2019 75th Anniversary Classic Timberwolves Tour
Oct 21, 2019 - Nov 1, 2019
Following in their Footsteps
“Nothing in Hell can stop the Timberwolves,” said the outstanding commander of the 104th Infantry Division, General Terry Allen. Nothing in Hell will ever stop the "Timberwolf Pups” - the sons and daughters, the second, third and younger generations of the Timberwolf soldiers from honoring them and celebrating their achievements. This is the vital message and unstoppable mission of the National Timberwolf Pups Association.
Tour Director Patrick Hinchy says "With the already enthusiastically promised cooperation of our European friends in Holland and Germany, this is going to be the classic Timberwolves veterans tour. We will follow in the footsteps of the 104th Infantry Division (the “Timberwolves") - starting with their fierce "Baptism of Fire" in Holland, then the breakthrough the Siegfried Line to Cologne and Rhine crossing. They encircle the Ruhr heavy industry area capturing thousands of German troops, liberate terrible Mittelbau-Dora where V1s and V2s were made, mercifully save Handel's birthplace Halle from destruction, and celebrate VE Day with the Russians around Torgau on the Elbe. They had 195 days of consecutive frontline combat! In this iconic 75th Anniversary year 2019, this is going to be one of our most exciting and memorable Timberwolves tours ever!"
Tour Director Patrick Hinchy says "With the already enthusiastically promised cooperation of our European friends in Holland and Germany, this is going to be the classic Timberwolves veterans tour. We will follow in the footsteps of the 104th Infantry Division (the “Timberwolves") - starting with their fierce "Baptism of Fire" in Holland, then the breakthrough the Siegfried Line to Cologne and Rhine crossing. They encircle the Ruhr heavy industry area capturing thousands of German troops, liberate terrible Mittelbau-Dora where V1s and V2s were made, mercifully save Handel's birthplace Halle from destruction, and celebrate VE Day with the Russians around Torgau on the Elbe. They had 195 days of consecutive frontline combat! In this iconic 75th Anniversary year 2019, this is going to be one of our most exciting and memorable Timberwolves tours ever!"
Tour Booking Details
TOUR PRICE: $3,139 per person (land tour, Brussels to Berlin) sharing a twin room (supplement for single occupancy) for a group size of 20+. For a group size of less than 20, the tour price would be higher per person. 10 is the minimum group size.
Tour Itinerary
(B = buffet breakfast, L = lunch, D = 3 course dinner)
DAY 3 WED OCT 23 TIMBERWOLVES’ BAPTISM OF FIRE - BREDA
Today is the 75th Anniversary of the TImberwolves’ momentous ‘Baptism of Fire.’ Our Dutch friends from the Achtmaal, Zundert, Rijsbergen area welcome us again and show us the battlefields of the Timberwolves' fierce 'Baptism of Fire' battlefields (Oct 23 - 30, 1944) from the Belgian-Dutch border up to the Breda-Roosendaal highway. The Timberwolves' mission was to break the German stranglehold on the Port of Antwerp by advancing to the Maas and thereby cut off the German forces controlling the Scheldt Estuary and thus access to Antwerp port. Grand Welcome Dinner with all our dear Dutch friends as our guests. (B, L, D) |
DAY 4 THU OCT 24 BREDA - BATTLE OF THE DYKES - BREDA
Our Dutch friends in Oudenbosch and Standdaarbuiten show us the Timberwolves' 'Battle of the Dykes' battlefields where they successfully captured the land between the Mark River and the Maas (Oct 29 - Nov 8, 1944) successfully cutting off the Germans. As a result, the Port of Antwerp was at last liberated to provide essential supplies for the Allies' final advance into Hitler's Nazi Germany. Enjoy Enjoy free time for shopping and sightseeing in the attractive, pedestrianized center of historic Breda. (B, L) |
DAY 5 FRI OCT 25 BREDA - COLOGNE
Enjoy a fascinating drive right across typical central Holland briefly through Belgium to Germany. On our way, we solemnly honor the Timberwolves in our own private wreath laying ceremony in Henri-Chapelle American Military Cemetery. We continue to the historic, originally Roman military city of Cologne, with its famous medieval cathedral. It is now a dynamic, fun-loving business city. Free time in Cologne. (B, D) |
DAY 6 SAT OCT 26 COLOGNE - AACHEN - COLOGNE
An action-packed day, as we track the Timberwolves' ferocious battles between Aachen and Cologne. The Germans fought tenaciously (Nov 9 - Dec 14, 1944) to stop the Timberwolves from breaking through the formidable Siegfried Line German border defenses and little fortified towns from Aachen up to the River Roer. Our good friend, Albert Trostorf, the Mayor of Merode and local battlefield expert, will help guide us to the mill with a windowsill with Timberwolf names carved on it. All available US forces were suddenly rushed to the Battle of the Bulge, and the Timberwolves were left holding a perilously thin defensive line (on the River Roer around Düren (Dec 14, 1944 - Feb 23, 1945). The Timberwolves stormed across the Roer at night and by early March had successfully reached the Rhine and Cologne where they paused for defensive duties and training. (B, L) |
DAY 7 SUN OCT 27 COLOGNE - PADERBORN - DUDERSTADT
See where the Timberwolves crossed the River Rhine near the famous Remagen Bridge ruins, then together with 3rd Armored, they spearheaded First Army's southern pincer which met Ninth Army at Paderborn thus successfully encircling Germany's most important industrial area, the Ruhr Pocket, and capturing a third of a million soldiers (March 22 - April 1, 1945). After Paderborn, we go to the picture postcard pretty town of Duderstadt near the old Cold War Iron Curtain - a favorite stopover of the Timberwolf Veterans in prior tours. (B, D) |
DAY 8 MON OCT 28 DUDERSTADT - HALLE on the SAALE
A day of momentous and terrible history. First we cross the former Communist Iron Curtain which divided Europe until 1991. Afterwards, we visit the terrible Nazi Mittelbau Dora complex, discovered first by the Timberwolves on April 10, 1945. Forced labor from its concentration camp produced V1s, V2s and jet engines in huge subterranean works which we will see. Then we continue to historic Halle - the birthplace of the famous composer George Frideric Handel. Dinner with our friends Matthias and the Count von Luckner Society. General Terry Allen and the anti-Nazi Count von Luckner of Halle agreed the peaceful surrender of the city on April 16, 1945 to save the civilian population and Allied POWs. (B, D) |
DAY 9 TUE OCT 29 HALLE on the SAALE
Today we sightsee in and around Halle whose people understandably have a special place in their hearts for the Timberwolves and their families. We track the Timberwolves' final combat movements from Halle to their official meeting with our then Soviet Allies on the River Elbe (April 20 - May 4, 1945). On April 26, 1945, a 415th patrol made the Timberwolves’ first contact with the Russians advancing from the East. It was "Mission Accomplished" for the Timberwolves in Europe. In between lay the Mulde River and industrial towns like Bitterfeld full of cornered German troops and Delitzsch (its chocolate factory became General Terry Allen's Divisional HQ). Enjoy a festive dinner with Matthias and the Count von Luckner Society at the prestigious Halloren Salt Guild, founded in 1524. (In medieval times, Halle's immense wealth came its production of salt.) (B, D) |
DAY 10 WED OCT 30 HALLE - BERLIN
We finally depart Halle and the Timberwolves' World War II battlefields to go to Berlin. It is a journey full of historical interest including Frederick the Great's elegant, military city of Potsdam and the upscale Berlin suburbs by the Wannsee Lake with the House of the Wannsee Conference in which the Holocaust was planned. (B) |
DAY 11 THU OCT 31 BERLIN
Today we have a full sightseeing tour around one of Europe's most brilliant cities - the new 21st century Berlin which has risen out of the ashes of divided Cold War Berlin. We see all the important sights including the famous Reichstag Parliament building with its spectacular glass dome from which we will get the best panoramic view over Berlin. There's some afternoon leisure time and then our grand Farewell Dinner. (B, D) |
NOTE: This tour requires a minimum of 20 participants. We recommend you book your flight with Gate 1 Travel to avoid any airline penalties. Gate 1 Travel can secure an airline reservation on your behalf without jeopardizing any losses towards airline tickets in the event the tour gets postponed or cancelled due to lack of participants.