Battle of the Bulge

Departure from a joining point in Northern England or Scotland for the journey to Hull and your overnight ferry crossing to Zeebrugge.

Morning arrival in Zeebrugge. Visit the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery where the dead and missing of the Ardennes battlefield are buried. Learn the stories behind the many brothers who died together and are buried here, along with medal winners and those killed in the terrible battlefield massacres. Visit the area where the ‘Battle of the Bulge’ started, seeing the front line positions close to the Siegfried Line at Hollerath. See Dragon’s Teeth anti-tank defences, trenches and foxholes and memorials to both German and American troops who were here in December 1944. Follow the story of Kampfgruppe Peiper, seeing their start positions at the Losheim Gap, and look at the sad story of the Malmedy Massacre. Follow Peiper and his tanks into La Gleize where one of his mighty King Tigers still remains and is on display. Also visit the excellent museum here before looking at the defence of Parker’s Crossroads. Later, travel to your hotel in the Liege area for a two night stay.

Today you get an insight into the dreadful German losses in the Ardennes at the German cemetery in Recogne, before following the ‘Band of Brothers’ in the fighting for the village of Foy. See where they attacked Foy and go into the area where their foxholes have been preserved in Bois Jacques, also see the Easy Company Memorial nearby. In Bastogne visit the new 101st Airborne Museum before having time for lunch. In the afternoon see where General Patton’s men and tanks linked up with the airborne troops surrounded at Bastogne before seeing one of the Sherman turrets that now mark the defence perimeter around the town. At Mardasson see the impressive American Memorial and take time to visit the newly re-opened Bastogne Historical Centre.

In December 1944 British troops were rushed to the Ardennes to help their much pressed American Allies. Here you will visit the Hotton War Cemetery and also travel out to where the German advance was stopped at Celles. After the short tour, make the journey to Zeebrugge ready to join the overnight ferry to Hull.

Morning arrival in Hull, return to your original joining point.