Inside the 101st Airborne Museum of Bastogne!!! | History Traveler Episode 331
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ม.ค. 2024
- The siege of Bastogne is probably one of the most well known elements of the Battle of the Bulge. In this episode, we're paying a visit to the 101st Airborne Museum in Bastogne which talks not only about the 101st Airborne, but several other lesser known units who participated in the action that took place in the Bastogne perimeter. As a bonus, we were joined by a view veterans of WWII who offered a bit of insight into their experience during the war.
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Who in the world with the 101st Airborne Division Museum in Belgium
You don’t talk enough about the raising number of “Americans” that don’t believe wwii atrocities are true
LOK USA FRY FAKYO MZOR 💩🇺🇸🏳️🌈💩
❤❤❤YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FEAR DEATH IF YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, AND TRUST IN HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, BECAUSE HE ATONED FOR YOU FOR ALL YOUR INSULTS, THAT YOU WOULD OBTAIN PEACE WITH ALMIGHTY GOD, AND GO TO HEAVEN BY HIS GRACE!!!!!❤❤❤!!!❤❤❤!!!❤❤❤!!!❤
JD I've told you I was active duty 84-88 stationed in Spangdahlem AB, Germany. I was lucky enought to be in Bastogne for the 40th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. What a moving weekend it was. There was a parade through town on Sat night. As we walked along the sidewalk next to the flag, older Belgians were standing in their doorways, crying at the sight of our flag and tears rolling down their cheeks. Still gives me goose bumps!
Wow! It wouldn’t happen at a US college campus.
Dang, I would have loved to have been there for that.
Active duty? Making blanket stacking and training sound glamorous or dangerous 😂
Very cool 👍..
Die haben geweint weil die an eure Verbrechen erinnert wurden!
Glad to see the 10th Armored get a little love. Unlikely 101st could have held Bastogne without the tanks of 10th Armored. Fascinating museum.
100%
My father-in-law was with the 10th Armored Division! 100% agree with you.
Having been a paratrooper myself, I can 100% fully confirm without the armor and artillery battalions involved there would have been zero chance of holding that location. The real savior was the break in the weather that allowed fleets C-47 and C54s to drop ammo, medicine, food and fuel. That’s the thing about war, it’s all governed by the “IF’s”.
Awesome museum! Wow! Those dioramas seriously deserve some kind of award! Epic !!!!!
Yeah, top notch stuff there.
You have been on absolute tear with this last series of videos !!! Bringing veterans back to these places is just the best to watch !!! Your channel never disappoints!!! You deserve an award for your work , Sir !!! A++
❤❤❤YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FEAR DEATH IF YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, AND TRUST IN HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, BECAUSE HE ATONED FOR YOU FOR ALL YOUR INSULTS, THAT YOU WOULD OBTAIN PEACE WITH ALMIGHTY GOD, AND GO TO HEAVEN BY HIS GRACE!!!!!❤❤❤!!!❤❤❤!!!❤❤❤!!!❤
"Kraut disenfected" LOVE this so much.
That was outstanding. I wouldn't be upset if youd like to make a 2nd or 3rd video just on this museum to show what else is in there. Just adds more clarity to the horrendous conditions soldiers go through. We can't thank veterans enough for their sacrifices. Thanks you!
Heck of a museum. Thanks for watching!
Awesome is the only word to describe it. Thank you
That museum was incredible! Wish I could go and take a look myself. Thank you JD, Erik, Frank, and to the four gentlemen who fought for our freedom. And of course, a special thank you to the curator of that incredible museum with incredible exhibits!
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I have been to that museum. It is truly phenomenal. Thanks for sharing it with the world!
Thanks for watching!
Yeah, epic museum! Thanks for the vid!
How would I get to visit the museum?? I’m from Scotland 🏴 any tips please. Thank you. 🏴👍🏼🏴
@@section5760 - I would look them up on their website.
@@TheHistoryUnderground I will thank you for all your hard work sir. Great video. Respect from Scotland 🏴🫵🏽👍🏼🏴
If you’ve never been, the WWII museum in Diekirch, Luxembourg is amazing. Very similar to this museum, lots of relics, and dioramas.
It's below zero (F) today here in Indiana. Not unlike what those paratroopers endured during the Battle of the Bulge.
Love your work JD, keep it up!
Same here just outside Chicago, frickin cold. Was outside going to the store and it struck me, being January 2024, that how 79 years ago, right now, those men were freezing in Bastogne. How in the hell did any of them make it out. Many of them fought their last fight on January 9th and 10th of ‘45.
And how so many have forgotten, or worse, don’t even know.
Die Alliierten Verbrecher hatten in unserem Land nichts zu suchen! Haben uns ausgeplündert!
yeah, twas -4 yesterday morning here in northern Indiana, and that was in daylight! cannot fathom what these brave men had to go thru until they were finally relieved
I must say, this episode was amazing. What a fantastic way to learn history. Most of us will never be able to visit this museum but I feel like you have still brought the best of these places to us. I agree, those dioramas are amazing. They bring a feel to the stories, make them more tangible and alive. I can never thank you enough for all the work you put into these presentations. Thank you Sir JD.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
this particular museum they have a wonderful statue memorial to General Patton nearby a few miles away in Luxembourg. They have a wonderful military museum with artefacts from German and American equipment, memorabilia, et cetera.🇬🇧🏴🇬🇧
Very interesting video. My late father fought with the 1st Infantry Division in all seven of its battles during WWII. Would love to know more about its experiences during this time. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his efforts during the Battle of the Bulge period. They faced the 12th SS Division on the northern edge near the Eisenborn Ridge.
Plan on visiting there on a return trip.
I've literally just been rewarding BoB and just passed the bastogne episode. Can't believe as of December, this year we will pass the 80th anniversary of some of the most brutal barrages they saw.
101st Airbonre! Legendary! I like all the historical items, but I love seeing the old gentlemen crowded around the map. "We go there on Tuesday." Wait, I'll get my hat and go with you.
That episode is one the way :)
Vincent Speranza's book was a good read. i met Vince at Overloon in 2018 drinking Whiskey and smoking a cigar. All US hero he was.
Great museum. I was really impressed with the cellar and recreation of a bombing raid. The most incredible interactive experience i think i ever had. I’m surprised he didn’t mention it.
Good memories! I lived in Belgium for 3 yrs and the US Govt paid for it. Went down to Bastogne for NUTS weekend, which was cool. Lots of Belgian and Dutch people, many who didn't speak any English dressed up in authentic US Army WWII paratrooper gear. When we were there, in front of that museum, they had a huge statue of the Sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square on VE day. We loved that, having been a Marine and my wife a Navy Sailor, the US Navy was nowhere near Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and they put up a statue of one of our guys instead of a soldier. They later took down that Sailor statue and displayed parts of the Berlin Wall.... GO NAVY!
Lots of respect over there for the men who liberated their countries.
@@TheHistoryUnderground That is absolutely true. There were numerous little towns and villages throughout Belgium that flew the US flag in front of their town halls. And many people had old vintage Willys jeeps and 2.5 ton US Army trucks restored to mint condition. In Mons, Belgium they had a Sherman tank in front of their war museum. In Flanders, Belgium they had an American Day to celebrate their idea of what America is. Apple Pie contests and Texas line dancing. They like Americans more than Americans like Americans.
They still display those pieces of Berlin Wall at the Bastogne Memorial Center as part of a small "piece" exhibition just outside the building.
@@Hipp0campus_1 Yeah, I was mildly disappointed they took down the Sailor & the nurse statue, but the Berlin Wall exhibit was interesting as well,
I was there TDY with the USAF at Spangdahlem AB in 2015 in Germany. We went to the museum on our weekend off. It was absolutely incredible. I especially liked the basement room that was dark and they had the speakers cranked with German tanks rolling outside the basement windows. So realistic!
An amazing looking museum, especially the life-size, graphic dioramas. Heavy and authentic indeed. It was also great to see actual veterans of the battle visiting.
(NB: I was lucky enough to see Tony McAuliffe eating dinner at his favorite corner table at the Army and Navy Club in D.C..)
There are several WWII museums in Bastogne, scattered throughout the city. I didn’t make it to this one but seeing this I wish I had. I was in Bastogne for the 75th anniversary. It was magnificent.
I was lucky enough to go in a staff ride in the Normandy area while I was stationed in Hohenfels Germany from 99-02. We watched the movie, “The longest day” on our way there and visited just about every area that was in the movie. One of the greatest places I have ever been was Sainte-Mère-Église. They have a dummy dressed up as an airborne soldier hanging from the church by a parachute and right across the street is an amazing museum dedicated to the 82nd and the 101st. It was an amazing trip that was led by a historian and it was about a five day trip. The people of Sainte-Mère-Église and all of Normandy are simply amazing and they were so nice to everyone that was there. It was a once in a lifetime trip that I would recommend everyone to take if possible. It was simply heroic what the soldiers accomplished during this period, and I mean soldiers from all the countries that participated. Another great part was visiting the Pegasus bridge that was in the movie. The original bridge still exists but was moved a short distance from the original place.
Well done JD. Got to visit there in 2022. Anyone who goes to Bastogne must visit this museum; it’s absolutely amazing. Interesting side note, a lot of the mannequin’s faces are the face of the museum owner.
Oh dang! Didn't know that.
I missed that one museum when I went there since I only had a few hours :(. But tank museum (is that the brick factory?!), bastogne memorial and bois jacques are also a must!
@@Hipp0campus_1 - The tank museum is Bastogne Barracks. I went there too. 🙂
Watching this again…. Was really impressed that this is the 101st museum but they show these other units so well! Impressive indeed! I just keep watching it! ❤
First: greetings from Belgium. Second: without the sacrefices from the Allies there is a big chance I would'd be here. So my humble gratitude goes to the heroes. Thanks.
Man, how have I not seen your channel until now? I’ve watched history vids on here for years, including a ton of ww2 stuff. This is excellent content.
Thanks! Appreciate that. Feel free to help a few others find it. 🙂
Wow that museum and the dioramas were so immersive! Here in the states I've only seen department store manikins dressed in uniform... 100% realism to really make you aware of the duties and prices paid. I loved this episode and that museum.
My father was so only 19 . Pure hell he went though .wonderful hero!!101st paratrooper. Pure hell they went though. Thank u for showing this video .only wish my dad had seen this..
Wow, the diorama's are truly special, so much more impact full than just displaying the artifacts themselves
Wow, those are some amazing dioramas!! What a museum!!
There is a 4days commemorative march held June 24 _ 28, centred around Bastogne. Nice walk in remembrance of the battle of the Bulge. Very good!
Yet another amazing video JD! thank you again for the videos! They bring me closer to my late grandpa and what the men did over there during the world war. I was born on December 8th 37 years and 1 day after the attack on Pearl Harbor and I always remember that day because of my grandpa.
Fascinating tour of the museum! I never knew so much history was housed under one roof. Truly a journey through time. Merci : )
Wow, I've just been there one month ago during the Bastogne Nuts weekend. Probably the best museum about WW2 history I've ever been to, the Wax figures are just on another level. Also the basement room that let's you experience what the German bombings must have felt like left me trembling, you don't get that everyday. Thank you JD for sharing this special place for everyone to learn some more about WW2!
What an amazing museum! The diaromas are phenomenal.! The mannequin people are so real. I loved the veteran who was with you, it was so special to meet him. Thank you for all you do to help us understand history J. D. Grammy from Texas
Hello, 2 years ago I was visiting Bastogne, and the 101 museum in Bastogne is simply impressive.
And I would personally encourage you to do more parts of the museum since you have left out many things that I understand are impossible to put in a video, such as the central staircase of the museum with a parachutist from the 101 with the parachute on and "falling through the hole of the stairs" or something else that is in the basement, which is the simulator of the entry of the troops into Bastogne, because it simulates being in a house in Bastogne and you listen and can see everything that was happening, which is the noise that is listen when the veteran is showing all those impressive things in the display cases
If the museum is very, very good, the basement is something apart with the objects and the dioramas.
Apart from this museum I was able to visit other museums since I was in the area for 8 days and I have to say that not all the museums were as spectacular as this one and my biggest disappointment was the Bastogne war museum, not because of the museum itself, which is very good with the clothes on, models and weapons, exhibitions, dioramas.... if not for the fact that they charge you entry to the parking lot, not to the museum, which I find normal, but only to the parking lot to leave a car? And it goes on... I don't know if you know why I think A long time ago you went or published it and you saw the Jacques Forest, where the 101st made trenches.....well, visiting the Jacques Forest is paid and the payment must be made at the War Museum, something that seems outrageous to me that They charge you to see something historical, the price I don't remember but it wasn't cheap and they charge it as part of the museum fee.
There was also a museum of those that people from the town run very well with a battle tank outside that explained where it was that they changed the color of the German battle tank, I say this because everything was not bad
Finally recommend the 101 museum in bastogne without hesitation
Thanks for your videos of Bastogne, Normandy and the rest.
THANK YOU FROM SPAIN
Put the sangria down.
I visited the museum in summer 2022. Well worth the time. New to me that the building has a history before the Battle of the Bulge.
I am really hoping when I go back to Europe in 25 that I will be lucky enough to vist that Museum it looks so fascinating, there is so much to see.
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I had a father-in-law, Ben Byrd who fought with the 10th Armored Division (CCB). He was wounded in 1945, received the Purple Heart and was sent home. I wonder if Lerner in the museum know Byrd as they were both in the same unit. My wife wrote her Master;s Thesis and it would make a great book and incredible movie!!! thank you for sharing.
that museum is fantastic. ive collected ww2 militaria for some 50 years now. im 69 and i love all this stuff. thank you so much for sharing this video with us. i really appreciate it!!! thanks JD. Larry
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I was there in 2013.it is an awesome museum. For me, I I have seen no better.
I lived near Toccoa, GA for 16 years and attended a number of PIR reunions. I met Sgt. Don Burgett. (Sorry, I may have misspelled his name though I hope not too badly).
I also have a friend who’s Dad was a Company Commander in the 10th armored. He was sent to a rookie outfit on Elsenborn ridge because they had no experienced officers. This man survived the war (thankfully) and my friend became a USNavy Seal who saw a good bit of combat in Vietnam.
They clearly spent a lot of money on the Bastogne Museum. Obviously it was well worth it. And so many artifacts!
We were deployed to Netherlands in 2018 and had an opportunity to go to Bastogne and stayed at the Melba Hotel near the museum. Unfortunately it wasn’t open so we did go to the foxholes on a haunting misty day and then on to the Bastogne War Museum.
Luxembourg is very appreciative of the Allies. Clearly, thank you for letting others around the realm see this fantastic museum.
Always great when you post a banger of an episode when I'm on the nightshift. Always had this museum on my bucket list and even though it's a couple hours away I've never visited but my god I need to fill my car up, pick my dad up and go there asap! Great museum, amazing diorama's, I can almost envision them coming to life and put a smile on my face when Jack talked about bringing all these trophies home.
I wish America cared about its history like the Europeans do to make our museums like 101st Airborne Museum of Bastogne. This museum is amazing. The exhibits and dioramas are incredible. As a museum professional this is a dream place to work. Your knowledge of military history astounds me and inspires me to learn more. Thanks for the tour.
I remember the episode when you first met the guys at the Gettysburg Museum of History. It's cool to see that you've continued to work with them.
Awesome museum. Seeing Erik get excited about it, you know it has to be good 😉 I really wish I could go on the upcoming tour in the spring. Hopefully some other time
Wow, you get to visit the neatest places! As a former 11B member of the 101st (Vietnam 69-70) I really appreciate seeing some of my outfit's history in places where I most likely will never be able to visit. I was 2/327th in Nam.
We visited last year. As shown, an amazing museum and experiance. Just out of town there is the Bastogne War Museum also. IN WHICH they have an American tank that received a direct hit.
The internal damage was incredible, no crew would have survived that. Visitors went VERY quiet in that room !
Wow what an incredible museum … great way of telling the story of an incredible battle - thanks JD
Excellent video, I have been to the museum and there is so much more to see there. Highly recommend visiting! It’s so awesome to have the veterans with you telling their stories and memories, something that we will not have to much longer to document!
I really enjoy your story telling your narrating is amazing and your editing and music added to your videos never fails to fit perfectly. the upmost respect for paying homage to the greatest generation with your videos the most perfect way possible
What a great museum. Thanks for all you do to share these videos with us.
I grew up around veterans. Three of the closest were in th Battle of the Bulge. George Camden had been in North Africa, Sicily, italy, Normandy, and all the way to Berlin. He didn't talk much about the war. He hated Germans, and wouldn't ride in a German car, or eat sauerkraut. Bernard and Allie Wilkerson were in the 101st Airborne. Allie was captured at Bastogne. He said that he survived in the POW building only because a young guard gave him some of his personal food. Allie said that he weighed 79 pounds when he walked out the door. RIP, George, Bernie, and my good friend Allie.
Getting shot at is one tough job, but to do it while exhausted, hungry and freezing cold is unimaginable.
THE BEST museum you've taken us through bar none!!!! The details are stunning!! Thank you!!
Aloha! JD, you and Erik are GREAT history teachers. Many thanks for bringing us along. Definitely on my bucket list of places to visit. Much luv 🤙
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I'm lucky enough to know personally some of the people who were/are part of the creation of this museum and to have followed its story since the beginning. Some facts : The heads and hands of the mannequins were molded on real people (some who are part of the museum's team), making them so realistic (and extremely expensive 😅). The building is the former Officers' Mess of the Belgian Army (for Bastogne Barracks located near there) and was restored and kept in its original condition, with granit etc. The reason why there are some personal belongings from Patton is that his granddaughter is involved in the museum. Frank (a lovely and very knowledgeable guy) who is quoted in the video isn't the owner of the museum but the owner of most of its collections, including its most beautiful pieces and is one of the fathers of the whole project. It has been one of the most beautiful museum of the area since its opening, and now that some others shut their doors (Baugnez for example) it's the best museum there for sure (even if there are other very good museums to visit in the Ardennes). It's rare to find such quality (both in collections and presentation) in a privately owned museum. Thank you for this amazing video, and thanks/congrats to the team of the museum for their amazing job and for making us Belgians proud of our Ardennes ! ☺️
Thanks and praise from Peterborough Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 ♥️ from a disabled history buff who only gets to experience my dream vacation (Europe) through your lense. But, at least i get to skip line-ups doing it this way lol. You and Mr Dorr are so appreciated!
Hi History Underground, I visit this beautifull museum last weekend with a son of a WW2 Veteran of the 9th ID, which has fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Thanks for the information about this museum. I did not know it before. It was an awsome experience. Regards.
My granddad was there in the 10th Armored Division. his kitchen truck got blown up there, It was the first night that he didn't sleep in the truck and took up shelter in a near by building.
There are many of us who cannot afford to visit these locations, so watching your videos and listening to your narration is appreciated JD!
Keep up the great work
My wife and I were there on the 50th anniversary of the end of the war 5/8/95. The whole area was astounding. Even today, I can still recognize the places shown in the original films from the war. The electronic map w/ narration showed how much Patton meant to the Belgians as well as the 101st. Brought back memories of a long ago trip..
Man, JD if you want to do more on the dioramas when you encounter them I, for one, would be thrilled. Those have always fascinated me.
I just can't tell you how much I appreciate all your videos. Thank you for delving into these important topics and sharing them with all of us.
The attention to detail in this museum is amazing
Wow! That is amazing. The dioramas are so lifelike! Thank you for going there for us.
This is an amazing museum. Worth taking your time and absorbing every small detail
This museum just made my bucket list.
Thanks for sharing.
Been there last year while visiting foxholes near Foy. Absolutely amazing place to visit.
Excellent work JD , thank you for sharing
You guys are always getting better ! Thank you !
Thanks for watching!
WELL DONE! My hair stood up watching the veteran look at all the artifacts in the case. Thank you so much for all you do JD. Someday maybe I’ll be able to make it over there but for now I’ll live through you and the stories told on here.
I’ve visited this museum, they actually sell surplus items that were found in the area. I bought a paratrooper’s compass and gave that to the love of my life to help her find her way through life.
I was in this museum in June, 2023, and it was one of the very best museums I have ever visited. My favorite part was going into an enclosed room in the basement and sitting through a night time bombing or artillery shelling raid by the Germans. Realistic sounds, darkness, and trembling of the room. It really gave me a sense of the terror that both civilians and soldiers endured night after night. They had more battlefield found relics than I had ever seen.
I was stationed in Berlin at Check Point Charlie 1975 and Grafenwoehr 1976-1978. I will be in Bastogne in September this year and thank you for showing this. Definitely a stop.
Just found out my old school bus driver was in the battle of the bulge as a member of the army. He just passed at age of 99. Wish I had known before his passing would have been an interesting gentleman to talk to. (I thought he had passed away years ago, what a missed opportunity by me).
JD; last few episodes Hurtgen Forest just blew me away in admiration for the Greatest Generation and amped me up for my upcoming visit to National WW2 Museum in New Orleans...
Visiting that museum long time ago. You feel that wartime there!
Recommended to all
Funny thing, my Opa served as replacment in 26th Volksgrenadier Division same divison that attacked 506 pir. He saw series back in 2005, he said that many of his best friends died around Bastogne. He died 2010.
Amazing place. I appreciate how you gave time to show the veterans that were there. Not many of them left. Soon they will not be here to tell the history. This museum is impactful.
On another note. Did you get your boots back?
Yes! Love what they did with them.
Outstanding episode JD.
Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating. Thanks.
Another truly amazing video. Great work my friend. You are the best
thanks for sharing this video with those of us who will never make it to Europe. This video could have been a couple hours long and would have still watched every second of it. Fascinating. Wish I could be there in person.
Wow, to do all this with a WW2 vet that was there must have been an emotional roller coaster. You keep adding to my travel bucket list.
Absolutely fantastic, thank you JD
Absolutely impressive
My Grandpa fought at the Battle of the Bulge. All he ever said to me was that it was absolute Hell, but he was proud of his service. Funny story. He enlisted as a single man with no children. A month later, he was married with four children. My Grandma was a very brave woman who divorced her abusive husband in the 1930s.
I went there in early 2020 I think February I toured the museum, it's amazing, when I came out it was snowing heavily, absolutely amazing museum really want to go back to bastogne.
Great Museum! thanx for posting !
I live in Belgium and been several times in this great museum. Hope you enjoy your staying in Belgium!!!
This is one of the best videos I’ve seen on your channel 👌🏻👌🏻 outstanding work
Fantastic museum tour JD
What a marvellous job you do educating us all ✌️
Super interesting! Thanks for sharing !!
Another outstanding video. My favorite parts:
17:50 One of the few veterans still able to visit the battlefield is recalling his experience while viewing artifacts.
19:26 “There’s the old grease gun we used to use!”
20:21 A German helmet with a bullet hole in the back. There are so many scenarios that go through my mind as the what the circumstances may have been.
Thanks for sharing. Definitely on my list of places to see.