70Th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

25 May— 3 June 2015

Tour Leader: John Powell, See the USA (Ret) Bulge & Paris in 2015!

Right: Going in May, you won’t have chattering teeth when you see the dragon’s teeth as you would going in December! 13198 Centerpointe Way, Ste 202 Woodbridge, VA 22193-5285 800-722-9501 * 703-590-1295 * [email protected] * www.miltours.com MHT’s 8-Night Battle

of the Bulge Tour

Early on the misty winter morning of 16 December 1944, over 200,000 German troops and nearly 1,000 tanks launched Adolf Hitler's last bid to reverse the ebb in his for- tunes that had begun when Al- lied troops landed in France on D-Day. Seeking to drive to the English Channel coast and split the Allied armies as they had done in May 1940, the Germans struck in the Ar- dennes Forest, a seventy-five- mile stretch of the front char- acterized by dense woods and few roads, held by four inexpe- rienced and battle-worn Ameri- can divisions. The courage and fortitude of the American Soldier was tested against great adversity. The battle that ensued is known historically as The Battle of the Bulge. Join MHT as we take you back for MHT’s 70th Anniversary of the “Bulge!”

Executed with near-complete surprise against a weakly defended section of the Allied line was achieved during heavy overcast weather, which grounded the Allies' overwhelmingly superior air forces. Fierce resistance, par- ticularly around the key town of Bastogne, and terrain favoring the defenders threw the German timetable be- hind schedule. Allied reinforcements, including General George Patton's Third Army, and improving weather conditions, which permitted air attacks on German forces and supply lines, sealed Tour Price: $ 2,195* the failure of the offensive. (Based on Double Occupancy) Single Supplement: $ 795 In the wake of the defeat, many experienced German units were Tour Price Includes: left severely depleted of men and equipment as survivors retreat- ed to the defenses of the Siegfried Line. For the Americans, with 4—Star Hotel Accommodations in Paris & about 610,000 men committed and some 89,000 casualties, in- 3—Star Hotel Accommodations in Bastogne cluding 19,000 killed, the Battle of the Bulge was the largest and * Air-conditioned deluxe motorcoach bloodiest battle that they fought in World War II. with onboard restroom Join MHT to walk the Battlefields of the Ardennes from the hero- * ic stand at Lan- Emergency Medical & Evacuation Insurance * zerath Ridge, to Meals as indicated in itinerary the senseless * atrocity at Historical trip information packet, containing Malmedy, to the maps & other tour information. woods above * Foy made fa- Admission fees to all sites, museums and mous by the special attractions listed “Band of Broth- * Services of experienced Tour Leader ers.” Don’t miss and English-speaking local guides. this chance

to be at the Airfare not included: Get your own or center of this book Optional MHT Airfare: Round-trip epic battle. economy or business class airfare from your hometown to Paris CDG price quoted upon registration!

* - Price based on € conversion rate at final billing Daily Itinerary and much more. Meals: B/-/-; Hotel: Best Day 1 - Mon 25 May - Departure Western—Melba Overnight flight to Paris Day 5 - Fri 29 May - Day 2 Tue 26 May - Paris Bastogne. Today, Hen- Arrival and ri will have special ac- transfer to our cess to the Belgium hotel to meet military base from the group. Ho- where B/G McAuliffe tel: Concorde sent his famous reply, Montpar- “NUTS!” to the Ger- nasse man surrender demand. Day 3 - Wed We have a long trip 27 May – Par- across the battlefield is. This morn- and visit many of the ing, we depart sites made famous in Paris on a lei- the battle: including the surely drive to 82d Airborne Division sector, the withdrawal of the Bastogne with a sight-seeing stop in the Champagne 7th Armored Division and the "Siegfried Line" with its Region at Reims with its magnificent cathedral. We signature "Dragon Teeth.” From the German border arrive in Bastogne in mid-afternoon and check into our we follow the attack route of "Kampfgruppe Peiper", hotel near McAuliffe Square in the center of the city. Lunch on your own along the way. Meals: B/-/-; Hotel: Best Western—Melba

Day 4 - Thur 28 May – Bastogne. MHT is most fortunate to have as your local guide, Henri Mi- gnon, a retired artillery officer of the Belgian Army. His family used to live in a small village north of Bastogne, in an area reoccupied by the German SS during the spearhead of the entire German attack plan, includ- Battle of the Bulge. ing the site of the infamous "Malmedy Massacre". Though only 8 years old, We continue through Trois-Ponts, scene of a valiant he clearly recalls the hardships of the fighting and es- stand by the U.S. Engineer troops in their attempts to pecially the day when his father was killed by an artil- stop Peiper. In La Gleize you will be able to examine lery round while getting the family water from the one of only 11 German “King” Tiger II tanks remain- farm well. We start at the McAuliffe Square with its ing in the world as well as a German Panther tank. On famous Sherman tank. From there we visit important our way back to Bastogne, we stop in Houffalize, sites in and around Bastogne: the Bastogne Historical junction point of the 1st and 3d U.S. Armies in the Center, the "foxholes" of the "Easy Company" 516th counter-attack, on 16 January 1945. Lunch on your P.I.R. of the 101st Airborne in the Bois Jacques (made own in Malmedy. Meals : B/-/- Hotel: Best West- ern—Melba famous in "Band of Brothers"), the German Cemetery in Recogne, Fort Boguess where the encircle- ment was

broken by the 4th Armored Division Day 6 – Day 7 – Sun 31 May - Return Sat 30 to Paris. Today we depart the May - Ardennes and make our way back Ba- to Paris. That evening you have stogne. at leisure to enjoy Paris. Lunch This on your own along the way. Din- morning, ner on your own in Paris. Meals: we drive B/-/-; Hotel: Concorde Mont- to parnasse

Hamm, Day 8 & 9 – Mon 1 & Tue 2 Luxem- June – Paris bourg, where we pause to pay our respects to the fallen, We spend both days enjoying the including the late general George S. Patton Jr. We “City of Lights” seeing the his- continue to Diekirch to visit the National Military His- toric sites or taking in some grand slam tennis at Ro- tory Museum. During the day, you will see “Skyline land Garros. Meals: B/-/-; Hotel: Concorde Mont- Drive,” discuss the 2d Panzer Division’s axis of attack th parnasse and the defense by the 28 Infantry Division and visit the site of the Day 10 – Wed 3 Jun - Departure. Today we depart action of Com- the hotel for CDG Airport for our flight to the USA or bat Team if you need Cherry. more board the Lunch on your bus for own in Die- Normandy and kirch. Meals: join the D-Day B/-/-; Hotel: Tour to contin- Best West- ue our WWII ern—Melba Exploration.

13198 Centerpointe Way, Ste 202 Woodbridge, VA 22193-5285

Come on, don’t be “NUTS” and miss the Battle of the Bulge Tour in 2015!