Bastogne War Museum facts for kids
The Bastogne War Museum is a fascinating place. It tells the story of the Battle of the Bulge. This was a very important battle during World War II. The museum is in Bastogne, a town in Belgium.
The museum opened on March 21, 2014. It took four years to build! Inside, you can go on an interactive audio tour. This tour takes at least two hours. You will see many real items from the battle. The museum also has three exciting shows. It shares the stories of four made-up characters. These characters help you understand the battle. The main exhibit shows what happened before, during, and after the battle. There is also a gift shop and a café.
Contents
What You Can See at the Museum
The Mardasson Memorial
Right next to the museum is the Mardasson Memorial. This huge monument honors American soldiers. It remembers the 76,890 Americans who were hurt or went missing. This happened during the Battle of the Bulge. The monument has many words carved into it. It also lists all the US states and the US army groups. You can walk to the top of this 12-meter tall monument. Spiral stairs take you up for a great view.
"Thunderbolt" Sherman Tank
You can see a special Sherman tank called "Thunderbolt." It belonged to the 11th US Armored Division. This tank was fully fixed up. It is now on display near the end of the museum tour. On December 30, 1944, the tank was stopped. This happened during a German attack. Its crew became Prisoners of war (POWs). They were taken to a war camp.
Meet the Characters of the Battle
The museum's main exhibit shares the stories of four characters. They are not real people, but their stories help you understand the battle. Each character played a different role.
- Robert Keane: He was an American corporal. He served in the US 101st Airborne Division. Robert joined the US army after his brother. His brother was fighting in the Pacific Ocean area.
- Hans Wegmüller: He was a German lieutenant. He was part of the German 26th Volksgrenadier Division. Before fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, Hans fought against the Soviets.
- Mathilde Devillers: She was a young Belgian teacher. She worked at a school in Bastogne. Mathilde lived on a farm near the town with her family.
- Émile Mostade: He was a 13-year-old Belgian schoolboy. His parents owned a bicycle shop in Bastogne. Émile also owned an accordion.
You will learn about their lives during the war. You will see how they experienced the events. All four characters eventually meet. They hide in a cellar together. This happens during the Luftwaffe's air attacks on Bastogne. At that time, Bastogne was surrounded by German forces.
