Get knee deep into history exploring two of the lesser-visited battles of WW2: Operation Market-Garden in the Netherlands and the Hürtgen Forest along the German-Belgian border. Both battles represented the Allied over-confidence after Germany’s rapid retreat in the Summer of 1944 and both were paid for in human lives.
In the case of Market-Garden, the heavy use of under-utilized airborne divisions convinced General Eisenhower to let Field Marshall Montgomery’s Second British Army charge 60+ miles largely up a single highway to capture the Rhine River bridge at Arnhem. If successful, the victory would have enabled the Allies to enter Germany’s industrialized Northwest before the enemy had time to respond. However, for a variety of reasons the offensive failed, and the loss of life was dear.
In the case of the Hürtgen Forest, numerous American divisions, most notably the 28th Infantry Division, were shredded to pieces trying to take this dense forest situated along the German Westwall. The American leaders constantly underestimated Wehrmacht’s ability to stand fast using a hodgepodge of troops and terrain that favored the defender.
Besides visiting sites of valiant sacrifice, this tour will explore the individual reasons that both offensives failed.
Price is per person based on double occupancy.
Pick-up participants at BRU at 12:00pm and drive to the Belgian – Dutch border. Visit the Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof Lommel. Follow the British Second Army’s advance into the Netherlands, starting at Joe’s Bridge. Explore the 101st Airborne and 82nd Airborne sites and combat. Hotel in the Netherlands TBD.
Note: Pick-up and return point for this tour will be Brussel’s Zaventem Airport (BRU). A specific meeting point will be provided later. Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the meeting point. Participants with their own vehicles can arrange to meet us at an alternate location.