Battle of The Bulge / Hurtgenwald

Hi Folks,

Just wanted to post a wee intro as I have just joined the forum and I am keen to hear from like-minded friends, especially those who focus upon the Bulge and Hurtgenwald. As you will see from my profile info, I am a full time Historian based in the UK and Germany (Monschau) yet I work all over the world working on television documentaries and conducting staff rides and tours to battlefields from Stalingrad to Monte Cassino, Normandy to Norway!

I have been visiting the 'Bulge' for the last twenty-five years or so and we decided to move to Monschau as it is easy for work and a great place to live. Always keen to hear from folks who spend their time exploring the battlefiedls near here, and especially keen to hear from anyone who has a detailed knowledge of the Hurtgenwald in particular. I have a moderately large archive mostly drawn from my work all over the world's research institutions and I am always keen to have a beer or welcome folks to our home here in Monschau. Always delighted to meet likeminded folks who don't mind rattling around the battlefield in an old WW2 vehicle....if any UK based guys are coming this way we have a superb rental house in Monschau or my floor!

 

Hi Silksheen! Welcome on board.

I'm not from the UK but I visit the region your mentioning almost every single weekend. Together with my 2 best friends; a metaldetector and a camera.
Currently working on info of Heartbreak crossroads, http://www.ww2f.com/western-europe-1943-1945/49208-heartbreak-crossroads-request.html
The Hürtgen trips has come to a halt, because I'm focussing on a few projects in the Eifel/Bulge area right now. (Region Hellenthal towards Prüm). Well nice to see you here and take care over there, Those slippy small roads in Monschau are terrible in this weather. ;-)


With the best regards,

Nick

 

Hi Silksheen and welcome to the forum.

I have visited the region a few times in recent years. When I was there in September along with my dad and Pegasus we spent an afternoon in Monschau and I must say it is a beautiful place to live. I'll call in on you for a cuppa when i'm back over there next year.

That ride in a WW2 vehicle sounds very tempting.

 

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the post to kick me off on the site; really good to hear and see your activities around here. In the early days of my visits to the 'Dennes' there was a wealth of material just lying around, not only that but in farmer's barns and via the locals. The extreme of this was at Bucholtz station when an elderly chap emerged from his garage and handed my pal and I a German Tank Jacket - naturally in black and still smelling of a fuel spill on it!!! Unfortunately this was stolen from my car in the UK along with a few other items. It would be certainly good to meet up and share a beer down here when you are down. I am currently looking for a series of photo's from in and around Hofen alongside some of more of the general north shoulder in the US archives in Washington. I am back over to the UK in early Jan and then off to Poland (Breslau) to work on a couple of projects. I am certainly hoping to be in Monschau at the end of January. I have a couple of houses in Monschau (one we rent out) so if you want a bed for the night and a few beers, you'd be most welcome. What maps are you using for your research? Best wishes from a snow-bound Monschau! Cheers, H

 

Hi John,

You are most welcome anytime! It is a cracking place to live and surrounded by the most fascinating stuff. Most of the time when I am here I am trying to switch off from the war (it's my daily work so I need to try!) yet it proves impossible as the locals now know me as the "the war man" and bring me things or tell me there's a hidden this or that! I am currently negotiating for a cracking barn nearby to Monschau where I can keep my vehicles. My favoured is a 1942 Dodge Ambulance that was originally used by the 1st Inf Div down here and I regularly drive around the 'Dennes' area. My pal nearby has a really decent collection of German stuff so maybe we can behave like big kids when you make it down next. Cheers, H

 

Thanks, H.

It would be great to see the Dodge you have and also your friends collection-it's always good to meet other people who are like minded like oneself.

Even though our main reason for visiting the area is from a WW2 perspective, I too like to 'switch off' when i'm there and just take in the sheer beauty of the place...and also the fine german beer!

 

Ha! Nice to read your message Silksheen... a panzer jacket from Bucholz??? Thats sounds fantasic! But is was stolen?? How on earth! Did you at least have pictures of it?
I'm looking very forward to meet you and share some stories...
And renting your house in Monschau sounds very attempting, its better and warmer than sleeping in the woods what we normaly do.

And in addition to John's post. Here is Monschau in the wintervieuw of 2008. Me and a friend spend a weekend in the small town not to search or do any ww2 activities but just to relax and enjoy the nice cold Erdinger's.

 

Welcome to this fine forum Silk, What a shame your tank jacket was stolen from you!

 

Hello Silksheen ( which I always associate with East Kirkby airfield....) and a very warm welcome to the Forums !
I've never been to the Hurtgenwald, but the Ardennes is one of my favourite places in the World and I visit whenever I can.....

 

Maybe we could all form a WW2F convoy and travel over there next year.

 

Hehe why not. Sounds like fun!

 

The thought of those cold Erdingers makes me want to go there now.

 

Hehe indeed, I have the good fortune that they sell them in my village as well.
The Zwickel beer from the Monschau brewery is also very tasty... but I'm affriad I'm going offtopic, moderator please stop me!!

 

We are only going off topic slightly, Nick.

Erdinger is also sold here in the UK but at a premium price and only at a limited number of outlets.

I'll make a point of sampling Zwickel when I go back to Monschau.

 

Thanks JW, I am pleased to be onboard and look forward to maybe assisting with research and any info folks may need. The idea of an MV convoy is a great one and I'd be pleased to look into that! I have a number of friends down here with very private collections of material and vehicles that I am sure would be involved. As I mentioned, we have some property down here so I am more than happy to throw open the doors and welcome folks down for a few cheeky days before Christmas next year? I am currently working on a major movie prospect (US based) that may well kick off next year involving the Ardennes and we are already uncovering some untold and amazing stories and discoveries on both sides.

As for the Zwickel.....I will sit tonight in my local bar and just test out the quality control for all those on the forum....we MUST ensure that the renowned German purity (of beer!) laws are maintained so I can report back!!

All the best,

H

 

Thanks for the welcome and yes, East Kirkby is the link! I first visited the place back in 1981 when it was well overgrown and abandoned. I have made several documentaries about Bomber Command over the years and always had a soft spot for the old place - I was also fortunate enough to 'beat the field' as the Yanks would call it in the BBMF Lanc a couple of years ago when I spent the season flying with them for a film - it was a real full circle for me.

Judging by your title I am presuming all things BC and RAF are your bag? I work hand in glove with the current RAF on history and heritage projects and spend a good deal of my work time on BC related issues and projects. As for the 'Dennes'; to know it is to love it, and you should pencil in a date to make a another visit. Thanks again for the welcome, H

 

You're more than welcome ; it's a long drive from here, but I've been up to East Kirkby on a number of occasions ( usually on very cold days...) simply to stand and hear Just Jane's Merlins fire up...... I'm interested in much WWII history but the Night Airwar is a fairly constant thread with me ( as it is for quite a few members on here ).

I do hope you'll stick with us ; and don't be shy anbout resurrecting any old threads from the archives.....

 

Hi Silksheen, do you perhaps also own a house in Kaltherherberg? There is a house for sale and the seller is also a English man, perhaps it is you?

 

No it's not me, but I do know the house; I had a look at it a while ago and decided that it was too run down for me to buy - it needs a good deal of work. I may well look to buy something in that area in the future - I currently need a place to store some of my military vehicles so that would solve a problem. You must let me know when you're down this way next and we can meet up for a beer - or two!!