Ardeny a Market Garden 2016 - cestovní report

Introduction

We didn't even get home from the event Berlin 2015, and already used questions of the type "and where are we going next?" ... Well, the choice wasn't too complicated, the locations of charged residues techniques, after the roof stuffed muzeji, places where převalily history of the second world war (and not only) here, go there, turn here and turn there and that we for the some 12 years of travel (the blue team will surely remember our first bus trip of 2004 to Normandy ) in detail unexplored, not much is left. Then when we had our predvánoční meeting in Karviná and questions to get into the plane nalehání to threats, I decided that in the same river for the second time again ... and the trip began to prepare.

The preparation is not good to underestimate, because while in civilized lands, where they are aware of the fact that tourism is alive, they are willing for things to do in the Ardennes, the opposite is true, and, for example, opening times of museums is so "incompatible", as it can be. The museum in the two nearby villages are often open on different days, the museum opens often up to around half a tenth or tenth and jut out in an attempt to do the last few photos will make you at five in the afternoon. Many of the time do not have.

Travel plan was eventually assembled, and will not reveal too much if I note that he managed to except for a few minor and rather nice exceptions, comply with..

Friday 3.6.2016

The neighbor's cock still happily sleeping, when I'm around half-past six he was heading for Prague for the rest of the crew of the car And. The embarkation took place despite the growing rain (or just thanks to him) quickly and in an orderly fashion, and after a necessary stop in front of Mcdonald in Prosek, where we met with a crew of car B, we headed towards new adventures. Because our evening destination was a hotel in Mannheim, due to its strategic position 'half-way' for the variant the filling of the second day (see below), the route of the us clearly led direction Pilsen, Rozvadov, Nuremberg.

And what would it have been for the expedition, if we miss the technical museum in Sinsheim and Speyer, which are right next to "our" highway? This museum, it is the certainty, a lot of interesting exhibits, our first Shermans (and there still will be!), the first hopping between the rain drops (and you still have to), some fillet and yay again on the path. The crew of the car B drove straight into the Speyer, Sinsheim was already duly clapped, so to the overall portfolio of the visited locations has also been added to the center of Speyer and the museum, in which we again happily found your boat and soviet space shuttle Buran. Even here the nas places chasing the gentle rain, but the man just hid somewhere under the wing of one of the exhibits on display, and mushrooms bad. Before the end of opening hours we have in an orderly fashion sit in the cars and continued the journey to Mannheim.

Accommodation took place without major problems, despite the fact that the operator of the hotel was literally drunk like a pig and spoke German about as well as I do ... Happy reunion with the crew of the car C, which had a considerably longer piece of the trip from Ostrava. Obligate the quest for the turndown purchases has changed in the navigation on a scavenger hunt, or shopping center we saw from the highway a few, but after the road from the hotel no more (until later it turned out that we were stuck on a different highway than we came). No less an obligatory stop on the hambuger but it kulantně solved and we finally on the way back to the hotel hit a nákupnu. Before the curfew, even a tiny conflict with a drunken a doorman of the hotel and goes to sleep..

Saturday 4.6.2016

Saturday morning we had certainly better, than the operator of the hotel, apparently after a night of heavy drinking overslept serving breakfast, so for myself, I note that the than again the next time live with the Turk, rather a paper box and to cover him with a cucumber ...

Saturday's program once again had to split our cars, according to the preferences. Cars B and C have decided to journey through the military collection in Koblenz, the confluence of the Rhine with the Moselle, stop at the remains of the bridge at Remagen and, unfortunately, a mistake in visiting the local "museum of peace" in one of the bridge towers. I wasn't there, just trying to convey: "it wasn't worth it".

The car And darted to the opposite side, to the luxembourg border. The first stop took place in locations of former labor camp of the SS Hinzert. In the early morning haze it was never a pleasant thought for all those people who were held in inhumane conditions. The visitor center is still closed, we're too early (it is barely half past eight), so we are going through this sad place and we jumped into the car. Target? Private air collection in Hermeskeilu. Here shutter cameras chattering about hand over fist, because it is definitely something to watch. The open area is exposed to roughly 50 aircraft, from fighters to large traffic. Since the second world war to the present day, we can find many machines that have undergone service in the German air force (after the war in the west and the east). I take pictures, I take pictures, pants wet up to below the knees from the grass, but I take pictures on. Again appears drizzling rain and makes it clear that the us still has in his crosshairs. Well, we zvyknem, we have a holiday to subvert the let!

More than two hours (and three hundred photos) later we meet at the car, we dry shoes, trousers, pressing into each other some food and go again on the path. The direction of? Luxembourg! We have a good time, so we can in the context of stops for refueling on the luxembourg border (in disbelief I'm here the price of diesel fuel several times counting, if my eyes do not deceive and really is it so cheap ...) to make a break. The sun came out, so hopkáme around the car barefoot and we dry what you can. It'll come in handy.

the American military cemetery in Luxembourg is a necessary stop for anyone who is interested in the lives of the general George S. Patton, for he is buried here with his troops from the battle of the Bulge and other skirmishes in the quest for liberation. Formidable cemetery with thousands of graves welcomes us shortly before two o'clock in the afternoon, but we must first wait for it to pass over the terrible cloudburst. I'm not afraid to say that the TOILET was on this waiting it better than anything uncovered the path, after which they released my two impatient fellow, so I then had plenty of time to enjoy their during the back under the roof. When the rain stopped, we could set out among the thousands of graves. Always a very powerful experience to read the names of the boys, which often was no more than twenty years, and who died far away from home around Christmas, just because one of the tortured painter was a decent enough nut. How about must have been to those families who received letters of "we regret to inform you", dated 24.12.1944? Lies are so many in here. Paratroopers, artillerymen, tankers, infantry, pilots. Far as the eye can see, the cross next to the cross or star of David.

Since that time we have really a lot of cars B and C have to arrive around fourth, we return to the visitor center at the entrance, and copying the position of the graves, which we can tell something more. Lies here a number of paratroopers 101. airborne division, known from the tv series Band of Brothers. Lies here the bearers of the Medal of Honor, the highest military honors the united states. There are pohřběni brothers, who fell in the battles with nazi Germany. And more and more stories. We are going through, we're looking for, take the picture. At home will be enough time for it all to pass, and be traced further information.

Suddenly, the sound of the trumpet, which announces that the graveyard for fifteen minutes to closing. Is 16:45 and I'm amazed how quickly it all goes by. And also, where the hell are the other two cars? That's the way they're, and they will not be too much to visit the grave of Mr. General ... the American flag from the flagpole slowly declining and we are quickly moving back to the parking lot. Comes because the next rain, and in it, just before the fifth, commute car B. Friends run out into the rain the direction of the cemetery and I'm trying to get the sympathy of the staff, which is going to lock the main gate and go into the heat of their luxembourg homes. Fortunately, they give us a few minutes, when I explain that here because we're going all the way from the Czech republic.

In the endless rain, then moving to the hotel, which is nearby. Short after us arriving and missing the car C and the crew scrambling to tells the experiences of Koblenz and an unscheduled excursion to the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle, which has a significant delay and neuprosná mathematics of distances and speeds then I didn't visit the cemetery a chance. Well. After a short flyby the hotel room we set out to nákupny with the knowledge that tomorrow is Sunday and thus in the local counties nenakoupíme absolutely nothing. The business center is near, but the journey there and back is complicated by the massive reconstruction of the road and absolutely diletantského road signs, but eventually we managed. Small incident at the entrance to the supermarket, when a colleague still triggers the alarm on the "stolen" goods, is explained by the presence of a chip in his recently purchased shoes (crank that it came at the entrance and not at the exit, it would maybe have to buy again ), entertain us and with a smile on his lips, after a good dinner, we headed to the hotel. After about the sixth rotation around the shopping center with us in the tangle of prohibitions, commands and missing the road managed to find a way back to the hotel and go to bed..

Sunday 5.6.2016

Slight change of plans. Looking at carefully for a minute, scheduled for Sunday, I find a certain space, we could go back to the american cemetery, and even friends from the car C it could see, before we put Luxembourg on the north, according to the original plan. Again we split up, cars a And B will visit the nearby German military cemetery of Sandweiler. Even in the morning mist of the rain the previous day too has trudností american. Different format, obviously, less glorioly, but the outcome is the same - thousands of dead young guys, who might as much experience, if some madman had sent to capture the surrounding land and bully their residents.

The last time we look into the deciduous forest, the cemetery quietly hiding, it's time to start up and run over to the the National military museum in Diekirch that for roughly an hour will be opened. We arrive at a time when the museum is still closed, and compared to my last visit there is no chance anywhere to park. Objízdíme therefore, the center of the city around the ring road until almost in front of the crossroads at the museum we get to the underground garage, where odstavujeme your sheet metal darlings and we walk a few dozen meters to the museum, which mezítim opened. It is surprising, how in so subtle and, in essence, a small house (from the outside) everything fit, and how to even get the trucks and heaps of other techniques to de facto the first floor, is a mystery to me. The strength of this museum but it is not just in the "big" exhibits, on the contrary. Its main strength actually lies in the myriad of little things, everyday objects of consumption, from food cans through nabojové belts until after the spare barrel and cleaning kit issued machine guns. Wow, just wow!

After some three hours we gather at the exit and after a short briefing we set the direction of Wiltz. Place, which became known to the luxembourgish general strike against the German invaders, the castle and the place of the fighting during the offensive in the Ardennes, and eventually even Eisehowerovým headquarters. A visit to the castle and the little museum is interesting rather as a museum of local pubs and beer, the battle of the Bulge is dedicated to just a few showcases and informational value is limited. A short walk to the monument of the strike, and at the same time, the observation tower, which offers a beautiful view of the surroundings, gives me the feeling that you are approaching the next rain. And what!

A summer thunderstorm as from encyclopedia, thankfully, to be issued on the opposite side than us, so it on the way to Clervaux gradually we lose it and also thanks to the small scale of wandering around the castle at the parking lot under lock and key we discover about in a moment, when the rain stops. First, we set out to the castle, in whose courtyard we find another Sherman, the German 88ku and wonderful views of the surrounding area, which gives a sense of why this strategic position have led so bitter a fight and it that one well built tank or anti-tank cannon to be able to keep this position for a very long time (though not forever). In the castle there is even a small museum dedicated to the events of winter 1944, after his visit then we gather down into the city to the memorial of american soldiers. We managed to save some time, so we affirm the original plan, that we go to a nearby Hurtgenského the forest, or to the municipalities Hurtgen and Vossenack, before we go to accommodate.

Navigation has a sense of the landscape (while the others have only two mods, the fastest route and the shortest time, that my navigation obviously has automatically selected the mod third, the route where the most you will see and experience ...). Over the mountains and valleys, picturesque villages (so picturesque, that the car C is here the next day even return it so you can walk in peace and take pictures of) is finally climbing up to the appointed German military cemeteries at the Vossenacku and Hurtgenu. On the first latter lies the general field marshal Walter Model. His grave has a temporary headstone, because the original was stolen. I guess without him the neonácíček couldn't sleep. Well. The place of bloody fighting in the Hurtgenském the woods mediate these two cemeteries and the subsequent journey on the highway of Aachen in Belgium, where today we will spend the night. The path through the deep woods in the early evening gloom is really grim, in the end, however, out of the woods, we venture out and even snap pictures of the concrete barriers of the Siegfried line, the last defensive wall on the border, fortunately not the millennial Kingdom. Today between bad překonávatelnými barriers to graze cows ...

We meet at the hotel and we are discussing plans for the next day. Already announced turning the car C, nepotřeba to go back and search for more remains of the Siegfried line (we feel enough fulfillment by what we saw for the day) gives us time to sleep in ... because we all still have in memory the next day, 6.6. two years ago, when we started sometime around five in the morning to catch the sunrise over the beaches of Omaha ... this Year it will be calmer..

Monday 6.6.2016

When waking up in the morning, I'm thinking, how many times have I this day for the last eleven years was actually at home? Well, many times it wasn't ... Just in Normandy, I've spent years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014 ... and every time I go back there I like, even if it's France. But today it's a little different, similar to last year. We are waiting for other places, other cemeteries. Oh yeah, another cement plant (according to the French cimeterie), grumbles a colleague from the next car. But for me, it's an integral part of the war, and if you have prohížet and take pictures of a killing machine, then you also have to view and take pictures of those killed. And that killed another man.

So we start the american military cemetery, Henri-Chapelle in Belgium. Nearly eight thousand graves in a gentle hill, with a variety of attractions. Equipped with the leaflet from the information centre we go through the rows of graves, reading the names, dates of birth, death. In addition to the holders of the Medal of honor and siblings nacházime i 1. Lieutenanta William H. Nellise, after which it is named Nellis AFB in Nevada. The cemetery has beautiful surroundings, it pays to cross the road and walk to the nearby prospect. And definitely not worth raise in the parking lot under the impression that there're going on a picnic, because the voices will reveal to the golf cart with the administrator of the cemetery. Everything is fortunately explained to picnicking is definitely there is even the idea, and after a friendly conversation with a gentleman who moved here from the US, we're packing up and moving on down the road farther.

Our next stop is fort Eben Emael, instead of the surprise attack of the German troops, which strength zakutanou into the rock above the albert's channel got on the blades within a few hours. We have exactly the specified time of the inspection, and we have to pay for 12 people, so we can with tours to go, but it's worth it. The fortress is outside basically inconspicuous, but in the underground we spend two full hours to the success story of a local guide. Finally, encouraged by the information on the exterior of the fortress set on fresh air, to heat, and, uh, I know that I repeat but it was so, into the rain. Therefore, the approaching rain. We are in a hurry to the hill, toward the lookout over albert's channel, take pictures of the outdoor artillery tower of the fortress and the armoured bells. Unfortunately, the fort is overgrown with grass higher than a man himself, so it's a bit nadliský task to get a good photo, and blackened the sky doesn't help. Of the prospect of regular running, while the weaker pieces of the herd yet to come. With the first drops of rain, we sit in the car.

Target? Cemetery! Second, the american military cemetery, which is located barely a few kilometers away, but on the Dutch side of the border, in Magratenu. Way slightly lízneme Maastricht, but the today is not on the agenda, perhaps another time. American cemeteries, as we know, in five closes, and so it is time, sir ... in The parking lot we're losing the crew of the car C, which is issued to the hotel for (their) early morning getting up and reluctance to undergo further "cement plant" on the morality of the car chose a heavy toll the rest of Us won't be tempted by some cries of "go home" and reward us is another interesting cemetery full of different stories. This time perhaps half of the cemetery are airmen, so fellow modelers go through the graves and collect evidence. Need to manage to find any of the here buried airmen and remind him a plastic model. That's the least we can do for them. The usual "curfew" on the tube of us running this time as well, but the departure does not take place - when arriving at the parking lot I realize that I have one round empty. Luckily, I'm with you guys, what if it comes down to it, they are quite skilled and strong (my exact opposite) and while I (again) recall the postponement of the locking the main gate of the cemetery, so that we can carry out the necessary exchange, on a car already in the works, and some stable F1 would such a pace could envy. After a few minutes, triumphantly leaving the car park by the cemetery and through a Mcdonald's in a sort of nearby the Dutch village we're moving to the hotel. Yeah, and if I haven't written, so it's raining

Fortunately, on the way to the hotel stop, because we have a small field operation - when traveling around Hurtgenského the forest to me, a cracked exhaust and our car, so can boldly compete with chopperům and properly kind of tricked-out stodvacítkám RS. We buy that material, that would be great, if you want to just broil the chicken or interrogating prisoners from Al Qaeda and with the help of an improvised ramp from the delayed the curb is down we plunge under the car, to the hole at least temporarily zalátali. And the world behold, succeeded! The car no longer hear the German tanks to tens of miles, just don't want to imagine the expression technique in the repair shop, when he's there after the holiday I'll get.

Najedeni and accordingly tired we fall into unconsciousness, to regroup. Tomorrow us the cheka Mecca the battle of the Bulge - Bastogne!.

Tuesday 7.6.2016

Bastogne. When that word stirs every lover of military history. American Thermopylae with a good ending, a handful of brave soldiers in the frosty weather, with a lack of supplies, ammunition, medical equipment,, facing the iron the landslide previous the great and desperate German attack.

From our accommodation down the highway back to the south and with the first warm rays of the sun (yes, sun!) we stop first in the Bastogne on the square, then we move for the city to memorial and the museum, where it is still closed. We return therefore to the main road, which guards, as well as other roads leading to Bastogne, the tower of the Sherman tank. Group and individual photo shoot and time for a late breakfast in such lovely company, well who would answer. I'm a little worried from the museum, I read that it has to be "multimedia", which usually means "all the historical exhibits, we sold and now it's here just in the pictures, and panels, and not here to take pictures". Well, perhaps it won't be. We return to the monument, from which there is a beautiful view all around the area and we can do a picture of where and how this is probably the most famous part of the battle of the Bulge took place. One can see the snowy plains, the joy of the defenders, when they arrived the first unit 101. airborne, and then, when past the russians busted the first Shermans army of general Patton. It's time for the museum!

The museum, I have to say, did not disappoint, on the contrary, in comparison with what I remember as the original museum before a number of years, this is significantly better. Added the varied range of exhibits, multimedia content complements the exhibits and what's more, the vision is also another Sherman! Although broken, but Sherman. The museum would be even longer than I originally planned, mainly due videoprojekcím, but time, unfortunately, we don't have to spare, and so quickly we're finishing the tour at a local store we buy some of that valuable literature and t-shirts, and cheers to the next gig.

This is a stop in the nearby woods, at the monument dedicated to the paratroopers from the stoprvní. In this forest they dug in and fought back German attacks. We walk through the forest, which was but obviously in that time several times cut down and again restored, so that traces of the war here, although they are, but a lot of them in the allotted time, we do not nd. You can't shine, we're moving on.

We're running through the Houffalize, where is the square exposed Panther, so a short stop for a photo shoot, as well as at the exit from the village, where is the cemetery, observant colleague registers the sign on the Commonwealth war graves ... Nalezám there two of the crew of Lancaster downed during bombing of German units in the Ardennes.

The next stop on our trip is the picturesque town of La Roche-en-Ardenne. For me, a bit mysterious, so far I have not been here, so I don't know what to expect. Anyway, here is the museum, some of those preserved tanks as monuments (Sherman!) and also civilization. Between the crews cars are threatening a revolt, if you somewhere will not be able to give those belgian fries (french fries ...). We parked directly in the center behind the museum, we walk through the city, looking for the bridge, which I know from photos and take pictures, then stop for lunch. We get from the waitress such a fuck, that almost we feel sorry for, that we're allowed here to come over and bother her with your requirement associated with the spending of money. Money is not important, mainly love. Anyway, we finish eating, we drink up, and than it starts to rain, so we go to the museum. Again, understated, but very nice and well equipped with a museum full of weapons, ammunition and other artifacts from the battle of the Bulge, we are very pleased. What we are not happy is the rain, which now came up, so we're waiting for the stops at least so we could run a tech a hundred yards to the parking lot ... Eventually we managed to get to the lookout above the town, where it is to change the positioned tank destroyer Achilles. The rain stops just in time so we could take a picture, and a couple of photos down into the city, and you move on.

the British military cemetery in Hotton is our last planned stop. The cemetery is in comparison with those of the american "small", but the stories are no less interesting. Along the way we meet the next turret of the Sherman (oh yeah) and on the way to the hotel then, quite unexpectedly, we come upon another Panther in the village of Manhay. The end of the day, showed our posádkach and so we're there around the tank and on it spent a lot of time But this unscheduled stop, we save the first point of tomorrow's program, so super.

For a change in the rain we arrived in the hotel, on the way still come here to buy some grub so after that the spiritual feed and page physical. Tomorrow is the last day in the Ardennes, one of the fortress-prison, one well-preserved Tiger B necessary cemetery and the site of the massacre of american prisoners in Malmédách..

Wednesday 8.6.2016

Another rainy morning and we once again we set out to the operation direction of Huy, a fortress, in which would be located "museum of the resistance and concentration camps". We parked along the road directly under the forts, and between the rain drops marching up the stairwell up to the entrance. The name "museum" is enough nadnesený, there is only a few panels dedicated to odbojovým movement in the Benelux countries, all in of wet and cold rooms of the fortress, so grateful to get out again into the fresh air and from the top of the fortress you take pictures of the surrounding area. At least the view is nice, even on a nuclear power plant basically in the middle of the city. What would it probably say the Austrians ...

The next item on the agenda is a visit to the american cemetery Ardennes American Cemetery (Neuville En Condroz) in the municipality of Neupré, that we passed on the way to Huy (at that time was still closed and everything has its time). Once again the great cemetery, oh yeah.

After the usual stop we the direction of La Gleize, i.e. the village, where next to the museum stands the Kingtiger ... yeah yeah, the big magnet for those who are going there for the first time! But for me, it was surprising the museum itself (December 44 Historical Museum, La Gleize) - has been significantly upgraded and extended by one floor, so the exhibits are no longer inflated in one glazed display cabinet, but they have their panels with labels and a variety of interesting information, are thematically divided and beautifully photographed (which in the previous version, this museum wasn't so much, at least not with flash). The only snag is the treasurer, which is probably not local and besides, somehow he can't other than French, and as it seems, even very well count. The gradual arrival of the other members of our team give him a big head, but in the end it counts down and the inside we all.

On the way between the villages of over and over again we ardenskou landscape of steep hills, narrow roads lead, deep valleys with streams. What it must have been in the winter of 1944/45 ...

The last historical experience of today's the day, before the obligatory visit to the Carrefouru and evening obžerstvím become Malmédy and the nearby museum of Baugnez 44 Historical Center, which stands barely 200 metres from the intersection, where the Germans executed american prisoners to nebrzdili their procedure. The despicable crime came out with a few survivors soon enough and woke up so well-deserved desire for retribution. Americans again and again received evidence that the system against which they are fighting, they must disappear from the face of the world. The museum is once again very well handled and fitted, a little icing on the cake was near the grazing herd the tenderloin, which I love eyeing especially me

So, we farewell the Ardennes, thank you for everything, what we could see, we even with the rain, which was here in the hills faithful companion, but in the end not so much annoying, it could be even worse. We return to our hotel in Liege, to pass a long way on tomorrow, when is the first part of Holland..

Thursday 9.6.2016

We leave early today it will be a long ride, but the reward us, be it hotel, where we will spend the following three nights. No more moving, packing and loading. And what's more, along the way await us Shermans!

The first stands at the railroad station in the center of the Leopoldsburgu. Firefly. Beautiful. Just beautiful. What is not wonderful is the traffic jam through the city, which lead to both rails, so numerous transitions to school, which is just fulfilling knowledge to eager pupils. Poposkakujeme, until finally out of the city we're getting out and moving direction of the Best, right in the next village, but we're building to the next Sherman. What is better than a Sherman? Two Shermans! And again, firefly!

Museum Wings of Liberation in the Bestu is again well equipped with both land technique, so even some by plane, but two hours dedicated to this museum we don't need the whole thing. We therefore previously and we're moving into the Ysselsteynu. The path is indeed depressing, a few kilometers of straight road, completely flat landscape without a single hill, it's Holland. Then suddenly a sign warning that it is coming more twist, as if it should be at least about 360 degrees, but in the end a slight movement of the wheel almost registering and going again straight ...

We arrive at the the German military cemetery in Ysselsteynu. It is one of the largest of its kind and is here some 32 thousand German soldiers. As I saw the really big cemeteries, but this took my breath away. When I say that the German stone crosses stretched, far as the eye can see, believe me, I'm not exaggerating. Not the greatest, that lies not far from Leopoldsburgu and there it is buried on 37 thousand soldiers of the Wehrmacht, but it is just in one day time to do. At least we have a reason to go back ever again.

From Ysselsteynu we're moving into Overloonu, where we plan to spend the rest of the afternoon before on the way to the hotel. Equipped with the memories of the tanks and the technique of multiple in the park I have a doubt, how the museum will actually look like. But the museum, meanwhile, built a big building and all the equipment after the reconstruction of the napěchovalo under the roof. The first part of the museum devoted to a panel exhibition about the course of the second world war is the fumble-bumble, we've seen dozens, and so a little disappointed we're going to lobby with the technique. And here I remain standing in mute astonishment. What I was expecting. Now me hurts the shutter of the camera, wow! Nervously looking at the watch, how much time we actually have. Three hours? Come on chop chop, it can't be done. Rozprcháme between the technique (at the door for Sherman, a little farther Sherman, a little further another with the odminovacím device, is this heaven or what?) and posting and posting. In addition to the tanks there is a huge amount of trucks, cranes, truck bodies, trailers, engines, and completely indescribable collection of ammunition of all kinds. A colleague shortly after entry occurs the battery in the camera, looking for the samurai sword to commit ritualistic suicide. Second, without know, while taking pictures, but on a damaged card, so the evening at the hotel will be swearing in many languages. The rest of us, we profotili and prokoukali the museum and it was definitely not the last time we were here! On the way out, we still agreed that we'll go to the nearby british military cemetery Overloon, a beautiful walk through the park in which the museum is located, led us to the cemetery. Dmu is proud of their navigational skills, without emphasizing that I'm the cemetery, waited a little bit somewhere else, but what ... Back we go through the streets Overloonu, in the square not far from the museum and the parking lot taking pictures of another Sherman (nirvana!) and on several signs along the way to get acquainted with the houses, which were damaged during the autumn fighting of operation Market-Garden.

From Overloonu we still want to go to the hotel, and then we'll go look at the next the british military cemetery at Venray, after you looking for a way to the hotel. And what the devil would have it, the hotel is barely a few hundred metres from Mcdonald's. Today is really a perfect day! We can still purchase in the nearby Cuijku and then we can enjoy the comfort of a luxury hotel, in which we are staying. The evening of a perfect day is spoiled by the revelation of a collapsed card in the camera and then car C decides to change the plan the next day so he could go back to Overloonu and take pictures of everything again, while you Zbycho rebounds after the footsteps of the Polish soldiers in Breda..

Friday 10.6.2016

Operation Market-Garden. A bridge too far. A bold operation that could end the war for a number of months previously, and which became the sacrificial place of the allied paratroopers. All this awaits us in the next two days.

Getting started the bridge at Grave and the fortification around its south-west raid, then when passing the Nijmegenem visit Jonkerbos War Cemetery hidden in a park in the middle of the city. We're heading into the hills around Groesbeeku. Us here in addition to numerous památníčků in places landing troops waiting even a huge Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery & Memorial. The canadians went into the fighting incredibly bravely and here are a couple of thousand resting forever.

Getting acquainted with the landscape and move to the edge of the Groesbeeku, where waiting for us Nationaal Bevrijdingsmuseum 1944-1945 and in front of him standing Sherman (I already said that today I hope none of them see each other again ...). The museum is more of a panel, but there are also a number of interesting exhibits, including original uniforms, general Maczka. In the hall of memories are books containing lists of the losses of all the allied soldiers killed in western Europe from the landings to 8.5.1945. Some lists can be bought in book form, so I do not hesitate and break a virtual piggy bank, it will be a suitable addition to the earning news of the cemeteries. Photo shoot with the Sherman is a nice dot for this museum and looking at a hot car in the sun with the love I remember the rain in the Ardennes.

This is where our paths divide, the cars a And B are proceeding according to plan in the Heterenu, the car C is returned to the Overloonu and to Breda.

The museum Betuws Oorlogsmuseum "The Island" 1944-1945 is as unobtrusive as possible. According to the navigation it has to be around here somewhere, but here they are all just houses, wtf? We're passing around the address that I'm at the museum still at home, he noted, and because it's not according to the indicated opening time open, we cede a problem with finding the then and give you a royal serving of real French, well, belgian, Dutch fries at a nearby diner. Onslaught six people is here at this time of day obviously completely unexpected.

Emboldened by the French fries we find the courage again to look after the museum and, lo and behold, the arrow head ... well I'll be damned ... directly into a single family house. A bell with a sign with the name of muza. Ringing the bell. In the meet we started a barking dog, but is immediately spacifikován its owner, who invites us on. Sheepishly looking around the room, where as the next. We are going through chodbičkou to the garden, where the exhibition of the various parts of the fighting techniques unearthed in the area. Then the owner opens up a space about the size of a garage, jam-packed with exhibits, in particular uniforms and personal equipment of soldiers. From the belgian and Dutch uniforms from the beginning of the war, through the uniforms and helmets of the SS until after the british and american paratroopers. And all the originals! We receive a very broad interpretation to every exposed piece of his story. About the helmet, which threw the soldier during the retreat across the river, under fire, in which died his friend. A part of the uniforms of the SS, which donated a family without any further clarification, apparently was ashamed of his ancestor in the SS units. Unfortunately, the very interesting story is interrupted by the arrival of a canadian television crew who will be filming the reunion of one veteran with his helmet (on which he had engraved his number, so it is managed even after 72 years, trace and connect). Due to the fact that there is place in the pocket watch and the head now we have full information, we give on the retreat. On the outside, yet we're tracking the arrival of the main convoy filmmakers and then get in the truck and we leave.

Time we have enough yet, and so we stop at one of those famous bridges, which was fought in the Nijmegen.

The evening then just the usual purchase, McDanda and sleep. It was an interesting day!.

Saturday 11.6.2016

On Saturday there is a consciousness of the inevitable end of our expedition, but we have before us the highlight of our trip - Hartenstein and Arnhem.

First thing in the morning the usual pennant in the cemetery - the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery. The british cemeteries are open "round the clock", so can you visit before they open the museum. Near the cemetery is also a memorial to the british paratroopers who fought bravely to maintain Arnhem.

The main magnet of the morning program is the castle of Hartenstein, the building in which you set up the headquarters of major-general Urquhart, the commander of the british troops. The museum is very well made and equipped, in the basement there is a multimedia "experience" of the war, but it depends on the taste of each, how much to give him such attractions like it or not. A well-equipped shop provides us with the missing literature on the subject of Market Garden. If you saw the movie a bridge Too far, Urquhart played by Sean Connery.

And then off to Arnhem!

Originally scouted out the parking lot we unfortunately didn't find, or in place plays just about any construction or reconstruction, but in the end we managed to park near the river in something, what you might call the factory district, but within a few minutes we're at the bridge John Frost, pojmenováném after another famous british paratroopers, generálmajoru John Dutton Frost, who commanded the allied forces in Arnhem (in the movie it starred Anthony Hopkins). The bridge is not original, was still in the war destroyed, but the newly built bridge of 1948 is built in the same style. It is interesting that the other bridges over the Rhine in Arhnemu bear the names of Nelson Mandela and Andrei Sakharov. Plans for a new bridge in Oosterbeeku then carry named after the Stanislav Sosabowskem.

We're going through the bridge, take pictures, take pictures, take pictures. Disappointing is the absence of the original construction, which was at the beginning of the bridge, and which either completely disappeared, or were replaced by tasteless modern buildings. Well, time does not stand still, but flies. We walk to the information center, we're shooting in standing british cannon and continue to the center of the city, soak up a little atmosphere. Eventually we meet at the cars and roll out each on a different side. Those who haven't been in the Nijmegen go there, we instead, we give a trip to Germany, to Reichswaldu. Also here about him on the war, it said, also led a tough battle, and at its heart is skován a huge british military cemetery - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. The sun relentlessly beating down, but even so we are experiencing, we are looking for a flight, we and our crew of the Wellington crashed during a raid on the Hamburg. Sad that the dot for today's travel.

We're going back to the hotel, it's time to rest before the trip home..

Sunday 12.6.2016

The Sunday program is again the "optional" - is planned man in Soesti, but according to available information, it will be "nadýl", and somehow have a lack of power. Car B there is, the car C is spinning a home, because to Ostrava for a long, long road and we choose the less demanding path and an alternative to the originally planned Friday - we're going back through the Remagen and Koblenz.

In Remagen it is just a short stop to photograph the get the remains of the bridge, well warned by others we're in a museum of peace, just quietly watching the rain copiously overflowing Rhine river and we call, what it must have been, such a power to overcome the under fire ...

Koblenz and its Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung is a certainty, here I was many times. Several floors showcases small arms, radios, helmets and other equipment, cannons, mortars and machine guns, a hall of tanks, anti-aircraft guns and missiles, even some of the letado, helicopter ... just something to look at. The only forces are dwindling and the shutter of the camera reminds us that it all also at home we have to go through, sort out, describe, navkládat.

The last look back at military equipment, to give you some food and then go home. After the way of us catching up with the rain, as if he had come to the end of the world, but the rain despite the around ones clock the evening telling his faithful crew in Prosek and I'm heading home.


Gradually gather reports from the other participants of the trip, that all are fine at home, that no brown saucers is missing, so we have no choice but to conclude that this trip is (again) a success. Just on the question of "where are we going next time" will be more complicated to answer. Those of us who haven't been, waiting Uk, Bovington, Portsmouth, Duxford ... but I already have this part I've got enough absolvovánu. Left "details", Finland, Israel, Italy, but nowhere is it possible to wait such a plethora of museums, what we have experienced in the last three years.

Where next? For me about the USA. Someday ... I hope..