The Ardennes and its museums dedicated to the Battle of the Bulge, the will to keep the memory alive.
24
avr
2015
Par Fanny Lardot 24 avril 2015 Catégories 2nd World War, Facts and Historical sites Pas de commentaires
The « martyr » town of Bastogne has no less than 5 museums dedicated to the battle that devastated the Ardennes a second time in under 4 years. There are many other institutions that bring forward the audacity of the allied armies or the civilian’s day to day life. In each one of them, the owners or specialized guides will be pleased to seriously comment, the combats and events that scared their territory but also all the war vestiges discovered years later.
Follow the guide and note the addresses of these must see places of memory for those interested.
Museum dedicated to the Battle of the Bulge
Belgian Luxembourg
Bastogne
For further information you can refer to the previous article that presents the totality of the museums of the town.
Bastogne War Museum
Theme
The ancient Bastogne Historical Center has been refurbished and now develops various themes linked to the second conflict (reasons, military operations, occupation, etc…) and to the battle. Four virtual guides accompany the visitor.
Practical info
Colline du Mardasson, 5 – 6600-Bastogne
+32(0)2 549 60 49
www.bastognewarmuseum.be
Bastogne Barracks
Theme
The old military barracks have become a museum mainly dedicated to the 101st Airborne Division. It presents their participation in the Battle of the Bulge but also post-war conflicts. Emblematic place due to the presence of the cellar where McAuliffe pronounced his famous « Nuts » in answer to the German’s surrender demand.
Practical info
Quartier Slt Heintz
Rue de La Roche, 40 – 6600-Bastogne
+32(0)61 24 21 24
www.klm-mra.be
101st Airborne Museum
Theme
The ancient mess of the « Chasseurs Ardennais » is today entirely dedicated to the history of the 101st Airborne Division, of its units and its stay in Bastogne.
Practical info
Av. de la Gare, 11 – 6600-Bastogne
+32(0) 61 21 78 95
www.101airbornemuseumbastogne.com
« Au Pays d’Ardenne » Original Museum
Theme
The visitor will discover here the Ardennes of yesteryear : the crafts, agriculture, ancient trades but most of all the Battle of the Bulge.
Practical info
Rue de Neufchâteau, 20 – 6600-Bastogne
+32(0) 61 21 49 11
Bastogne Ardennes ’44 Museum
Theme
1000 sq/m on two levels, the various phases of the battle are shown with, as a major point, a crossing of the battlefield during the 1944 winter.
Practical information
Rue de Bras, 635 – 6600-Bastogne
+32(0) 61 21 78 95
www.bastogneardennes44.be
Erezée
Exposition-Museum 44 (Sadzot) (Exhibition – Museum 44)
Theme
Battle of Sadzot, The Sad Sack Affair (night of 27 to 28 December 1944).
Practical info.
Denis Fairon
+32(0)492 84 19 38, www.sadzotmuseum44.be
Fauvillers
Musée Fournil (Sainlez) (Fournil Museum)
Theme
The civilians of Sainlez during the Battle of the Bulge.
Practical info.
Jean-Paul Dabe +32(0)475 40 14 22
Jean-Marie Lhote 061/215146
Gwenaël Spôte spote.g@gmail.com
La Roche
Musée de la bataille des Ardennes (Museum of the Battle of the Bulge)
Theme
Battle of the Bulge. Americans and Germans in the battle but also the British. This is the only museum with a British section. It includes a veteran’s corner with donations by the soldiers who were in the battle.
Practical info.
Gilles Bouillon
Rue Châmont 5, 6980 La Roche-en-Ardenne
+32(0)84 41 17 25, www.batarden.be
Musée History 44 (Bérismenil) (History ’44 Museum)
Theme
The Battle of the Bulge, the crash of a B17 bomber in Bérismenil and the Belgian collaboration (VNV and Rex).
Practical info.
Mike Sadzo
rue du centre 35, 6982 Bérismenil
+32(0)477 59 53 79, www.history44.com
Vielsalm
Musée de la 83rd Infantry Division (Bihain) (Museum of the 83rd Inf. Div.)
Theme
The American 83rd Infantry Division, its actions and liberation of the village.
Practicle info
Bihain 21A, 6690 Bihain
+32(0)80 41 87 39
11janvier45.skyrock.com
Bulge Relics Museum (Joubiéval)
Theme
30 years of digging to discover the Battle of the Bulge in the Salm region.
Practical info :
Jean-François Noirhomme
Joubiéval 41, 6690 Joubiéval
+32(0)496 31 61 74, www.bulge-relics-museum.be
Musée de la bataille de la Salm (Ennal) (Museum of the Battle of the Salm)
Theme
The battle in the village of Grand-Halleux and the actions of the American parachutists of the 82nd Airborne Division and of the German soldiers of the 1st SS and 9th Panzer Divisions.
Practical info.
Ennal 24, 6698 Ennal
+32(0)80 21 54 58, www.musee-ennal.com
Saint-Hubert
Exposition-musée 87th Infantry Division (Exhibition-museum 87th Inf)
Theme
Tribute to the American 87th Infantry Division..
Practical info
Olivier Gillard
Rue du Mont 81, 6870 Saint-Hubert
+32(0)475 44 78 67
Liège
Bütgenbach
Musée Truschbaum – Camp Elsenborn
Theme
The history of the Military Camp of Elsenborn since its creation in 1894 by the Prussian Army, to present days (large focus on the battle of the Bulge).
Practical info
Lagerstrasse 4750 Elsenborn
+32(0)80 44 21 05
Malmedy
Baugnez 44 Historical Center
Theme
The museum is dedicated to the Battle of the Bulge and to the massacreof Baugnez
It covers 850 sq/m. On two levels (15 scenes showing the everyday life of the soldiers during the battle)
Practical info
Route de Luxembourg, 10 – 4960-Malmedy
Stoumont
Historical Museum December 44 (La Gleize)
Theme
This museum shows a chronological and themed circuit about the failure of the German counter-offensive in December 1944
Practical info
Rue de l’Eglise, 7b – 4987 – La Gleize
+32(0) 80 78 51 91
www.december44.com
Thimister-Clermont
Remember Museum 39-45 (Clermont)
Theme
The American 1st Infantry Division and the veterans.
Practical info
Les Béolles 4, 4890 Thimister-Clermont
+32(0)87 44 61 81, www.remembermuseum.com
Verviers
Ensival Historical Museum (Ensival)
Theme
Occupation and liberation of the Verviers region.
Practical info
Rue de la Saunerie 1, 4800 Verviers
+32(0)87 33 93 88
Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
Clervaux
Musée de la bataille des Ardennes (Museum of the Battle of the Bulge)
Theme
The battle of the Bulge in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg.
Practical info
Château de Clervaux, 9712 CLERVAUX
+352(0)26 91 06 95
Diekirch
Musée national d’histoire militaire ( National museum of military history)
Theme
The largest museum of the Battle of the Bulge, It displays the largest amount of heavy US military vehicles. It also has a section showing the history of the Luxembourg army.
Practical info
Bamertal 10, 9209 Diekirch
+352(0)80 89 08, www.mnhm.lu
Ettelbruck
Musée mémorial du Général Patton (General Patton’s Memorial Museum)
Theme
Tribute to General George S. Patton, commander of the US 3rd Army and liberator of the town of Ettelbruck on 25 December 1944
Practical info
Rue Dr Klein 5, 9054 Ettelbruck
+352(0)81 03 22, www.patton.lu
Rambrouch
385th Bomb Group Memorial Museum (Perlé)
Theme
Tribute to the American 385th Bomber Group
Practical info
Rue de l’Eglise 6, 8826 Perlé
www.385bg.com
Wiltz
Musée de la bataille des Ardennes Wiltz (Museum of the Battle of the Bulge – Wiltz)
Theme
Wiltz and its surroundings from 16 December 1944 to 21 January 1945.
Practical info
Château de Wiltz
L-9516 Wiltz
Tél.: +352 26 95 00 32
Fax: +352 26 95 00 33
vic.sch@pt.lu
www.touristinfowiltz.lu
Museums about the Second World War
Liège
Aywaille
Musée « 40-45 Memories »
Theme
Souvenirs of the civilian and military life in the region during World War II.
Practical info
Frédéric Winkin
rue des Ardennes 54, 4920 Aywaille
+32(0)4 384 54 31
Dalhem
WWII Memory Museum (Berneau)
Theme
The Second World War seen through specific events (the Losheim combats, Operation Market Garden, the siege of Bastogne, etc.)
Practical info
Rue de Maestricht 29, 4607 Berneau
+32(0)479 82 98 12, www.wwii-memory-museum.com
Namur
Musée des commandos (Flawinne) (Commando Museum)
Theme
The history of Belgian Commandos from 1942 to present days.
Practical info
Caserne Slt Thibaut
Rue Durieux 80, 5020 Flawinne
www.cdomuseum.be
Musée du Génie (Jambes) (Engineers Museum)
Theme
History of the Belgian Military Engineers from 1830 to present days.
Practical info
Chemin du Masuage 2, 5100 Jambes
+32(0)81 32 39 73, www.gm-news.net
Florennes
Musée Spitfire
Theme
The planes that have marked the Military History from 1943 to present days.
Practical info
Rue de Rohan Chabot, Base J. Offenberg, 5620 Florennes
+32(0)71 68 25 14, www.museespitfire.be