80th Anniversary Victory Tour

– ITINERARY –

14 Day – 5 Country Tour

Day 1/ September 12

Depart Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) for Paris. Depart Detroit at 8:10 p.m.; arrive in Paris at 10:55 a.m. on September 13, 2024

Day 2/ September 13

Arrive at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport in Paris. Our coach will take us on a tour of Paris before arriving at our hotel.  Welcome dinner at the hotel.

Stay 1 Night – Novotel Tour Eiffel 

Overlooking the Seine, the easily recognizable and accessible Novotel Centre Paris Tour Eiffel offers breathtaking views of the river and capital. This hotel is in the heart of Paris, just a 10-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower and right next to the Beaugrenelle shopping center.

Normandy – Day 3

Day 3/ September 14

Early morning departure for Normandy, a 2-3 hour drive.

Visit Pegasus Bridge, the location of the British Glider assault, led by Major John Howard of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (the “Ox & Bucks), during the early morning of June 6, 1944. They aimed to land by surprise in Horsa gliders and secure two critical bridges between Bénouville and Ranville over the Orne River & Caen Canal. Tour the battleground and the museum.

Visit Arromanches, the location of Mulberry floating pier and artificial harbor. 

The tour provides lunch.

We then travel to see the German gun emplacement (the only ones with the guns still in place) and bunkers at Longues-sur-Mer. We then travel to nearby Bayeux and check into our Normandy hotel. 

Bayeux

Stay 3 Nights – Hotel Le Bayeux

The Hotel Le Bayeux is situated next to the Cathedral and its paved streets in the Heart of Bayeux.

Discover a charming hotel situated in the heart of Bayeux, in Calvados, Normandy. This beautiful house, once a lovely Normand inn, is now a 3-star hotel where Elodie and Cedric and their staff offer you a warm welcome all year long.  

The Hotel Le Bayeux welcomes you in a warm and friendly environment, making you feel at home. The reception team, caring and listening, offers you all the services you can expect from a 3-star hotel in Bayeux, where quality of services and simplicity are the priority.

Each of the 31 rooms is about relaxing and resting. Perfectly equipped with free Wi-Fi, a private bathroom, and a TV, they are quiet and offer all the amenities and facilities to have a nice time in Normandy.

Normandy – Day 4

Day 4/ September 15

Begin with a walking tour of Ste. Mere Eglise. Visit inside the church and view the stunning stained glass windows honoring the U.S. paratroopers. Your historian will recount the events that occurred during the 82nd Airborne’s drop on the morning of June 6, 1944. Visit the Airborne Museum, which honors the operations of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.

Lunch on your own in Ste. Mere Eglise. Travel to La Fiere along the Merderet River, the scene of the desperate and legendary fight by the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), along with other elements of the 82nd Airborne to capture the causeway and bridge at the Merderet River to keep the Germans from advancing to the beachheads and also provide a strategic foothold for the soldiers coming in off the beaches to move southward across the Contentin Penninsula. The nearby statue of “Iron Mike” honors the men of the 82nd Airborne. Down the road, a statue honors Charles DeGlopper, the only paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne to earn the Medal of Honor in the Normandy campaign. Across from Iron Mike, we’ll enjoy the brief reception at La Fiere Manor, a B&B located on the battle site.

Afterward, we’ll visit the impressive memorial to the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, take a brief walking tour of Amfreville, and visit Timmes Orchard, where elements of the 507th Parachute Infantry made their heroic stand against repeated attacks during the battle of La Fiere. In nearby Picauville, we’ll visit an interesting memorial remembering the 5 C-47 transport planes shot down on D-Day.

Dinner on your own in Bayeux with plenty of options from which to choose.

Normandy – Day 5

Day 5/ September 16

The day begins with a visit to Pointe du Hoc, situated on the far western end of Omaha Beach. This fortified German artillery position threatened the American landings and was assaulted by elements of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, led by Col. James Rudder, by scaling the 100ft. sheer cliffs.

We then depart for Utah Beach and explore the 4th Infantry Division’s landing beach, German bunkers, and gun nests around Causeway #3. We then move to Causeway #2 and visit the many memorials erected nearby. A visit to the Utah Beach Museum

Lunch on your own at the Roosevelt Cafe across the road.

Moving inland from Utah Beach, we’ll pause at the Richard Winters Leadership Memorial. This memorial recognizes all units that participated in D-Day, particularly the junior leadership who saved the day on so many occasions during the initial landings.

Afterward, we’ll visit Brecourt Manor and walk the ground where 1st Lt. Winters and members of Company E, 506th PIR, knocked out a German artillery battery firing on Utah Beach.

We’ll then stop briefly at nearby Ste. Marie du Mont. This town was a primary objective of the 101st Airborne on D-Day. 

 Afterward, we’ll visit the tiny hamlet of Angoville au Plain and go inside the 11th-century church, which served as an aid station where two medics from the 501st Parachute Infantry, Robert Wright and Kenneth Moore, treated over 80 wounded from both sides plus one Norman child. Blood stains of the wounded soldiers are still visible on the pews. 

Dinner is provided by the tour this evening in Bayeux.

Normandy – Day 6

Day 6/ September 17

The day will begin with a visit to Vierville sur Mere and the Western sector of Omaha Beach. We’ll continue on to the Normandy American Cemetery to honor our soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight to liberate Western Europe.

The group will visit specific gravesites and learn about the lives of several of these soldiers. There will be time to descend down to walk along the Easy Red sector of Omaha Beach, where elements of the 1st Infantry Division came ashore on D-Day.

Your historian will discuss the landings and talk about several Medal of Honor recipients and their brave actions that helped establish a beachhead from which to launch the “Great Crusade.”

 Netherlands – Day 6 cont.

Day 6/ September 17 cont.

Arrive Eindhoven – Stay for 3 Nights 

We arrive at our hotel in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Dinner with the group.

Holiday Inn

City Center Hotel is close to the Eindhoven train station, with a mini gym and an indoor pool. The central Holiday Inn® Eindhoven hotel is a four-minute walk from Eindhoven train and bus stations. Free WiFi is available throughout the building. It’s a 10-minute walk to the Piazza and Heuvel Galerie shopping malls, with a choice of lively bars and restaurants nearby. 

Modern rooms offer a choice of pillows to ensure a good night’s sleep. Wake up to a continental breakfast buffet. Unwind in the hotel’s indoor pool or workout in the 24-hour mini gym, and end the day in Bar the Living.

Eindhoven – Day 7

Day 7/ September 18

The day will begin with a leisurely walking tour of the city of Eindhoven, stopping at locations where the 101st Airborne entered the city and liberated it on September 18, 1944, including several bridgeheads the 101^st Airborne were tasked to seize. 

Lunch on your own in Eindhoven.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the drop zones and battlegrounds of the 501st PIR, located around Veghel and Eerde. The stops will include the windmill at Eerde and Heeswijk castle.

We then return to Eindhoven for dinner on your own, with plenty of restaurants from which to choose.

Eindhoven – Day 8

Day 8/ September 19

Today is devoted to the drop zones and battlegrounds of the 82nd Airborne Division.  Heading north, our first stop is near the village of Grave and the bridge over the Maas River, now called the John Thompson Bridge, in honor of the lieutenant who was principally responsible for its capture. This bridge was the longest-span bridge in Europe and a significant objective of the 82nd Airborne. The capture of the bridge became the mission of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Landing on a nearby drop zone, the 2nd Bn., 504th PIR, seized the bridge intact from both ends. 

We’ll then travel over the Maas-Waal canal to Groesbeek and the Freedom Museum. This museum was dedicated by Gen. James Gavin, former commander of the 82nd Airborne, in 1984 and tells the story of the German occupation and the liberation by the Allies during Operation Market Garden.

The hotel provides Boxed lunches, which are picked up in the morning before the group departs.  After refreshments and desserts are purchased, lunches can be eaten in the Liberation Museum café. 

We then travel to the city of Nijmegen and visit the site of the 504’s crossing of the Waal River.  The Waal Crossing Memorial stands on the north shore of the river and marks the location where elements of the 504th and Company C, 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, landed in small canvas boats. This assault, in conjunction with the 505th, made capturing the two bridges at Nijmegen possible.

Continuing north, we’ll visit the headquarters of the 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR, known as   Schooderlogt.  This is the site of the iconic photograph of Major Dick Winters taken during the Holland Campaign.

We’ll visit a place known as “The Crossing”.  This location was the subject of an episode in Band of Brothers, where a platoon from Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, surprised and routed two companies of SS troops in October 1944. 

Dinner on your own in Eindhoven.

Belgium – Day 9

Day 9/ September 20

Departing Eindhoven, we head south to visit the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten, the final resting place for many who were killed during Operation Market Garden. We’ll pause at several specific graves to learn about those who fought here in September 1944.

We then travel to Belgium. Just outside of the village of Malmedy on December 17, 1944, SS troops surprised a lightly armed American unit and shot 84 unarmed prisoners in a nearby field. The incident became known as the infamous “Malmedy Massacre.” We’ll visit the site where the massacre took place and its memorial at the crossroads. We’ll then visit the Baugnez 44 Historical Center. Group lunch provided by the tour.

After lunch, we will visit the German defensive line built on its western frontier called the Siegfried Line. The characteristic “Dragons Teeth,” anti-tank barriers, can still be seen near Grosskampenburg, and we’ll take a look. We will arrive in Bastogne and check into the hotel. Group dinner at the hotel.

Bastogne – Stay 2 Nights 

Du Commerce 

This beautiful four-star hotel is situated in the heart of the Ardennes. With its garden terrace on the banks of the river Ourthe, it is a place where peace and joy unite. With 36 rooms and luxurious suites, this is the ideal place for your holiday, weekend out, sporting event, seminar/meeting, or fun team building.

Belgium – Day 10

Day 10/ September 21

This day will be dedicated to exploring the fields and foxholes around Bastogne and will begin with a visit to the Bastogne Barracks.  During the siege, the barracks served as the headquarters for 101st Airborne Acting Commander Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe. We’ll visit the room where he wrote his famous “Nuts” response to the German demand for surrender. The group will then take a walking tour to visit the gravesites of Renee Lemaire and Augusta Chiwy, the two nurses who cared for the wounded soldiers. We then continue with a walking tour of the much-contested village of Foy. A few buildings remain and are recognizable, with bullet damage to their façade still visible.

A short ride will take us to the nearby Bois Jacques (Jack’s Woods), occupied mostly by the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and overlooking Foy.

Here, we’ll walk among the fighting positions that are still visible.  A short distance away is a memorial to Company E, 506th, who occupied positions in the Bois Jacques.

Mardasson Memorial, the official United States Memorial for the Battle of the Bulge, is located just outside Bastogne and is several stories tall. This memorial honors every U.S. State and every unit that participated in the Ardennes Campaign, including the 17th, 82nd, and 101st Airborne Divisions. We’ll visit this impressive memorial.

Lunch on your own nearby. 

Returning to our hotel, an opportunity will be provided to explore Bastogne and shop or visit other historical sites and museums. Dinner on your own, with many restaurants to choose from in and around McAuliffe Square.

Luxembourg- Day 11

Day 11/ September 22

Departing Bastogne, our group will visit the National Museum of Military History in Diekirch, one of Luxembourg’s finest museums. The collections on display are impressive and help tell the story of the fighting in the Ardennes.

After Diekirch, our next stop will be the Luxembourg American Cemetery outside Luxembourg City.  Buried here are many of the casualties from the Battle of the Bulge, as well as General George Patton. If time permits, the German military cemetery at Sandweiler is not far away and worth visiting.

Lunch on your own in Diekirch. We then begin the long trek across Germany through the Rhineland toward Stuttgart, where we’ll stop for the night. There will be stops along the way. Group dinner at our hotel.

Stuttgart – Stay 1 Night

Maritim Hotel Stuttgart

Right next to the green Hoppenlau Park and not far from the main railway station, our friendly team welcomes you to the Maritim Hotel Stuttgart. You will sleep in supreme comfort surrounded by a tasteful design. Free Wi-Fi and a modern flatscreen TV further enhance your well-being. The Bosch-Areal, with its range of shops and large cinema, is just a stone’s throw away.

Munich – Day 12

Day 12/ September 23

Departing Stuttgart, we’ll proceed to Dachau on the outskirts of Munich.  Dachau was the first concentration camp constructed by the Nazis and is preserved as a reminder of their oppressive regime and to honor all of those killed during the Holocaust. Lunch on your own in the onsite cafeteria.

After lunch, we proceed to Munich for a brief walking tour of the inner city area, with visits to the Hof Brau Haus and Marienplatz. Dinner on your own in Munich.

Munich – Stay 2 Nights 

Munich Marriott 

When you stay at the Munich Marriott Hotel, you’ll be within a 10-minute drive of BMW Welt and Olympic Park. Guests can dip in the indoor pool or grab a bite at Pop-Up The Grapeful, which serves dinner and is one of 4 restaurants. Other highlights at this luxurious hotel include 2 bars/lounges, a health club, and a 24-hour fitness center. The helpful staff and breakfast get good marks from fellow travelers. Public transportation is just a short walk.

Munich – Day 13

Day 13/ September 24

We’ll depart early for the village of Berchtesgaden and the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountaintop retreat in the Bavarian Alps. The Kehlsteinhaus, as it’s called today, was a 50th birthday present to Adolf Hitler from the Nazi Party. The view at the top is absolutely breathtaking.

Lunch on your own at the restaurant after our descent. We’ll return to our hotel in Munich for our group farewell dinner.

Depart Munich – Day 14