This route enables visitors to discover the sites and stories connected to the battles fought to the north and the east of Bastogne, by the troops of the 506th and 501st Parachute Infantry Regiments of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division.The landscapes between the villages of Mageret and Foy are still marked by the traces of combat. Since the end of the 20th century, various monuments have been added throughout the area and act as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by many during the Battle of the Bulge.One of these monuments, located between Bizory and Foy, reminds us of the sacrifice of many American soldiers who were killed fighting in the area of the Bois Jacques (Jack's Wood).Another commemorative site, is that of the Bois de la Paix (Peace Wood). Through each of its memorial trees, it pays tribute to all the American soldiers and units that fought during the Ardennes Offensive. Inaugurated in 1994, the wood’s message of peace takes on its full meaning from the sky, with the trees of remembrance laid out in the shape of the UNICEF symbol.Following this route through the Ardennes countryside, visitors will discover more about the extent of the fighting.&nbsp; They will also learn about the difficulties experienced by the soldiers in their foxholes and on the frontline, and the fear and suffering experienced by the civilians trapped both inside and outside the perimeter of Bastogne during the winter of 1944 to 1945.The route is accessible to both walkers and cyclists alike.

Belgium 

Mardasson Memorial at Bastogne War Museum

Mardasson Memorial

Easy Company Monument

Boix de la Paix

The statue is a tribute to all the men of the 101st Airborne Division, and other divisions attached who fought in the encirclement of Bastogne during the battle of the Bulge 

Screaming Eagle Statue

Peace Wood

​​Leblanc was a soldier of the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion, which was a part of the 101st Airborne Division.​During his time as a soldier, Leblanc was tasked with several logistical duties, which included the development of roads for the transportation of troops, as well as the mining of strategic infrastructure.​Like the rest of the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge, Leblanc was thrown into the perimeter defending Bastogne. Initially sent to Neffe on 19 December 1944, he then became embroiled in a fight for survival around the village of Marvie, spending a very lonely Christmas Eve isolated and under fire.​Narrowly escaping death on several occasions during the Ardennes fighting, Leblanc would end up following his division all the way into Germany, before he eventually returned to America towards the end of 1945.​Back in Maine, his native state in the USA, Leblanc wanted to end his military career. After leaving the army, he worked as an industrial designer in a large company. Despite his comfortable life in the USA, Leblanc could not forget the difficult days he had spent alongside his comrades of the 101st Airborne Division in Belgium.​Motivated by meetings with various enthusiasts in the United States and in Belgium, including at the anniversary commemorations of the Battle of the Bulge, he decided to go and settle permanently in Belgium, on the land where he had previously fought.​In 1997, Leblanc packed his bags for a one-way trip to Bastogne, the ‘Nuts City.’ Once there, he moved into a retirement home (Sans Souci Residence), where he continued to go for walks on the battlefield and maintain contact with local history enthusiasts.​Over time his health deteriorated and in 2004, Leblanc sadly passed away.​He has remained dear to many inhabitants of the region who met him whilst he lived in Bastogne, between 1997 and 2004.​In accordance with his final wishes, Leblanc’s ashes were scattered in the middle of the Bois de la Paix (Peace Wood), at the foot of a tree bearing his name.

Memorial Tree of Léo Leblanc​

On 18 December 1944, the village of Neffe was held by American troops from Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Cherry’s combat team from the 10th Armored Division, plus also engineers from the 158th Engineer Combat Battalion. German troops commanded by Generalleutnant (Lieutenant-General) Fritz Bayerlein were quickly advancing towards Neffe and Bastogne but became bogged down in the mud around Mageret.The next day, at the roadblock in Neffe a fierce battle erupted. The German tank column was immobilised in the middle of the village and came under small-arms fire. But Neffe was eventually captured.Cherry’s command post at the Château near Neffe was also the scene of another fierce engagement. Dozens of German soldiers were killed or wounded fighting around the Château. The building eventually caught fire, forcing the Americans to withdraw to Mont and Bastogne.The arrival of Lieutenant-Colonel Julian Ewell’s 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, helped block Bayerlein’s division advancing any further along the road from Neffe into Bastogne.By the end of the attack on 19 December, the Panzer Lehr Division sat around three kilometres from the centre of Bastogne. It had failed in its attempt to swiftly capture the town. Fighting continued on 20 and 21 December.As the siege of Bastogne continued, harsh weather conditions complicated operations and worsened the plight of local civilians. From Neffe, German forces repeatedly shelled Bastogne. It was not until around the turn of the year, that the U.S. 6th Armored Division was finally able to liberate Neffe.

Neffe - A Village on the Frontline

Easy or ‘E’ Company, fought for around a month in the area of the Bois Jacques (Jack’s Wood), helping to prevent German troops from capturing the town of Bastogne.A monument dedicated to the men of ‘E’ Company was inaugurated in 2005 and is located near the old Bastogne-Gouvy railway line (now a cycle route) at the crossroads of the country road between the villages of Bizory and Foy. This point was at the far right of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment positions during the siege of Bastogne.The monument is made up of two flags (Belgian and American) and a single plinth decorated with three memorial plaques. The central one features the emblem of the famous 101st Airborne Division and an engraving illustrating the sacrifice of the soldiers in the nearby forest.The plaque on the right summarises (in English and French) the history of the fighting in and around the Bois Jacques. The left plaque pays tribute to 14 men of Easy Company, 13 of which were killed during the Battle of the Bulge, between the establishment of the ‘E’ Company positions in the Bois Jacques in December 1944 and the attack on Foy in January 1945.It also commemorates Private Eugene Jackson who was killed on a patrol in February 1945 near Haguenau in France.The monument is often decorated with flowers and candles placed there by families of the veterans or by visitors to the Bois Jacques.&nbsp;

On 18 December 1944, roadblocks were setup by the Americans - including at Mageret - to deny the German forces the main road into Bastogne from Longvilly in the east. Elements of the newly arrived U.S. 10th Armored Division were also rushed forward under Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Cherry, to reinforce these blocking positions along the route.However, very late on 18 December and into the early hours of 19 December, Mageret was overwhelmed by Generalleutnant (Lieutenant-General) Fritz Bayerlein’s Panzer Lehr Division. By quickly seizing the village, Bayerlein cut-off American forces positioned further east from using this direct route of withdrawal into Bastogne. A mixture of American units - including parts of ‘Team Cherry’ - were trapped along the road between Mageret and Longvilly. &nbsp; &nbsp; Whilst also fighting a rear-guard action at Longvilly against the 26th Volksgrenadier Division, the Americans desperately tried to push the German troops out of Mageret. Despite repeated attempts, they failed to dislodge Bayerlein.Mageret exchanged hands several times during the Battle of the Bulge. It was only at the start of January 1945, that it passed back to the Americans following an assault by the U.S. 6th Armored Division. A few days later, on 4 January, the 12th SS Panzer Division recaptured the village. But, following a bitter battle on 13 to 14 January, Mageret was definitively liberated by the Americans.The village was repeatedly bombarded during the battle. Many of its buildings were destroyed and many of the inhabitants were forced to flee the village towards Bastogne.&nbsp;

Fighting at Mageret

From the 19 December 1944, the American soldiers which included elements of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) of the 101st Airborne Division, were located around Bizory. They faced repeated attacks from elements of the German 26th Volksgrenadier Division, which had come from the direction of Mageret. The German troops’ objective was to reach Luzery on the road between Bastogne and Houffalize, to make a breakthrough towards Bastogne from the north.Despite the ferocious nature of the fighting during December, in and around the village, including the nearby high ground of Hill 510, as well as between Bizory and Neffe, the men of Lieutenant-Colonel Julian Ewell’s 501st PIR held firm.Further to the north-west of the village of Bizory, other American troops from the 506th PIR of the 101st Airborne Division, were also mainly active, dug in and around the Bois Jacques (Jack’s Wood), where there was also very heavy fighting. The Bastogne to Bourcy railway line acted as a natural dividing line between the 506th and 501st PIR defensive sectors.The inhabitants of the village of Bizory, who remained there during the fighting, were greatly affected by these events. Several families had to find refuge in their cellars or were forced to flee to Bastogne to escape death.During the fighting in the area, it is believed that a building in the vicinity of the village of Bizory was used as an advanced first aid station by the 101st Airborne Division to treat many wounded soldiers from both sides.The village of Bizory was liberated in January 1945 by elements of the U.S. 6th Armored Division.Later in January, aided by the U.S. 11th Armored Division, the American troops of the 101st Airborne Division made a breakthrough towards Noville and Foy, making it possible to definitively repel the German forces from the area to the north and north-east of Bastogne.

Fighting in the Area Around Bizory​

​​Since the war, many voices have been raised wishing to further honour the 101st Airborne Division and other U.S. troops surrounded in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. There was already a monument in memory of the then ’acting’ commander of the 101st Airborne Division, Brigadier-General Anthony McAuliffe and his famous "nuts" reply to the German forces’ surrender proposal in December 1944.&nbsp;​Private Dennis McKeen, a U.S. soldier of the 101st Airborne Division, was killed during the fighting for Bastogne by German troops, abandoned along a road and then reported missing. Having become the godfather of McKeen, when he adopted to look after his grave, Robert Remacle wanted to pay tribute to him by erecting a memorial for him and his division. The then Mayor of Bastogne favoured the Mardasson Memorial site to place a commemorative monument.&nbsp;​It was suggested to the sculptor to use a local stone for the monument. The stone was donated by the Carrière sur les Roches quarry, which also made its infrastructure available. The project to create the emblematic symbol of the famous division was born. Supported by his family and aided by local partners of the project, including with the help of work tools offered by merchants from Bastogne, Robert worked as a volunteer for almost a year on the project. The stone that initially weighed almost two tonnes was transformed into a sculpture that weighs around 1,000 kilograms.&nbsp;​It is therefore the entire population of Bastogne who offers this monument in gratitude to the bravery of the 101st Airborne Division and other units under the command of McAuliffe during the siege of Bastogne. &nbsp;​The Screaming Eagle statue is full of symbolism. Its wings are voluntarily raised to evoke the dove of Peace, the returned American helmet symbolises the blood spilled and therefore all of the soldiers wounded, killed or reported missing. The head of the eagle is turned towards the helmet, to place the soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division under its protection.&nbsp;

Screaming Eagle Monument

The Peace Wood memorial is a six-acre site with over 4000 trees from different kinds, planted with the shape of the UNICEF logo, the mother and child, symbol of human tenderness, which can be clearly seen from the sky. The official inauguration on 11 June 1994 was organised in the presence of a large number of veterans.&nbsp;The central part pays tribute to those veterans who placed a plaque at the foot of a tree, and also to the divisions involved. Around it, martyred cities are commemorated as well, for example Marzabotto (Italy), Wiltz (Luxembourg), Coventry (UK) or Warsaw (Poland). They belong to the World Union of Martyred Cities for Peace created in 1982 on the initiative of the city of Bastogne.&nbsp;The Peace Wood’s purpose is to be a living memorial sharing a message that is relevant every day. For example in 2012, a tribute was paid to the 26 victims of the shooting in the school of Newton, Connecticut in the United States, including 20 children, with the planting of 26 oak trees on their memory.&nbsp;

Peace Wood Memorial

The Mardasson Memorial was designed by the Belgian architect Georges Dedoyard and inaugurated in 1950 in the presence of Brigadier-General Anthony McAuliffe to bear witness to Belgium’s gratitude to the American soldiers who risked or lost their lives on Belgian soil. The monument is star-shaped, representing the American Army symbol and a reference to the stars of the flag of the United States. The Memorial is also endowed with a crypt, decorated with a mosaic by the French artist Fernand Leger. Engraved in the monument are the names of the then 48 American states, and in the pillars the history of the Ardennes Counteroffensive and the names of the key American units. A walkway situated at the summit offers the visitor a panoramic view of the defensive positions held during the siege of the town, as well as of the Bastogne War Museum situated next to the memorial. In 2020, the management of the memorial was transferred to the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) by the Belgian state.

Traces of the battle around Bastogne are still visible in Jack’s Wood (Bois Jacques) in Foy: foxholes and cavities dug into the ground in order to protect the American soldiers from hostile fire. They show the hard fighting conditions around Bastogne from December 1944 to January 1945. The winter was harsh and the cold intense, with sometimes temperatures below 28 Celsius at night. In December not only were the American soldiers outnumbered approximately five to one by their German opponents, they were also lacking in cold-weather gear, ammunition, food and medical supplies. Due to bad weather the American forces could not be resupplied by air, nor was tactical air support available. After Christmas, when finally the sky was clearing up, the American planes could drop the supplies. In January American reinforcements arrived. The Easy Company, the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, occupied Jack’s Wood and dug foxholes to protect the unit against hostile artillery. There was constant mortar, rocket and artillery fire from both sides. Between 9 and 13 January the Easy Company suffered its most casualties. On 13 January they attacked Foy and reconquered the village house after house. Casualties on both sides were considerable, but at the end of the day Foy was taken over. The Easy Company became famous for its role in the Battle of the Bulge. It was further immortalised in Stephen E. Ambrose’s book Band of Brothers, which focuses on the story of the Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne. The subsequent TV series was a global success.

The small village of Foy, just four kilometers to the north of Bastogne on the road to Houffalize, was occupied by the Germans from 21 December 1944 to 13 January 1945. The American troops had installed in Jack’s wood in Foy, in their strive for the liberation of Bastogne.

Traces of the battle around Bastogne are still visible in Jack’s wood (Bois Jacques) in Foy: foxholes and cavities dug into the ground in order to protect the American soldiers from hostile fire. They show the hard fighting conditions around Bastogne from December 1944 to January 1945. The winter was harsh and the cold intense, with sometimes temperatures below 28 Celsius at night. In December not only were the American soldiers outnumbered approximately 5-1 by their German opponents, they were also lacking in cold-weather gear, ammunition, food and medical supplies. Due to bad weather the American forces could not be resupplied by air, nor was tactical air support available. After Christmas, when finally the sky was clearing up, the American planes could drop the supplies. In January American reinforcements arrived. The Easy Company, the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, occupied Jack’s wood and dug foxholes to protect the unit against hostile artillery. There was constant mortar, rocket and artillery fire from both sides. Between 9 and 13 January the Easy Company suffered its most casualties. On 13 January they attacked Foy and reconquered the village house after house. Casualties on both sides were considerable, but at the end of the day Foy was taken over.

The Easy Company became famous for its role in the Battle of the Bulge. It was further immortalized in Stephen E. Ambrose’s book Band of Brothers, that focuses on the story of the Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne. The subsequent TV series were a global success.

Jack’s Wood

Key events of the war and the combatants' ordeal are reproduced in the exhibition with the aim of highlighting and explaining the broad sweep of its history.The museum provides a special focus on how the civilians lived during the occupation, during the battle itself and afterwards. Opened on 22 March 2014, this memorial centre is located on the former Bastogne Historical Centre site, nearby the Mardasson Memorial. Visitors follow the stories of four fictional characters during their visit: a 13-year old boy, a school teacher, a Corporal of the 101st US Airborne Division and Hans Wegmüller, a German Lieutenant of the 26th Volksgrenadier division. Their stories are based on real events and characters.Three ‘scenovisions’, real multisensory 3D scenes, give the visitors the opportunity to relive the past. First they will find themselves in the Allied General Headquarters in southern England in June 1944. The second flashback places the visitors on the edge of the Ardennes forest. Shortly afterwards they can experience critical moments inside a local café surrounded by local people, while outside the shells continue to explode: a total immersion in the very heart of the conflict.In 2022, the museum’s experience was enriched with an extension focusing on the aftermath of the war, and the long-term consequences for the region and the entire continent. <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NNhboV1KdoY?showinfo=0" frameborder="0"></iframe>

The Bastogne War Museum represents a new way to remember the Second World War in Belgium. It offers a fresh perception in a modern and interactive framework of the causes, events and consequences of the Second World War, with a special focus on the Ardennes counteroffensive: the Battle of the Bulge.

The Bastogne War Museum covers the Second World War, from its beginning up to autumn 1944, with a special focus on the Battle of the Bulge. Key events of the war and the combatants' ordeal are reproduced here with the aim of clarifying the broad sweep of its history. The museum provides a clear picture of how the civilians lived during the occupation, during the battle itself and afterwards.

Opened on 22 march 2014, this new memorial center, housed in a brand-new building, is located on the former Bastogne Historical Centre site. Three ‘scenovisions’, real multisensory 3D scenes, give you the opportunity to relive the past. First you will find yourself in the Allied General Headquarters in southern England in June 1944. The second flashback places you on the edge of the Ardennes forest. Shortly afterwards you experience everything you would expect at a true-to-life table in a café. You are surrounded by the local people, while outside the shells continue to explode: a total immersion in the very heart of the conflict.

The Museum is located just a stone's throw away from the Mardasson Memorial, that was inaugurated in 1950 to bear witness to Belgium’s gratitude to the American soldiers who risked or lost their lives on Belgian soil. The monument takes the form of a star. Engraved in gold lettering, the story of the battle can be read on the walls of the open gallery. A walkway situated at the summit offers the visitor a panoramic view of the defensive positions held during the siege of the town. The Memorial is endowed with a crypt, decorated with a mosaic by the French artist Fernand Léger.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNhboV1KdoY[/embed]

Peace Wood

Photos

Sites and stories along the route

Memorial Tree of Léo Leblanc

Neffe - A Village on the Frontline

Easy Company Monument

Fighting at Mageret

Fighting in the Area Around Bizory

Screaming Eagle Monument

Peace Wood Memorial

Mardasson Memorial

Jack’s Wood

Bastogne War Museum

Peace Wood

Photos

Sites and stories along the route

Memorial Tree of Léo Leblanc​

Neffe - A Village on the Frontline

Easy Company Monument

Fighting at Mageret

Fighting in the Area Around Bizory​

Screaming Eagle Monument

Peace Wood Memorial

Mardasson Memorial

Jack’s Wood

Bastogne War Museum

Memorial Tree of Léo Leblanc

Fighting in the Area Around Bizory