town, seeing many original items connected to the story of the defence of Bastogne.

Later, we look at where the battlefield casualties were brought to, examine the Christmas bombing of Bastogne and role of the nurses – the angels of Bastogne, and see the graves of Renee Lemaire who was killed in the bombing, and her colleague Augusta Chiwy.

Key Visits

Bastogne Sherman Tank Bois Jacques 101st Airborne Museum

See the real story of episodes 6 and 7 with today’s selection of key visits.

We start today in the area of Chateau d’Arlon where the Germans approached to offer the surrender of the US Airborne who were by then surrounded.

From here, we will head towards Bastogne barracks where the surrender request was taken, this resulting in the famous response of  ‘Nuts’.

We then return to the Bois Jacques area, where we follow in the footsteps of Easy Company in the attack on Foy in January 1945, seeing where Speirs made his famous charge and where Shifty Powers fired at the German sniper. This will involve a short battlefield walk.

After lunch, we visit the Bastogne War Museum with its new ‘Bois Jacques Experience,’ and then end the day at the church in Bizroy, used as a shelter by the men of the 101st.

Key Visits

Foy Bastogne War Museum

Aspects of today’s visits, including the Noville attack, are covered in episode 7.

This morning, we look at the battlefield around Recogne, seeing the German Cemetery, site of the original American cemetery, and battlefield locations in the nearby woods, which will mean a small amount of walking. We then examine the Noville attack and visit the Rachamps Convent.

After lunch, we travel over to Luxembourg and visit the moving Luxembourg American Cemetery to see the graves of Easy Company casualties who fell in the Ardennes, as well as the grave of General George Patton.

Key Visits

Recogne German War Cemetery Luxembourg American Cemetery

Return home.