Cal and VA | Adventures | Belgium

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Thursday, December 12, 2019 - National Museum of Military History in Diekirch, Luxembourg, covers military operations in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge from the American, German, and civilian points of view.

belgium2019 — This is a Sherman Tank M4A1 E-8 "Easy Eight" - This was the lead tank of Captain James Leach Commander of B Company of the 37 Tank Battalion.

belgium2019 — Later period Patton Tank

belgium2019 — Patton tank of the 3rd Infantry Division.

belgium2019 — Cal and Virginia Ann next to the 3rd Infantry Division tank - Cal served in the 3rd Infantry just out of college.

belgium2019 — Over 32,000 square feet of exhibition space and many life-size dioramas enable an insight of the dramatic and tragic situations in which both soldiers and civilians were caught.

belgium2019 — There are a stuffed dog and cat in the dioramas but more difficult to see is the little rodent.

belgium2019 — German artillery in diorama.

belgium2019 — American machine gun emplacement near a house.

belgium2019 — There are thousands of artifacts from the war and specifically the Battle of the Bulge.

belgium2019 — Ammo cases - there must have been thousands left on the battlefield.

Of note, is the fact that the German's supply of ammo and fuel were severely restricted toward the end of the battle, another contributing factor to their defeat.

belgium2019 — German military motorcycle.

belgium2019 — American radio - very large and heavy compared to modern communication devices.

belgium2019 — The famous German Enigma code machine. The code was broken by the Allies and so many of the German plans were read in the clear. Unfortunately as the Germans were in Germany for the planning of the Battle of the Bulge the Enigma was not used instead regular telephone and courier so it was much harder to "see" the battle coming.

belgium2019 — German decorations - on the left the German Cross in Gold and on the right the Iron Cross.

belgium2019 — A 1943 Harley-Davidson 750cc used by the American Army.

belgium2019 — A communications truck which would be used in a mobile command center.

belgium2019 — A diorama of two graves - a German and an American helmet on respective rifles.

belgium2019 — The museum's core piece is the detailed mock-up of the nighttime Sauer River crossing at Diekirch on 18 January 1945 by units of the United States 5th Infantry Division.

belgium2019 — The life-size dioramas in the museums were so real and vivid that it made you feel you were actually a spectator.

belgium2019 — Eglise Decanale Diekirch - The church of Diekirch.

belgium2019 — Vianden Castle Set on a rocky promontory, the castle stands at a height of 1,020 feet, dominating the town of Vianden and overlooking the River Our about 330 feet below. The castle and its buildings have a total length of 300 feet.

One of the largest fortified castles west of the Rhine. With origins dating from the 10th century, the castle was built in the Romanesque style from the 11th to 14th centuries. Gothic transformations and trimmings were added at the end of this period. A Renaissance mansion was added in the 17th century but thereafter the castle was allowed to fall into ruins. It recently has been fully restored and is open to visitors.

belgium2019 — The tour of the Vianden Castle was not part of the Battle but it's such an incredible site, it was added to our agenda.

belgium2019 — Roadside shrine on our hike to the Vianden Castle.

belgium2019 — The main entrance to the Vianden Castle.

belgium2019 — Ceiling decoration in a room with several vaults.

belgium2019 — One of several sets of armor.

belgium2019 — Pretty column supports in the castle chapel.

belgium2019 — Looking up to the ceiling in the bottom level of the chapel tower. The blue and sandstone were distinguishing colors of the castle.

belgium2019 — Ruins of the supporting walls of battlements leading into the city.

belgium2019 — An outdoor passageway used as a courtyard.

belgium2019 — Virginia Ann listening to our guide.

belgium2019 — The Vianden Castle chapel.

belgium2019 — An outdoor passageway.

belgium2019 — The Luxembourg flag flying over the town of Vianden and the Our River from the top of the Vianden Castle.

belgium2019 — The city of Vianden from the Vianden Castle.

belgium2019 — One of the several tapestries hung in the castle.

belgium2019 — Tapestry puppy dog.

belgium2019 — A beautiful family crest of one of the Vianden Castle owners - it is very complicated ownership based on the rulers of Luxembourg.

belgium2019 — Little reindeer as part of the Christmas decorations in the castle.

belgium2019 — Stained-glass crest of arms.

belgium2019 — The great hall of the castle where all the major functions were held. There is now a more modern hall where functions are held.

belgium2019 — Christmas decorations - how to decorate a castle.

belgium2019 — During the Second World War, in the Battle of Vianden which took place on November 19, 1944, the castle was defended against the Waffen-SS by six members of the Luxembourgish anti-Nazi resistance, and proved to have some military value even under conditions of modern warfare.

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