2015 WWII Tour?

[Top Gear TVR]

I have moments where I fancy doing Auschwitz, the damns from The Dambusters and even the major burial sites of WWII.

Anyone else ever fancied this idea (interspersed with driving if course and camping or hotels as usual :-)

[v8s4me]

Sounds interesting. Not sure about Auschwitz though. How about Colditz and then Berlin?

[Top Gear TVR]

I think cold it's is a hotel now?

[Barry S1]

We had a extra day this year
stayed at Ypres, when you look
at the war graves and reading the
names they were so young the museum
in Ypres is a must :-(

[swimmerS2]

A friend of mine visited Auschwitz several years ago, he said it was something he felt he needed to do!

[glenrobbo]

I'm not sure I would want to visit any of the Holocaust concentration camps:
Auschwitz, Dachau, Belsen, Buchenwald, Ravensbruck and many more.
The very names give me the creeps.

I do think it's very important that we never forget what happened, but the sad fact is that genocide is still going on today in various places and it seems that man's inhumanity to man still knows no bounds. I just wish we could make it stop.

As Barry says, a visit to Ypres really brings home to you the utterly pointless futility and waste of human life that is war.
I think everyone should go and visit that town, the beautifully kept cemeteries, the various museums and attend the daily Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate.
A very poignant & emotional experience.

I'd certainly like to revisit Ypres "In Flanders Fields" Museum again, and I'd love to explore the Ardennes region at a more leisurely pace, maybe visit Bastogne & the WW2 Battle of the Bulge sites, also have a little re-run of the parts of the old Spa-Francorchamps long GP road circuit that are still accessible.
I love the Ardennes when the sun shines. Ah, now that's the tricky bit, the weather can be a bit fickle Never mind, the beer is reliable

Colditz? Get yourself a thermal vest.

Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 27th August 10:38

[mep12345]

Glen, having been to auswitz i believe it should be on the school curriculum as it is so open, honest and moving. The museum there also gives the true story of all those who were killed and doesn't just concentrate on the Jewish genicide alone. The Russians, gypsies, disabled and political opponents had it just as bad if not worse and were killed in the thousands too but they are often forgotten.

Just in case someone misreads this I am not underplaying the holocaustjust pointing out that at auswitz it tells the story of all including the horrendous number of Jewish deaths under the nazi regime

Must agree though for a tour in an S series it is far too far away, I'd suggest Daccau which I am told it set up almost as well as Auswitz to move the visitor

[Buzzlt]

I can recommend a good polish beer as have tried them all (probably).

Even after a few however Auschwitz was definitely not my cup of Tea!

Driving in Poland is also not a good Idea as they have a zero tolerance for drinking and driving. i.e. You are not allowed to have any alcohol in your blood when driving. Even though drivers in Poland seem to adhere to this very strictly a lot of them appear to drive as if they have consumed 10 pints!

[steve j]

I`ve been to Bergen Belsen, it`s a very sombre place, upsetting too. The museum dedicated to those who lost their lives really shows the suffering that took place

[Longers]

The only comparison I can make is the Killing Fields and Security Prison 21 (a former high school which was used as the notorious "hotel") in Cambodia. It was totally horrific experience but strangely one I'm glad I've had, just to partly understand what those poor souls went through at the hands of a mad man.

My wife decided to wait for me in Phnom Penh which was probably a good job because she wouldn't have coped with it at all. In fact, hanging onto the back of a crazed scooter rider/taxi to get there on busy and pot holed roads would've been too much for her...

[TurboTony]

Steve

It may be possible to have a mini tour in Northern France and Belgium. I stopped at Ypres in 2012 after Spa as well as this year. In fact I will be going back in October with my wife. There is the Menin Gate but many other memorials in this area.

If you consider the other war related sites in close to Calais:

The V1/V2 bunker recommended to me by OldredV8S and which I have not visited yet: http://www.leblockhaus.com/en/

There is a V2 rocket site at St Omer:

http://www.lacoupole-france.co.uk/history-centre.h...

Of course some lovely towns including Arras which has a fascinating WW1 history are worth visiting:

http://www.explorearras.com/en/discover/architectu...

If one was to travel up the Cherbourg peninsula then a visit to the D-Day landing beaches would be possible. The American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach (as seen in the opening scenes of 'Saving Private Ryan' is another thought provoking place. The 360degree cinema at Arromanches is also a must.

There are many other places to visit which are not too far from Calais. I suppose it just needs an interesting route to be woven around this area.

This could form a long weekend perhaps - rather than a major week long expedition.

Food for thought!

Cheers
Tony

[S2Mike]

Tony, I am waiting for a damp cold evening to research that very idea. Family history has several relatives sadly lost during the wars that are buried in cemeteries that have never been visited along the route of the D940/D925/D514 / D513 . My initial idea was to cross the channel to Calais and roughly, follow the coast via sites of particular interest, to Cherbourg or St Malo then cross back. Many years ago I toured all along this area but without the depth of knowledge to appreciate it.

Edited by S2Mike on Thursday 28th August 19:52

[TurboTony]

Mike

if you want to get together one evening, I would be happy to help. My chum Kevin has a house in Normandy and has lots of local knowledge as well.

[S2Mike]

That sounds like a good plan. I will be in touch in the not too distant future. Local knowledge is very valuable.