As part of a jaunt to Clervaux later in the year, a friend of mine wanted to see some WW2 'stuff', which is not an uncommon request.
The problem is that not a lot of people realise that, like the D-Day beaches, the battle's front stretched well over 100 miles north to south and then up to 50 miles or more east to west. Unless you all but limit yourself to Bastogne, its (excellent) museum and memorial, it's a huge area to cover. But, not one to avoid a challenge I thought I'd make a start at locating the sites for not just the well known locations but some of the others, maybe less well known. In short, try to take bods to where something 'happened' and provide a bit of narrative on what it was. Inevitably there will have to be some compromises not least as some of the sites are in the middle of fields, woods or now under housing estates but all together it might make a useful (and hopefully interesting) project to have a crack at.
For example, right up to the north there's the site of the Elsenborn Ridge battle, centred on the twin villages of Rocherath-Krinkelt, which are still there. But it stretches up to Monschau and includes the bloody clashes at 'Heartbreak Crossroads' up the road from Krinkelt-Rocherath. I have managed to guestimate from various descriptions where the crossroads should be and can mark them in.
In short, it will be a sort of labour of love but also a good excuse to read some books, go to see some sites (hopefully) and get to really understand what went on.
If anyone has some good waypoints for sites (well known or otherwise) - Garmin or Google maps or just a hand drawn - picures or news - ping them up here in this thread please. I'll then try to work them all in.
Cheers
Richard
PS If nothing else, this brief article shows the complexity of the operations and the scale of the fighting; sometimes very localised and sometimes swinging over many miles. Not least it highlights that it wasn't just about Bastogne and C Company of the 101st Airborne.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Elsenborn_Ridge
The problem is that not a lot of people realise that, like the D-Day beaches, the battle's front stretched well over 100 miles north to south and then up to 50 miles or more east to west. Unless you all but limit yourself to Bastogne, its (excellent) museum and memorial, it's a huge area to cover. But, not one to avoid a challenge I thought I'd make a start at locating the sites for not just the well known locations but some of the others, maybe less well known. In short, try to take bods to where something 'happened' and provide a bit of narrative on what it was. Inevitably there will have to be some compromises not least as some of the sites are in the middle of fields, woods or now under housing estates but all together it might make a useful (and hopefully interesting) project to have a crack at.
For example, right up to the north there's the site of the Elsenborn Ridge battle, centred on the twin villages of Rocherath-Krinkelt, which are still there. But it stretches up to Monschau and includes the bloody clashes at 'Heartbreak Crossroads' up the road from Krinkelt-Rocherath. I have managed to guestimate from various descriptions where the crossroads should be and can mark them in.
In short, it will be a sort of labour of love but also a good excuse to read some books, go to see some sites (hopefully) and get to really understand what went on.
If anyone has some good waypoints for sites (well known or otherwise) - Garmin or Google maps or just a hand drawn - picures or news - ping them up here in this thread please. I'll then try to work them all in.
Cheers
Richard
PS If nothing else, this brief article shows the complexity of the operations and the scale of the fighting; sometimes very localised and sometimes swinging over many miles. Not least it highlights that it wasn't just about Bastogne and C Company of the 101st Airborne.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Elsenborn_Ridge