Blitzkrieg in the West - French Ardennes May 1940

This new tour, in the 75th Anniversary of the 1940 fighting, looks at the crucial firing in the French Ardennes in May 1940. From the bitter struggle on the Maginot Line to the crossing of the Meuse River, to the tank battles at Montcornet and Stonne, we see where German tactics and equipment beat one of the largest and most modern armies in Europe, and look at where Adolf Hitler had his headquarters in the Belgian Ardennes.

Tour Includes

3 nights' accommodation with continental breakfast
Specialist Battlefield Guide
Battlefield visits as described
Convenient local joining points
Travel by executive coach

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Local departure by coach, then to Reims area for a three-night stay.

We begin our tour at the impressive Battle of the French Ardennes museum at Novion-Porcien which chronicles the fighting in this region of France from 1870 to 1945 and has a large section on the battles of May 1940, including tanks and half-tracks. We then look at the German Army crossing of the Meuse River in May 1940 before having lunch in Sedan, with it's impressive citadel. In the afternoon we visit one of the few areas of the Maginot Line which saw heavy fighting at Villy La Ferte, getting a fully-guided tour of the casemates and tunnels. We end the day with the huge tank battle at Stonne when French Armour faced German Panzers.

Includes Breakfast

We start today at an excellent private WW2 museum at Semuy, with an amazing array of uniforms and equipment. We then look at the role of French Colonial Cavalry, the Spahis, seeing where they fought at La Horgne, as well as their unique cemetery. Following lunch in Charleville-Mezieres we cross briefly into Belgium to see Hitler's "Wolf's Lair", a bunker which was his headquarters in May-June 1940. We see the exhibitions and museum to the Belgian Resistance then end the day looking at the fighting at Montcornet where Charles de Gaulle commanded French tanks in May 1940.

Includes Breakfast

To Calais then return home.

Includes Breakfast

Prices are per person, based on two sharing.

Extras: optional excursions; entrance fees to museums and places of interest; single room supplement £89; travel insurance from £34.95.

Accommodation

You will stay for three nights at the 3-star Ibis Reims Tinqueux on the outskirts of the city. The hotel has a bar and restaurant and all bedrooms have a T.V. and telephone.