Description

The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II. The offensive was intended to stop Allied use of the Belgian port of Antwerp and to split the Allied lines, allowing the Germans to encircle and destroy four Allied armies and force the Western Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in the Axis powers’ favour.

The date is 13th to 17th December 2023

You are accompanied by a tour leader to ensure that your tour runs smoothly.

This is a coach tour and your tour guide is Brian Shaw.

The cost – includes breakfast, hotel accommodation, coach, museums and guide, but not food and drinks – is £1,500 per person. Please note that this is the cost of a single occupancy in a single room as we wish to be open with the all-inclusive costs. A discount of 10% is available for bookings with two people sharing a room.

Your Guide

Brian Shaw.

Brian Shaw is an Ex Warrant Officer in the Parachute Regiment who has been leading battlefield tours for the past twenty years.

Itinerary

Day 1

Meet at Ashford International station. Catch the coach to the Ardennes via the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial.

Day 2

The Northern Attack: 6th Panzer Army vs the US V Corps. Visit the front line near Hollerath, follow the battle on foot along the Schwarzenbruch Trail Discus the two actions in the forest that result in the award of the Medal of Honour. Follow Kampfgruppe Peiper from Lanzerath to La Gleize stopping at various points to discuss actions along the way including Malmedy – Murder of American POWs.

Day 3

The Central Attack: 5th Panzer Army vs the US VIII Corps. Travel to the Schnee Eifel area, stopping off at Krewinkel to look at the Losheim Gap. Move to Schonberg look at the closing of the ring around the two Regt’s of the 106th Div resulting in the largest surrender of US troops in NW Europe, 7000 men. Move back towards St Vith stopping at the Prummerberg Hights defended by a scratch force of the 168th Engineer Combat Battalion. Visit Parkers Crossroads and look at the stout defence of this site by Major Arthur C Parker (Artillery US 106th Division).

Day 4

The Southern Attack: 5th Panzer Army vs VII Corps Visit the start line of the 2nd Panzer Division discus the German problem of crossing the river. Move to Marnach on Skyline Drive look at the problems and the defence of the US 28th Inf Division. Travel on to Clervaux, look at the defence of the town and the castle. Move to the Antoniusof road junction and look at Delay operations by Task Force Rose. Move Bastogne and look at the defensive positions in the woods on the Northern flank held by E Company (Coy), 506th Parachute Inf Regt (Band of Brothers). Look at the attack on Foy by E Coy in Jan 1945.

Day 5

The British Involvement: 53rd Welsh Division vs 116th Panzer Division. Follow the attack of the 53rd Welsh Div on the high ground 4th & 5th January 1945 and the East Lancashire Regiment attack on Grimbiemont 7th January 1945. Return home.