75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
Dec 12, 2019 - Dec 20, 2019
In December 2019, Belgium and Luxembourg will be celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge and US Army Ardennes-Alsace Campaign December 16 1944 - January 25 1945, and thanking American forces for liberating them. Winston Churchill declared it was “the greatest American battle of the war, and will, I believe, be regarded as an ever famous American victory.” Belgium and Luxembourg heartily welcome all Veterans and Veterans' family members and friends to join in the celebratory ceremonies. Then deepen your experience by visiting the battlefields and seeing real artifacts from the war in well known Battle of the Bulge museums. If you are a member of a Veteran’s family, this will be a deeply moving and unforgettable experience.
The following divisions participated in the Battle of the Bulge and US Army Ardennes-Alsace Campaign:
Source: "Ardennes-Alsace” - the U.S. Army Center of Military History's official publication covering the Battle of the Bulge |
The Highlights
- Participate in Belgium's official 75th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne and Brussels.
- Participate in VIP receptions and special events in other cities.
- In depth visits to the Northern and Southern Bulge battlefields. See all the top Battle of the Bulge historic sites including St. Vith, Bastogne, Malmedy, the Siegfried Line and many more.
- Visit Luxembourg's National Museum of Military History Diekrich with its outstanding Battle of the Bulge exhibition.
- Visit The Remember Museum in a Belgian farmhouse, once 'home' of the 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One) before the fighting started.
- Experience Wreathlaying with "Taps" and a Guard of Honor in Luxembourg American Cemetery, site of General George S. Patton, Jr. grave.
- Sightseeing, free time and shopping in famous historic European cities: Brussels, Luxembourg City, Aachen, Bastogne. World famous Christmas markets and Rhine cruise included.
The Tour
- 7 nights accommodation in top rated 4-star hotels, including buffet breakfasts and many main meals.
- Depart USA to Luxembourg (LUX) on THU DEC 12. Direct, non-stop flights home from Frankfurt (FRA) to USA on FRI DEC 20.
- Latest model European touring coach with expert multi-lingual professional US Veterans' Tour Director.
Tour Price
- $2,495 per person if booked BEFORE May 18, 2019 (Early Bird Special)
- $2,695 if booked AFTER May 18, 2019
Prices quoted are for double/twin occupancy for the land tour FRI DEC 13 / FRI DEC 20
Single supplement of $555 for single travelers. Airfare is not included in the Tour Price.
A discount of $750 will be offered to the first six WW II Ardennes-Alsace Veterans who register for the Tour.
Please use code WW2Vet when registering for the tour.
WWII Veterans must be accompanied by a family member and must have travel insurance.
Final date for booking the tour: September 12, 2019
Final date for booking the tour: September 12, 2019
Tour Itinerary
(B = buffet breakfast, L = lunch, D = 3 course dinner)
DAY 1 THU DEC 12 USA - IN AIR
Depart USA for Luxembourg International Airport (LUX). Arrive on Dec 13.
DAY 2 FRI DEC 13 LUXEMBOURG CITY
Enjoy free time to recover from your flight(s) and independently explore historic picturesque Luxembourg City. Attend a Grand Welcome Dinner with Luxembourg Guests of Honor. (D)
DAY 3 SAT DEC 14 LUXEMBOURG CITY - SOUTHERN BULGE - LUXEMBOURG CITY
Participate in the official Ceremony with 'Taps' in Luxembourg American Cemetery including a wreath laying at General George S. Patton's grave. Enjoy lunch in the inn at the fiercely contested Schumanns Eck crossroads on the southern flank of the Bulge. Participate in a Commemoration Ceremony at Luxembourg's National Liberation Monument. Then travel to Diekirch to visit Luxembourg's National Museum of Military History with its outstanding Battle of the Bulge exhibition. Free time for shopping and sightseeing in Luxembourg City. (B, L)
DAY 4 SUN DEC 15 LUXEMBOURG CITY - BASTOGNE - BRUSSELS
Enjoy Bastogne's special 75th Anniversary famous Annual "Nuts Weekend". Then track the German advance in the Bulge until its demise. Arrive in the Belgium's famous capital Brussels. Enjoy a celebratory dinner with military Guests of Honor. (B, D)
DAY 5 MON DEC 16 BRUSSELS
Participate in the spectacular official ceremonies and festivities in Brussels marking the 75th Anniversary of the opening day of the Battle of the Bulge. (B, L)
DAY 6 TUE DEC 17 BRUSSELS - NORTHERN BULGE - AACHEN
Visit Marcel and Mathilde's historic WWII Remember Museum in their Belgian farmhouse, once 1st Inf Div's 'home' before going into battle in the Bulge. Then travel through the Northern Bulge battlefields where the devastating German Bulge offensive was launched from the Siegfried Line on December 16, 1944. Stay in beautiful historic Aachen just over the Belgian-German border. Free time for shopping, sightseeing and enjoying Aachen's world famous Christmas Market. (B, L)
DAY 7 WED DEC 18 AACHEN - NORTHERN BULGE - AACHEN
Continue experiencing the Northern Bulge battlefields where US forces resisted two élite German armies, Sepp Dietrich's Sixth Panzer Army spearheaded by 1st SS Leibstandarte, and Manteuffel's Fifth Panzer Army, critically delayed by the ferocious US defense of St Vith. Celebrate with the local people in joyful official festivities and commemorations in St Vith. Visit the Malmedy Massacre Museum. (B, L)
DAY 8 THUR DEC 19 AACHEN - RHINE VALLEY - FRANKFURT
Track the US final breakthrough to the River Rhine. The Battle of the Bulge had been won, and Nazi-Germany's final defeat was assured. Enjoy a fabulous Rhine cruise and a farewell lunch with famous Rhine wine, to complete our Battle of the Bulge 75th Anniversary military pilgrimage. (B, L)
DAY 9 FRI DEC 20 FRANKFURT (FRA) - USA
Check in for your departure flights home from Frankfurt (FRA). Check-in and Departures are within walking distance of the hotel.
Depart USA for Luxembourg International Airport (LUX). Arrive on Dec 13.
DAY 2 FRI DEC 13 LUXEMBOURG CITY
Enjoy free time to recover from your flight(s) and independently explore historic picturesque Luxembourg City. Attend a Grand Welcome Dinner with Luxembourg Guests of Honor. (D)
DAY 3 SAT DEC 14 LUXEMBOURG CITY - SOUTHERN BULGE - LUXEMBOURG CITY
Participate in the official Ceremony with 'Taps' in Luxembourg American Cemetery including a wreath laying at General George S. Patton's grave. Enjoy lunch in the inn at the fiercely contested Schumanns Eck crossroads on the southern flank of the Bulge. Participate in a Commemoration Ceremony at Luxembourg's National Liberation Monument. Then travel to Diekirch to visit Luxembourg's National Museum of Military History with its outstanding Battle of the Bulge exhibition. Free time for shopping and sightseeing in Luxembourg City. (B, L)
DAY 4 SUN DEC 15 LUXEMBOURG CITY - BASTOGNE - BRUSSELS
Enjoy Bastogne's special 75th Anniversary famous Annual "Nuts Weekend". Then track the German advance in the Bulge until its demise. Arrive in the Belgium's famous capital Brussels. Enjoy a celebratory dinner with military Guests of Honor. (B, D)
DAY 5 MON DEC 16 BRUSSELS
Participate in the spectacular official ceremonies and festivities in Brussels marking the 75th Anniversary of the opening day of the Battle of the Bulge. (B, L)
DAY 6 TUE DEC 17 BRUSSELS - NORTHERN BULGE - AACHEN
Visit Marcel and Mathilde's historic WWII Remember Museum in their Belgian farmhouse, once 1st Inf Div's 'home' before going into battle in the Bulge. Then travel through the Northern Bulge battlefields where the devastating German Bulge offensive was launched from the Siegfried Line on December 16, 1944. Stay in beautiful historic Aachen just over the Belgian-German border. Free time for shopping, sightseeing and enjoying Aachen's world famous Christmas Market. (B, L)
DAY 7 WED DEC 18 AACHEN - NORTHERN BULGE - AACHEN
Continue experiencing the Northern Bulge battlefields where US forces resisted two élite German armies, Sepp Dietrich's Sixth Panzer Army spearheaded by 1st SS Leibstandarte, and Manteuffel's Fifth Panzer Army, critically delayed by the ferocious US defense of St Vith. Celebrate with the local people in joyful official festivities and commemorations in St Vith. Visit the Malmedy Massacre Museum. (B, L)
DAY 8 THUR DEC 19 AACHEN - RHINE VALLEY - FRANKFURT
Track the US final breakthrough to the River Rhine. The Battle of the Bulge had been won, and Nazi-Germany's final defeat was assured. Enjoy a fabulous Rhine cruise and a farewell lunch with famous Rhine wine, to complete our Battle of the Bulge 75th Anniversary military pilgrimage. (B, L)
DAY 9 FRI DEC 20 FRANKFURT (FRA) - USA
Check in for your departure flights home from Frankfurt (FRA). Check-in and Departures are within walking distance of the hotel.