On Saturday, 16 September 1944, at the daily Fuehrer Conference in his 'Wolf's Lair' headquarters in East Prussia, Adolf Hitler faced the prospect of defeat after more than five years of war, during which his jackbooted henchmen occupied much of mainland Europe. Following this conference, at a meeting with his household military staff he suddenly announced "I have just made a momentous decision. I shall go over to the counter-attack, that is to say, here, out of the Ardennes, with the objective - Antwerp."
In the pre-dawn darkness of 16th December, 1944, Hitler's troops launched what the eminent Third Army historian, Martin Blumenson, has referred to as "The Climactic Battle in the West !" Winston Churchil would later call it "An ever-famous American Victory".
On this visit to the site of the greatest single pitched battle in the history of the United States Army, you will see the headquarters buildings used by Generals Patton and Bradley as well as the Parc Hotel in Berdorf defended by soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division. We will make a stop at the Patton monument in Ettlebruck and visit the General's grave in the U.S. Military Cemetery at Hamm, near Luxembourg City. At Bastogne you will see the impressive Mardasson monument erected to commemorate all American units which served in the "Bulge" Our historian, will show you the hand - written letter he received from the former commander of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division telling of his memories of the now famous response of "N-U-T-S " sent to the Germans by the then acting division commander General MacAuliffe. Cavanagh will also bring along items from his personal collection including first hand accounts of the battle and items worn, used or carried by veterans. Having personally interviewed hundreds of American and German veterans, he will recount some of the gems he's picked up during more than thirty years of serious study of this great battle. You will see such sites as the "Engineer Cut-Off", the Skyline Drive, the spot where Lt. Eric Fisher Wood's body was found by local civilians after the fighting. Cavanagh will tell of his involvement in a project to successfully recover the remains of 2 American MIA's. You will visit the remains of fast- disappearing fox-holes and slit trenches occupied by soldiers of both sides and experience the friendship and warmth shown to American visitors by the still grateful Belgian people. Maps, documents and other resources will make this visit a most interesting and memorable experience. At the turn of the millennium, as the veterans of this battle slowly slip into the mists of history, you can retrace the footsteps of those brave men, both alive and dead, who gave so much in the name of freedom.
Included in the per person price : Air-conditioned motorcoach; historian & tour guide; 4 nights in the Ardennes bed & breakfast; 2 dinners; all sightseeing as shown including entrance to three museums; pre tour information & reading list.
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