Ardennes query

Wessex Wyvern · #1 (**permalink**) November 15th, 2007, 07:18 AM

Back in October 2006 we were on holiday in Flanders "doing" the 1940 campaign including the Dunkirk beaches and also the WW1 battlefields at Ypres for the umpteenth time.
For a break from all those battlefields and cemeteries we popped down to the Ardennes for the day, not to visit any WW2 sites but visit the motor-racing circuit at Francorchamps as that is another interest of ours.
So can anyone tell me what actions were in that area, Francorchamps, Stavelot & Burneville during the Battle of the Bulge?
Thanks in advance.

PzJgr · #2 (**permalink**) November 15th, 2007, 01:06 PM

Found this link that goes into the battle of Stavelot.

897th and 3562nd Ordnance HAM Companies, 1941-1945

Has some good photos of the town.

Martin Bull · #3 (**permalink**) November 15th, 2007, 05:07 PM

The Spa circuit was 'by-passed' by the Bulge fighting ; it is rumoured but unproven that some recce elements of Kampfgruppe Peiper may have passed along the southern leg of the old cicuit ( ie through the Masta Kink ).

But Stavelot was heavily involved in the fighting between US forces and KG Peiper - for full accounts see Michael Reynolds' book 'The Devils Adjutant' or Pallud's 'Battle of the Bulge - Then & Now'.

Wessex Wyvern · #4 (**permalink**) November 15th, 2007, 09:44 PM

Thanks for that chaps, I'll have to "borrow" my mates ATB book next time I see him.
Just been reading about the Masta Kink
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

The Masta Kink was one of the most fearsome sections on any race track in the world, requiring skill and bravery in equal measure to get it right. After a long run from Malmedy, the cars would reach top speed before having to negotiate Masta, a high speed left-right chicane, and a good exit speed was vital as it is followed by another long straight run to Stavelot

I now have visions of some mad SS drivers trying out their racing skills.
Whilst walking around the wooded in-feild I saw my first Crested Tit which is another of my interests, so I must be the only WW2-enthusiast who went to the Ardennes NOT to see the site of the Battle of the Bulge but visit a race-track when there was no race on and see a bird he hadn't seen before.
There were some Mercedes there on a track day so was at least able to see something fly up the Eau-Rouge.

scarface · #5 (**permalink**) November 16th, 2007, 02:14 AM

I'll save you the effort, Za....

..... it's a picture of a bird!

(... I feel so stupid!)

-whatever

-Lou

Martin Bull · #6 (**permalink**) November 16th, 2007, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wessex Wyvern

Just been reading about the Masta Kink

Slightly O/T, but in 1973 my Dad took me to see the Spa 1000kms - one of the last races on the 'old' circuit. No catch-fencing, you were very close to the action - and the 'action' was an average speed of 160mph ... on public roads....

Masta was taken absolutely flat-out and I've driven through it many times since in various road cars. I hate the word 'awesome' but old Spa was - AWESOME !

PzJgr · #7 (**permalink**) November 16th, 2007, 02:06 PM

Ha ha. I remember a friend and I went to Maastricht to pick up some 'medicinal' stuff for him. On the way back, he was smoking it. This is where I discovered that second hand smoke does indeed exist. Next thing I know, everything seemed fuzzy, I see cars passing me by and we passed the grandstand. I realized we were on the race track and I had no clue how we got there. I thought, what the heck, are we in a race? Just then I realized that the track uses part of the road that we are on. Talk about a high experience.