Overview:  By the end of the 1800’s, Verdun was the most  heavily fortified town in France, with the Citadel and 38 forts and defensive works.  It became the site of one of history’s most devastating battles.  Under a deluge of shells and mortar bombs, the city was given orders to hold out “at all costs”.  The price was appalling!  The town was destroyed.  Nine nearby villages ceased to exist.   At a cost of some 400,000 German casualties and a similar number of French, the attack was finally called off. Germany had failed to bleed France to death.  The battle continued, however, from October to the end of the year.   Four years later, on 10 November 1920, France chose its Unknown Soldier from those buried at the Citadel.  This soldier is buried under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in St. Avold, France contains the largest number of graves of our military dead of World War II in Europe, a total of 10,489. St. Avold served as a vital communications center for the vast network of enemy defenses guarding the western border of the Third Reich.  Most of the dead here were killed while driving the German forces from the fortress city of Metz toward the Siegfried Line and the Rhine River. Initially, there were over 16,000 Americans interred in the St. Avold region, mostly from the U.S. Seventh Army's Infantry and Armored Divisions and its Cavalry Groups.

Itinerary:  Travel directly to Verdun to visit the outdoor areas of Fort Douaumont, the Memorial of Verdun, and Bayonette Trench.  These open air visits instill an appreciation of the terrible conditions experienced under constant bombardment, battlefield injuries and extreme hunger.  A lunch opportunity will be provided, but you may also pack a picnic meal to enjoy at a rest stop.  Continue with a visit to the underground areas of the Fort, which played a vital logistical role in the Battle of Verdun and changed hands many times.  Hear for yourself the incredible history which took place in those walls!

 Our tour ends with a visit to the Lorraine American Cemetery at St. Avold, France, resting place of over ten thousand American military from World War II.  This cemetery is especially appreciated for the peaceful landscaping, bringing honor and dignity to those who suffered and died in the Battle of the Bulge.  It is a sobering reminder of the price of Peace in Europe. 

Depart St. Avold at about 5:00 p.m., with arrival to points of origin at approximately 6:30 p.m..