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Europe, WWII and WW I sites
Posted on 3/19/22 at 8:54 am
Posted on 3/19/22 at 8:54 am
I have a goal set to take a trip to Europe to visit several World War sites with my nephew when he graduates college. I have about 2 years to plan and to save money. The plan now is to each pick a few places we want to see, so far we’ve discussed Normandy, Verdun, Battle of the Somme site, Auschwitz and not sure what else. I heard that Sarajevo is a must see and that you can stand in the footprints of the guy that assassinated Franz Ferdinand and other historical sites there.
The theme of the trip will be 100% History of the World Wars.
Has anyone done something similar? I see that there are guided trips and I don’t know if we should pick one of those or do our own thing. I’m leaning on doing our own thing but don’t want to waste too much time and budget is indeed a factor.
Anyone have any advise?
The theme of the trip will be 100% History of the World Wars.
Has anyone done something similar? I see that there are guided trips and I don’t know if we should pick one of those or do our own thing. I’m leaning on doing our own thing but don’t want to waste too much time and budget is indeed a factor.
Anyone have any advise?
15
Posted on 3/19/22 at 9:00 am to supadave3
I'm planning something similar, for WWI sites.
Posted on 3/19/22 at 9:03 am to supadave3
If you plan to spend only a day at whatever sites you pick I would hire a guide. You can see a lot on your own but a good guide can tell you what you are seeing with history behind it. We saw Omaha, Utah, St. Mere Eglise, Pointe Du Hoc and the American Cemetery with a guide in one day and it was money well spent. I'm the type who never hires guides but glad we did on that trip.
Posted on 3/19/22 at 9:17 am to supadave3
I’m leaving Friday for France. Renting a car in Paris and driving the Remembrance Trail to the Somme.
From there driving to Bayeux for a few days to explore the DDay landings. Self guided through the Somme but hiring a guide for Normandy. I’ll have an update in a few weeks.
While planning, I found some good links for visiting Battle of the Somme I can share if needed.
From there driving to Bayeux for a few days to explore the DDay landings. Self guided through the Somme but hiring a guide for Normandy. I’ll have an update in a few weeks.
While planning, I found some good links for visiting Battle of the Somme I can share if needed.
Posted on 3/19/22 at 9:43 am to supadave3
If you end up in Germany/Austria, there are some websites that will point you to remnants of swastikas/eagles if you're so interested. I'm not Nazi-obsessed but walking the streets of these cities in the modern era and spotting remnants of the Third Reich when it was in full swing (including comparing photographs) is kind of surreal.
Posted on 3/19/22 at 12:24 pm to supadave3
Re: Normandy
We went to Normandy in April of 2019 just weeks before the 75th anniversary of D Day. The best advice I can give you is to base in Bayeux and take the extensive tour of the D Day beaches guided by Overlord Tours.
There was a post above about all inclusive trips. The WWII museum in New Orleans sponsors several of these per year or at least they did before covid. I have never taken one but I am a charter member and am on the mailing list and get the very impressive advertisements for them. I am sure they are first class.
We went to Normandy in April of 2019 just weeks before the 75th anniversary of D Day. The best advice I can give you is to base in Bayeux and take the extensive tour of the D Day beaches guided by Overlord Tours.
There was a post above about all inclusive trips. The WWII museum in New Orleans sponsors several of these per year or at least they did before covid. I have never taken one but I am a charter member and am on the mailing list and get the very impressive advertisements for them. I am sure they are first class.
This post was edited on 3/19/22 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 3/20/22 at 6:42 am to supadave3
Wow. That sounds like an amazing trip to plan for. So much you could do. Normandy and Verdun particularly would be at the top of my list one day.
Of what I've seen, these two stand out:
Auschwitz. Was just there in December. Some selected photos. To me, it's a place everyone should visit at least once in your life. You'd have to spend a few days in Poland, which was great. We stayed in Kraków. Beautiful old city. Hired a driver for the day that spoke English. Well worth it. Doing it in 20 degree weather, and imagining what those poor people had to suffer through, boggles the mind and added to the experience. Many other tour options. Just go.
Want an amazing and entirely different trip? Go to Slovenia, base in Kobarid and learn of the the Battles Of The Isonzo in WW1 (Italians called it the Battle of Caporetto). The eleven battles took place between 1915 and 1917 along the Isonzo River in northeastern Italy and Slovenia. The results were unusually high losses on both sides without relevant strategic results.The eleven battles of Isonzo cost a total of 728,754 lives to the Italian and the Austro-Hungarian armies
Besides the indescribable beauty of the region, it was a truly educational, and somber, experience.
Some selected photos from the region and battle fields.
"The Walk Of Peace" touring.
And, if it's WW1 touring you seek, this is an article on the Bloodiest battles of WW1. The scale and magnitude of death in that war boggles the mind.
Of what I've seen, these two stand out:
Auschwitz. Was just there in December. Some selected photos. To me, it's a place everyone should visit at least once in your life. You'd have to spend a few days in Poland, which was great. We stayed in Kraków. Beautiful old city. Hired a driver for the day that spoke English. Well worth it. Doing it in 20 degree weather, and imagining what those poor people had to suffer through, boggles the mind and added to the experience. Many other tour options. Just go.
Want an amazing and entirely different trip? Go to Slovenia, base in Kobarid and learn of the the Battles Of The Isonzo in WW1 (Italians called it the Battle of Caporetto). The eleven battles took place between 1915 and 1917 along the Isonzo River in northeastern Italy and Slovenia. The results were unusually high losses on both sides without relevant strategic results.The eleven battles of Isonzo cost a total of 728,754 lives to the Italian and the Austro-Hungarian armies
Besides the indescribable beauty of the region, it was a truly educational, and somber, experience.
Some selected photos from the region and battle fields.
"The Walk Of Peace" touring.
And, if it's WW1 touring you seek, this is an article on the Bloodiest battles of WW1. The scale and magnitude of death in that war boggles the mind.
This post was edited on 3/20/22 at 7:01 am
Posted on 3/20/22 at 8:10 am to supadave3
Prior to Covid I was working in Europe at least once a quarter and found a number of interesting, less traveled WWII sites using google and Chuck Thompson’a WWII sites guide. I haven’t been to Normandy but my favorite things to date were random bomb shelters in Italy and the Nuremberg rallies grandstand. There is no museum or plaques at the latter, but the grandstand is still there and still impressive. And you can have a beer while standing where Hitler did.
For a grand tour, I would think Thompson’s book and a rail pass (or Ryan Air) would be perfect.
For a grand tour, I would think Thompson’s book and a rail pass (or Ryan Air) would be perfect.
Posted on 3/20/22 at 8:39 am to supadave3
I’ve never been to Auschwitz and I’m knowledgeable about the Wars but by no means a buff on them.
If you are going to Normandy, I would suggest maybe a trip to Munich instead of Auschwitz to go to Dauchau. Munich has the Deutches Museum for Germany Tech and history. It’s a huge museum and I was honestly dissapointed in it, it gets great reviews and I assumed it would be like a German Smithsonian. I was dissapointed in the English there. But it’s got a lot of the German early 20th century tech including WW1 and 2 planes.
But then there’s the Eagles Nest not terribly far from there also. 1.5 hours away. You could probably rent a car and do Dachau in the morning and Eagles Nest at Night though that would a long day and pushing it.
ETA: I would consider flying into London now that I think about it. Some others can help you with the London museums and sites to see.
Id do London, then a couple years ago we did Dover, and I’d highly recommend going there next. Then go from Dover to either Dunkirk or Normandy.
I’d personally probably fly into London, go to France, then work my way east. Fly out of Berlin or Munich or Poland.
If you are going to Normandy, I would suggest maybe a trip to Munich instead of Auschwitz to go to Dauchau. Munich has the Deutches Museum for Germany Tech and history. It’s a huge museum and I was honestly dissapointed in it, it gets great reviews and I assumed it would be like a German Smithsonian. I was dissapointed in the English there. But it’s got a lot of the German early 20th century tech including WW1 and 2 planes.
But then there’s the Eagles Nest not terribly far from there also. 1.5 hours away. You could probably rent a car and do Dachau in the morning and Eagles Nest at Night though that would a long day and pushing it.
ETA: I would consider flying into London now that I think about it. Some others can help you with the London museums and sites to see.
Id do London, then a couple years ago we did Dover, and I’d highly recommend going there next. Then go from Dover to either Dunkirk or Normandy.
I’d personally probably fly into London, go to France, then work my way east. Fly out of Berlin or Munich or Poland.
This post was edited on 3/20/22 at 8:45 am
Posted on 3/20/22 at 9:46 am to supadave3
I used the link below to study Obersalzberg and the surrounding area. I haven't looked at many other places linked on this website.
I hope this helps in your research.
https://www.thirdreichruins.com/index.htm
I hope this helps in your research.
https://www.thirdreichruins.com/index.htm
Posted on 3/20/22 at 1:00 pm to supadave3
Good advice already and I’ll add Bastogne, Ypres (Menin Gate memorial every night since the end of WWI), Luxembourg to see Patton’s grave and a few Band of Brothers), Berlin. I lived in The Netherlands for a while and it was cool to ride a bike to a few of the rocket launch sites in the area.
Posted on 3/20/22 at 11:23 pm to supadave3
quote:The first shots of WW II were fired near Gdansk, Poland at Westerplatte. There is a memorial there, a small cemetery and a few old buildings. There is also a very large WW II museum in Gdansk. It's about a 5 hour drive from Auschwitz; it may not fit with your travel plans.
Auschwitz and not sure what else.
Warsaw is on the way, more or less, and there is a memorial to the Jewish uprising/resistance there.
[/url][/img] This a statue in honor of the children that were used to smuggle guns during the uprising. IIRC, they were used because the Germans ignored them and they could more easily fit into the sewers, compared to adults, to move about. This is not at the memorial, it's in the old town area.
[/url][/img]; 
[/url][/img] The Polish Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is also in Warsaw. I think they change guards every hour; the relief guards march across the plaza.
Posted on 3/21/22 at 12:59 pm to supadave3
Our alumni association travel program offers a WWII trip through the national WWII museum I hope to take one day. For me personally I’d prefer a guided tour for efficiency purposes considering I’d have no clue where I was going.
Easy Company: England to the Eagle’s Nest London to Munich
Easy Company: England to the Eagle’s Nest London to Munich
quote:
Made famous by The New York Times best-seller Band of Brothers and the critically acclaimed miniseries that followed, Easy Company members shared their stories with Museum founder Stephen E. Ambrose, who immortalized their lives from jump training to the war's end. On this unforgettable, 13-day travel experience, you will follow in the footsteps of Easy Company, part of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne. Led by historians and curators from The National WWII Museum, this tour takes you from the hedgerows of Normandy, along "Hell's Highway" in the Netherlands, through the foxholes surrounding Bastogne, and atop the Eagle's Nest -- immersing you in the lives of Easy Company.
Posted on 3/23/22 at 3:37 pm to supadave3
If you’re in Italy there is the Monte Casino Commonwealth War Cemetery in the valley below the rebuilt Monte Casino Monastery. There is also a Polish Monte Casino War Cemetery in the area.
Posted on 3/31/22 at 3:47 pm to supadave3
Just finished 4 days in northern France visiting WWI and WWII sites.
Rented a car and drove the Remembrance Trail highlighting the Battle of the Somme. What an experience. We opted for the self-guided tour. The museums and points of interest were impactful to say the least. Unreal what the British soldiers went through.
After a night in Amiens, we drove to Bayeux and stayed a few days. Took the Overlord guided tour that was recommended on this board (thanks for that). Unbelievable. So much history and sorrow.
The American cemetery was incredible. I was in awe of the respect the French have for American and British soldiers. The museums were just as good, if not better than the DDay museum in NOLA.
The airborne museum in Sainte-Mère-Église is not to be missed. They offer a Band of Brothers tour that follows Easy company from landing through liberating towns in France. I’ll opt for that next time.
Rented a car and drove the Remembrance Trail highlighting the Battle of the Somme. What an experience. We opted for the self-guided tour. The museums and points of interest were impactful to say the least. Unreal what the British soldiers went through.
After a night in Amiens, we drove to Bayeux and stayed a few days. Took the Overlord guided tour that was recommended on this board (thanks for that). Unbelievable. So much history and sorrow.
The American cemetery was incredible. I was in awe of the respect the French have for American and British soldiers. The museums were just as good, if not better than the DDay museum in NOLA.
The airborne museum in Sainte-Mère-Église is not to be missed. They offer a Band of Brothers tour that follows Easy company from landing through liberating towns in France. I’ll opt for that next time.
Posted on 4/3/22 at 9:28 am to supadave3
I went to Poland after graduation in 2017 and did a week long WW2 tour through intopoland.com. 10/10 experience, private guides, nice hotels, good food, Auschwitz, Nazi tunnels, owl mts., Wolfs lair, Warsaw, shindlers museum and plenty more. There’s so much history to learn there.
This post was edited on 4/3/22 at 9:30 am
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