Bastogne

Last weekend I took the opportunity to go to Bastogne in Belgium , I went in my motorhome which you can see in the pictures below, it’s a great way of getting around and staying in Europe for me as I can cross to France comparatively cheaply
I took a Friday and Monday off work and set off
As you can see the weather took a turn for the worse
It made me appreciate what it must have been like in the winter of 1944 and the hardship bad weather can bring





Bastogne town center



A veiw from the US memorial







I like this picture it made me laugh



Gas masks, pistols, Fighting knives and mess tins in the museum



Sherman in Bastogne center with anti tank round damage





This sherman turret shows signs of explosion damage

 

Fantastic images. Yeah, whenever the weather gets bad here, I can't help but think of those who were a part of Bastogne. I am a weakling and I hate winter, I don't know how those who survived did survive. Had to be luck and the right mentality or something like that. My thoughts go out to all involved in that particular campaign.

 

Thanks,I think you may like these ones from Bastogne as well

 

You are correct, I do like these as well. Thanks for posting them. I really need to start going to places I'm interested in seeing. I have all of these places I'd like to go, but never go there.

 

Wow ! I've been to Bastogne many times, but never in the snow.....

Some great 'atmosphere' pics there, pegasus - many thanks for posting them here !

 

Thanks Martin, the snow was nice I havent seen it like that since I was about 8 years old
But I can not help thinking I would have seen more with out it

 

The fifth shot in your first posting looks like something taken by Robert Capa....just needs a line of men trudging through the snow.

There's quite a lot to see in the Bastogne area but you need to go deep into the woods.....

 

yes you're 5th shot also has a chill in it, how many Germans especially Luftwaffe are MIA - still resting in unknown and thick locales.

thank you Pegasus for sharing the December feel

 

Great pics! Thanx!!!

 

Hi Guys, glad you all like the pictures, so here are some more

The memorial at Bstogne






Views from the memorial









Taken from the forest over the road from Bastogne to Wiltz








Fox holes in the Ardenne forest

 

Gr8 pictures, thanks.

I have to go there some day, just to walk in the forest and wonder, ofc it have to be weather the same like on Your second picture, with cars in the town center .


Cheers

 

Fantastic pictures. Do I have your permission to save those pictures to my computer and share them with others that are not members of this site?

 

Great photos - it's been a few years since I was in the Ardennes in the snow. Always gives the place an amazing feel.

 

Very nice! Thank you.

 

Hi you are more that welcome to use any pictures that I post, I am glad you like them
Check out my gallerys (go into members list and find me that way) there are plenty of pictures there as well

 

Now you can see why the BTDT's hate(d) winter then and even today!!

Great Photos but now it's so serene!!

Thanks for sharing!!!

Sgtleo

 

Hi somercourt, yes he snow was amazing, a little cold but very good, it did give me real feel for the area back then
some of the pictures have become corrupt I will replace them some time soon
thanks fo rthe web site links

 

Great, thank you!

 

FYI about the cold etc. in the Battle of the Bulge.

Fred "Moose" Heyliger one of the main characters in the Band
of Brothers (C.O.Co.E) told his son he wanted to leave the
theater at the Premiere of the Band of Brothers as follows:-
"This is too realistic. Let's go. I went through it once. I don't
want to do it again."


"Moose spent his last years as a live in patient at the Edith
Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, MA not
too many miles from here!!

Sgtleo

 

Outstanding images! Thanks for sharing them!