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World War Battlefields

This June 6th marked the 60th anniversary of World War Two's D-Day landings in Normandy. This summer was the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One. Both wars engulfed Europe for years and traces of the battles can still be found. What evocative European sights have you discovered that bring these two conflicts to life?

I want to add my comments! 

WW2 Normandy - Falaise Pocket
We recently returned from Normandy and while there, stayed in a Gites right in the middle of "The Great Encircelment where approximately 50,000 German soldiers were captured in August 1944. the house was west of Falaise, southwest of Vimoutiers and near Trun. It was interesting to me to learn more about this pivotal battle.
Bill <email>
Springport , MI  USA   11/05/2009

Overlord Tour-Normandy-
We recently did the Omaha/Utah full day tour with OverlordTour. It was absolutely fantastic. Our guide Olivier was extremeley knowlegeable and made the tour interesting for the entire group (which also included my 11 and 8 year old children). I would highly recommend their services.
Dave Buchanan
Geneva, USA   10/27/2009

Victory Tours - A Great Way to See Normandy
Just returned from a wonderful trip to France. The highlight of our trip was a tour of the Normanday D-Day invasion sites with Roel of Victory Tours. Roel's small group tours are great and provided a wonderful way to see the area and gain a better appreciation for what actually happened on June 6, 1944. Roel's knowledge of the area combined with his energetic style made for a perfect tour. I cannot wait to return to the area again and take another tour with Roel. Highly recommended!
M Rowe
Greenville, SC  USA   09/24/2009

Band of Brothers - Overlordtour
Thanks to our guide Alain Chesnel for an amazing experience. His expert knowledge and attention to detail really made it a memorable day. Thank you very much!
Jason Leppin
Melbourne, VIC  Australia   09/21/2009

overlordtour
We thoroughly enjoyed our Normandy Tour that Overlord provided. Our tour guide Stefan was great. He was very knowledable and we really enjoyed spending the day with him. We were very fortunate to have found this company as it made our Normandy experince fantastic. I would highly recimmend overlordtour to any none who is interested in going to Normandy. Please thank Stefan for us as he was able to relate to all of us including my 17 year old son and 12 year old daughter.

Thanks again and regards,

Cindi, Tom, Sam & Alana Gans
Cindi Gans <email>
90803 Long Beach, CA  USA   09/07/2009

Victory Tours
Just got back from Normandy, France-Roel Klinkhammer was kind enough to do a half-day tour of D-Day beaches. He is fun, funny, and a fount of information! He had many stories of people who fought, and helped me understand so much more about this time in our ccountry's history! I recommend him highly!
anski
Humble, TX  USA   08/05/2009

D-Day Beaches Tours
Because of time constraints, we stayed in Caen and visited the excellent Memorial museum in the afternoon and took a tour from the museum the next morning. My husband had done a similar jaunt two years ago and had an excellent tour guide (also the minibus driver) who walked with them at all the stops and shared a great deal of knowledge. This time around, we had a 20-something German girl (who spoke English) as our guide following a script more or less. She was very nice and interested in what she was doing, but just didn't have the knowledge that the other guide had had. From the comments of others about the other tour options, they might be better to consider if they work in your schedule
Ann
Thiensville, WI  USA   07/26/2009

Overlord Tour on June 5th, 2009
Just a little late in adding my comments, but thanks again Olivier for another great tour last month. This was our 2nd tour in the past 3 years with Olivier and my wife and I enjoyed it very much.
Jeff
Dallas, Tx  USA   07/10/2009

A fantastic day with Roel (aka Victory Tours)
The highlight of my trip to Paris was the (long) day trip to Normandy and the fantastic tour provided by Roel at Victory Tours. Roel was able to use words to paint vivid pictures that took me back to D-Day; describing the amazing level of effort that went into the planning and execution, the intimate stories of soldiers he has met through the years and the hell on earth that the American Soldiers faced on Omaha Beach.

I hope I can make it back to Normandy to take a multi-day tour with Roel and find out what other stories the beautiful countryside has to tell.
Adam
Loveland, Ohio  USA   07/06/2009

OVERLORDTOUR
Our tour with Stephan was wonderful. My husband, three teenage children and myself all thoroughly enjoyed the experience and learned so much. It was a very moving and special day for us.
Debra Klebanoff <email>
19119 Philadelphia, USA   07/02/2009

Overlord Tour Guided Tours.
I would like to recognize Mr.Alain Chesnel for conducting a superb tour of the Normandy Coast as part of the Overlord Tour Guided Tours. My wife and I took the full day tour on 9 June 2009. We were in the London area on holiday and I fulfilled a lifetime dream in taking this tour. Alain's insightful commentary along with a vivid historical perspective was fascinating. Even more impressive, was his ability to describe in detail factual accounts of battles as related from veterans he has ongoing contact with. Visiting all of the places on the tour is,simply an awakening look at D-Day history. My wife was mobility challenged due to a recent knee surgery,but Alain made every attempt to accomodate her on as many of the destinations as possible. Thank you Alain,for a most memorable day. Bill & Marilyn Hanson Tucson,Arizona~USA
Bill & Marilyn Hanson <email>
Tucson, AZ.  USA   06/28/2009

Cambridge American Cemetery
On a flight to London I had a conversation with a lady regarding my destination of Cambridge. She told me of the American Cemetery there. I was visiting my son-in-law who is stationed at RAF Lakenheath. We agreed to take the trip over there on Memorial Day 25 May 2009. We were originally only going over to have a look around and pay our respects. But,to our suprise the Madingly Memorial Ceremony was beginning. The Memorial and the 30 acre site was breathtaking. If you're nearby,I would highly recommend a visit. Very rewarding! Bill Hanson Tucson,Az.USA
Bill Hanson
Tucson, AZ.  USA   06/28/2009

Normandy Battlefield Tours
Had the most amazing Normandy battlefield tours with Phillipe Guerin. Spent one day touring British battlesites, one day Canadian and one day American. He is equally knowledgeable about all Allied (and German) participation and battlesites of the Battle of Normanday and D-Day. Was with a small group that included a mixture of people with varying degrees of previous knowledge about the war and the particular battles, yet he was able to make it interesting and educational for all. He will outline the overall battles and objectives and their importance in the grand scheme of the war but will personalize it with stories, photos and audio accounts that filter down to company and individual contributions. As a true Norman with local ties going back many generations, he has an incredible knowledge of the geography of the entire Normandy region and has personal stories and accounts that you will not find in any history book. I would highly recommend him as a tour guide if you are going to the region.
Ally Ramsay <email>
Ajax, Ont  Canada   06/16/2009

Normandy WWII
Just back from 65th Anniversary of D-Day activities in Normandy. Roel Klinkhammer of Victory Tours made this a great experience. He researched activities of a relative and showed us those sites -- plus the main beaches. Outstanding service by a very congenial person.
Bob
Scottsdale, az  USA   06/15/2009

Normandy D-Day Tour + B&B
Rick: June 6th seems to be the right date to send you a thank you for recommending Roel & Pia Klinkhamer’s Chateau de Lignerolles and Roel’s Victory Tours. We were in Normandy last October, and our day with Roel was the highlight of the trip. All of the news coverage for the 65th D Day Anniversary brings back memories of our visit to those beaches. Roel’s information, passion for the story, and reverence for the places we visited are all unforgettable. Pia’s welcome and fine breakfasts were pleasant additions to our stay at their chateau. For personalized history, on the spot, the Victory Tour was terrific. Jack and MaryAnn Thompson
Jack & MaryAnn Thompson
Valparaiso, IN  USA   06/07/2009

Juno Beaches
Philippe Guerin made our tour of Juno very real. He made me feel the wonder and question why this happened. This man is extremely good as a guide, very accurate with his knowledge and communicates with a passion. He never made us feel rushed and is very patient with us older folks with questions I'm sure he's answered many times. Highly recommended.
Douglas McKay <email>
Bowmanville, near Courtice, Ont  Canada   06/01/2009

Overlord Tours - Normandy
I spent the day on an Overlord tour with Oliver as our guide. My friend was having difficulty walking so he came to our B&B to pick us up which was a wonderful gesture.

We saw so many sights dealing with the D Day invasion and it was a very humbling adventure. I would highly recommend Overlord Tours. They were recommendedby many on the graffitti wall and we were not disappointed. We took the one day tour and we had a party of 6 which was the perfect size.
Vicki Blake <email>
Spring, Texas  USA   05/30/2009

Battle of the Bulge personal tour
We spent the day with Henri Mignon as our guide for the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium.

Henri was a young boy during the battle and listening to his remembrances of the time was fascinating. He spent his working years in the Belgium Army and was called on after retirement to escort visitors to the area.

It was an absolutely fascinating day and one of the highlights of my trip. Highly recommend you contact Henri at henfi_mignon @swing.be.
Vicki <email>
Spring, Texas  USA   05/30/2009

American Cemetery Cambridge, England
If you are in the Cambridge, England area it is worth your time to stop at the American Cemetery. I was there at the request of a friend whose father died in WWII and whose body was never found. There is a wall dedicated to those unrecovered soldiers. The director of the cemetery was extremely helpful to us finding information for our friend and took us to the wall and proceeded to work sand into the name so it could be photographed easier.
Vicki Blake <email>
Spring, Texas  USA   05/30/2009

Normandy
We recently had a tour of Juno Beach with Philippe. He was extremely knowledgable and made the morning an experience we will not forget. He was interested in the typhoon pilot reunion, here is all thr information I have. Jacques Brehin has advised me that ASAVN plans to hold the 2009 Typhoon Pilots Reunion on 30 – 31 May in and around Noyers-Bocage (site of our Monument). The programme will include commemorative ceremonies for RCAF pilots: F/L Clifford Hicks, 440 Sqdn, killed 8 Aug 44 at Ussy F/O John Kalen, 439 Sqdn, killed 18 Jul 44 at Cagny F/O Frank Thomas, 439 Sqdn, killed 8 Jul near B4 It will be a truly Franco-Canadian affair.

The RAF Eurofighter Typhoon Squadron, Conningsby, is now involved in the annual Normandy Reunions (to carry on the Typhoon torch).

This may well be the last reunion many of we Canadians can manage to attend.
Karen Gardner <email>
Oakville, ON  USA   05/28/2009

Normandy-D-Day-Historical-Association- Philippe
We had a great tour with Philippe of the wwww.Normandy-D-Day-Historical-Association.com last month, it was just great!!!!! He drove us to British, Canadian and American D-Day spots where no one else could have drove us to! He's a real Norman, fluent in english, and will guide you to many amazing places he's the only one to know about!!!!! I, and my husband, would highly recommend Philippe, as your guide in Normandy!
Brooke
Ipswich, mass  USA   05/28/2009

Juno Beach D Day Normandy
We recently had a tour of Juno with Philippe Guerin. It was overwhelming. His knowledge of Canadians at D Day was beyond all expextations. 05/17/2009
Roy T. Vopni
Kingston, Ontari  Canada   05/27/2009

Battlebus-Henri Mignon Tour Guide
My husband and I did a day tour of Bastogne with Henri Mignon. I found him through Battlebus tours. Henri was very professional and informative. He meet us at our hotel and directed us to differnet sites in Bastogne and Grand Duchy. The day went quickley hearing the stories of our fallen soldiers. We visited a few museums and the American cemetary. I highly recommend Henri and a visit to Bastogne.
Darla Parris <email>
R.S.M., CA  USA   05/25/2009

Normandy - Victory Tours - Chateau de Lignerolles B & B - Roel & Pia Klinkhamer
On 4/29/2009 my husband and I were on a fantastic all day tour of the D-Day Beaches and surrounding areas with Victory Tours led by Roel. What can I say? It's a must DO if ever in that area. It was quite moving and very informative and he kept your interest all day long, not wanting it to end. Roel gave you plenty of time to "Clicky Clicky" to document your trip. Roel has a passion and deep knowledge about WWII and it is evident by the wall of bookcases and books on WWII in the Chateau where we stayed for two nights. Roel shared personal stories that he has gleaned from visiting with the Veterans each year and is looking forward to the 65th anniversay this year and getting to visit with the Vets that come back. As he said, unfortunately, fewer and fewer come each year. Highlights - too many to list all but some are...Arromanches, Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Point du Hoc, US Cemetery, Ste. Mere Eglise, Bayeux, Caen. Must say Pia served a great breakfast and was very accommodating and informative and made you feel at home. Thanks Rick for listing this B&B Chateau and Victory Tours. Other than being outside of town as stated in the Guidebook and having to go into town for dinner, the 278 year old Chateau was very unique and comfortable and had wireless access in the "Grand Salon", if you have your own computer. You need a car if you are staying at the Chateau. I would not hesitate to go back tomorrow, if given the chance, and stay in the Chateau and take Victory Tours all day tour again led by Roel. It was GREAT!!
Elaine Ownby <email>
Rockwall, TX  USA   05/23/2009

Battlebus Tour with Dale
My husband and I took two Battlebus tours with Dale. He has a wonderful style of recreating the Battles of World War II. I enjoyed both tours and the way he presented the information was very helpful. I felt like I was taken back in time. The stories of our fallen heros were special to hear about. I was just speechless at times, I can't even imagine what our troops went through. It was a highlight of our trip for myself and my husband. We did the two day experience and the Band of Brother tour.
Darla Parris <email>
R.S.M, CA  USA   05/18/2009

OVERLORDTOUR
I just wanted to take a moment to send you a note regarding our tour on May 2nd. Our tour guide, Stefan was wonderful. He was extremely knowledgeable about the subject of WW II. He showed us pictures and maps and made it very real. Seeing the back roads of France was great. This was a dream come true for Larry and he got to experience everything he wanted and much more.

Also, thanks for accommadating the other 6 people who joined our group. The ship didn't offer a tour of Normandy and these people were very glad Larry decided to share his tour with them. It all worked out great for everyone and we all had a wonderful time. I will highly recommend Overlord Tours to anyone who may be in France and need tour assistance. Again, thank you for this great opportunity and making my husband's dream come true. And, thank you for having such knowledgeable tour guides. They really make the tour successful.

Terrye Parker
Terry Parker <email>
USA   05/08/2009

RAF Museum in NW London
For those interested in World War history, and specifically aviation history, we recommend the RAF Museum in Colindale in NW London. We were there in May 2008. There are a number of rare planes and many other planes and artifacts - it's a rather large complex. Plan on a half-day or for those really into aviation history, a full-day visit. Very educational and informative. Also good for school-age kids. An easy ride on the Tube (Colindale Underground on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line) - then a short walk from the station to the museum.

See the website to plan your visit: http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/index.cfm
Terry & George <email>
Austin, TX  USA   05/06/2009

Good pace to stay in Bayeux, near Normandy beaches
If you are visiting Normandy, a good place to stay is Bayeux - about 3 miles from the beaches.

We spent 3 weeks in Normandy in May 2008 and can recommend a wonderful place to stay just on the outskirt of Bayeux.

The Relais de L'Aure has B&B accommodations (several large rooms with private baths) in the main house AND also a very spacious 3-bedroom detached cottage across the courtyard from the main house. The cottage was quite roomy and private. The owners - Rene and Christine - live on-site so are available as needed. They are extremely friendly and accommodating. The cost is quite reasonable - less than a hotel - and about 1 mile - easy walk- from supermarket. About 2 miles to center of Bayeux - with many restaurants and shops. Also a very nice farmers market in Bayeux on Weds and Saturdays.

Their website is: http://www.relaisdelaure.com/

Click on the American/British flag for Englsh version. If you are interested in the detached cottage, click on the upper left "Country Gite".
Terry & George <email>
Austin, TX  USA   05/06/2009

Normandy-Victory Tours-Roel Klinkhamer
The day tour led by Roel Klinkhamer was the highlight of our trip to Europe. We always had an interest in WWII history but did not have the extensive knowledge that Roel talks about. His stories of veterans that he has met and talked with was great. He customizes his tour to allow extra locations other than just the beaches to tell stories that he knows will be of interest to the tour participants. His passion and knowledge made the day special. My favorite parts was the way he described what happened at Omaha Beach and also the church he took us to that a couple of medics used for their hospital.

I would highly recommend the all day tour with Roel and Victory Tours.
Palmer Inniger <email>
Carmel, IN  USA   05/05/2009

World War I battlefields
We just toured the WWI Verdun battlefield with guide Ingrid Ferrand -she did an outstanding job explaining the battle logistics. At the same time, she effectively communicated the human aspect of the battle. But the highlight of the day was the tour of the trenches and underground tunnels of Vauquois Hill in the Argonne. This gave us a true experience of WW I warfare. We recommend Ingrid and visiting both Verdun and Vauguois Hill for those interested in World War I.
John and Nancy <email>
Honor, MI  USA   05/02/2009

D-Day
We toured the American D-Day beaches with Battlebus tours and tour guide Dale - it was truly a moving experience. Highly recommended.
John and Nancy <email>
Honor, MI  USA   05/02/2009

WW2 Normandy Tour & more- Overlord Tours
In 2007, my best friend and I fulfilled a dream by flying to England, touring the Imperial War Museum and American Air Museum in Duxford, then flying to France and ending up in Bayeux where we took a full day trip to Normandy with Overlord Tours. It was one of the most emotional yet exciting things either of us have ever done. There were only 8 people in our tour mini-bus (including Philipe, our NORMAN driver who turned out to be a world-recognized authority on D-Day) and it was very personal and intense. I'm headed back to Spain & Italy in about 2 weeks, and hope to explore more WW2 sites - to forget the past is to repeat the same mistakes: exploring history is virtually the most exciting thing I can think of. Just do it!
Hal Sanguinetti
Glendale, AZ  USA   04/14/2009

Roel's Victory Tours was awesome
My boyfriend and I took a full day tour of Normandy with Roel Klinkhamer of Victory Tours. Our train arrived a little late from Paris, but Roel waited patiently for us at the meeting point. He provided a very personal experience with describing the locations with historical detail and personal stories from the soldiers he has met over the years. Taking his tour has given us a great perspective of the men that risked their lives for their nation and humanity. As Americans we feel that visiting Normandy was something that we needed to do as a part of our trip to Europe. However, the day was in fact the highlight of the entire trip. The locations are really beautiful and sad too. It is important to honor the soldiers that fought for us and to remember a very important part of world history.
Pam Santatikul
Los Angeles, CA  USA   03/14/2009

Bridge at Remagen
On March 7, 1945 the US 9th tank Division crossed the Rhine Barrier at Remagen into the village I live, Erpel. There is an amazing 'Peace Museum' in the tower ruins on the Remagen side. Displays are well presented in English - we enjoy taking guests here, always an emotional day. www.bruecke-remagen.de
Anne
Erpel , Germany   03/05/2009

WWII Airfields in Britain
Parham Airfield Museum is a lovely small museum in the restored control tower of one of Suffolk's 30 US airfields. Although the runways have returned to farmland you can see where they were, plus there are Nissen huts and one B-17 hangar. Watch the movie Memphis Belle before you visit if you're unfamiliar with the role of B-17s in WWII. Children must be 12 years old to visit the top of the control tower.
Martha <email>
Rockville, MD  USA   03/01/2009

Victorytours
Victory Tours and B&B Chateau de Lignerolles First, I must recommend touring the D-day arena with Victory Tours because, for me, Roel was the quintessential guide. He is extremely knowledgeable, passionate and somehow included a dash of humor while leading us through what remains (and there is much remaining) of this monumental undertaking. It was one of the most moving and eyeopening experiences I've ever had. Personally, I wish I'd done this much earlier in life...History classes would have meant much more to me. Also, I'd like to mention that Roel has a van, not a bus, and he knows the touring bus schedules. Therefore, when possible, he takes his tour where the tour buses have not arrived or they have "been and gone". This avoids large crowds, saves time and helped provide a more thorough, well paced tour. Roel's wife, Pia, does a beautiful job of operating the B&B. The chateau is quite nice, the breakfasts are delicious and Pia & Roel are very accommodating. They recommended a wonderful restaurant for dinner and directed me to a great clothing store since it was colder than we had anticipated. As a result, we recommend them for both the tour and overnight stays. Hopefully, we'll see them again. Bill & Tricia
Bill & tricia
Fort Atkinson, Wisc.  USA   02/23/2009

Normandy Trip for D-Day Vet
We travelled a couple of years ago with Battlebus Tours in Bayeux, Normandy. Our father was vet of the D-Day invasion. I can't say enough good about the entire experience. From booking the tour through the tour itself, every step was made much easier by the friendliness andprofessionalism of the company. I have journeyed estensively in Europe, and I can say without reservation that our tour guide, Dale, was one of the best I've ever seen. He was so knowledgeable and passionate about his subject, and he was able to bring us all into that passion. It was the first time our father had been to France since the War, and Dale and the entire Battlebus team, as well as the citizens of Bayeux, made it a memorable experience for him.
Charlotte
Gravelly, AR  USA   02/20/2009