Help with route through Hurtgen villages wanted please?

We're travelling to the Hurtgen area next week and have read Charles Whiting's book - the Battle of Hurtgen Forest and staying near Simmerath for just a couple of nights.

Try as I might I can't find a guide book on the net to plan a route round the villages of Vossenack, Schmidt, Monschau, Schwammneul dam, etc - does anyone have a simple route or know whether I get get one from a tourist office there please?

Also is it worth / possible to walk the Kall Trail - how long will that take bearing in mind I'm not as young as I used to be!

Thanks for listening on my first post - I'd be grateful for how to find our way around there.

Finally, are the natives friendly? It seems after reading a few sites that they want to forget this part of their history and concentrate more on tourism and hiking? I don't want to offend anyone there by asking about the WWII history?

Thanks
Simon

 

Hi Simon,

hmmm the natives at there are veeery friendly! As long til they can put you into their huge pot over the fire.

Sorry but this was a must be. Welcome to the forums!

I have no personal experinces with the people at there but some of my friends told me that some of the elderly people were very helpful and told them places where to find former fortifications and so on.

Don´t know how good your German skills are, but this book isn´t that wrong

http://www.amazon.de/Hürtgenwald-1944-1945-Militärgeschichtlicher-Tourenplaner/dp/3938208686

Have a good trip!

 

I'd try Google maps or something along those lines just looking up the villages and then printing detailed maps and satellite images of the area. Of course, I pro-rallied too so I'm sort of used to finding stuff in the middle of nowhere with vague directions......

 

Welcome to the forum, Simon.

Having visited the area a few times, I can confirm that the locals are very friendly indeed and are more than willing to assist you with locating the local monuments, cemeteries and West Wall fortifications etc. There is a small museum in Vossenack where the owner is also happy to help you with suggestions for places to visit. Be warned though, it is only open for a few hours and only on certain days.

If my memory serves me right, there is also a tourist information office in Monschau that may also be able to help you.

I've never walked the Kall Trail myself but a friend who has done it and has told me that it can be quite hard going in parts. The village of Simonskall, which is at the start of the Kall Trail, is a beautiful place to visit and has a number of easy accessible bunkers on the hillside behind the village.

Have a look at these links for more info.
Kall Trail
09HurtgenToday


Enjoy you trip.

 

Thanks very much guys, your help is appreciated
Simon