XX_Bastogne

Nestled away from the valley communities in the Ardennes region, near the Belgian-Luxembourg border, lies the town of Bastogne, also known as Bastenaken. Bastogne is famous for its wartime past, while Bastenaken is known for the cycling classic Liège - Bastogne - Liège. With its many war monuments, Bastogne could serve as a symbol for all of Belgium. Belgium was often the battleground where enemy armies met during many wars, especially the last two World Wars, due to its strategic location. The number of battlefields and war monuments is therefore quite large. Bastogne is a prime example of this. Since the Middle Ages, the town saw foreign troops marching through its streets repeatedly. During that time, Jan the Blind provided Bastogne with walls, of which only the Trier Gate remains. The town became famous due to the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, when it became a clash between Germans and Americans. American General Mac Auliffe, with his troops surrounded by German units, defended the town. When the Germans demanded that he surrender in this precarious position, the general responded with the single word ‘Nuts’. In this way, he indicated to the Germans, in an American manner, that they were completely crazy and that he would continue to fight. The name ‘Nuts City’ has since been associated with Bastogne. A week later, after intense fighting, the town was liberated by General Patton. This halted the Von Rundstedt offensive, an important step in the further liberation of Europe. In memory of this, a memorial was unveiled on July 16, 1950, on the Mardasson Hill, a structure in the shape of a circular temple with five branches resembling an American star. This was in honor of the 76,890 American soldiers who lost their lives. The names of the states of the USA are inscribed on the monument. Beside the monument stands the Bastogne Historical Center museum. The museum is built around a central amphitheater, where the main phases of the Battle of Bastogne are showcased. This is done in an audiovisual manner, bringing to life the horrors of war from those days; it is not very suitable for people who have a dislike for violence. In the town, at Place Mac Auliffe, there is a bust of Mac Auliffe and an American tank. Along the access roads to the city, the TCB placed seven front posts and tanks in memory of halting the Von Rundstedt offensive. Another monument, depicting a wild boar, commemorates the first Ardennes Ranger who fell in 1940 defending the town. The city has repaired all the damage it sustained. The oldest building is St. Pierre’s Church, built in Gothic style (16th century) with a Romanesque tower (13th century).

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