Market Garden to the Alps

5.0 - 1 review

Length of Tour:

9 days | 8 nights

Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany

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The Market Garden to the Alps Tour follows in the footsteps of the Allies as they marched through Europe to victory over Nazi Germany. Operation Market Garden, launched in Holland in September 1944, was to be a major Allied thrust across the Rhine River into Germany with the ultimate goal of seizing Berlin. Market Garden was a bold move that failed. The Battle of the Bulge was the opposite of Market Garden. Americans fought the Germans for 31 grueling days in bitter cold, heavy snow and icy water in the largest land battle of WWII. It was one of the most epic and decisive victories of the war.

You will travel from Amsterdam to the Ardennes, Bastogne, and Luxembourg as you learn about these key events in WWII history. You will then continue to Germany, where you will study the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich in Nuremberg, the scene of massive Nazi Party rallies in the 1930s, and later the war crime trials of the perpetrators of inhumanity across Europe. Finally, at Berchtesgaden, Hitler’s Alpine retreat in Bavaria, you will see where he and his henchmen lived in luxury while they built an evil empire on the backs and blood of millions of innocent people.

This is an ideal tour for people who have traveled with us on our Operation Overlord Tour, and for those who have already experienced Normandy or are interested in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.

Tour Video

Highlights

Operation Market Garden

Explore sites in the Netherlands, including the Bridge of Nijmegen (the objective of Operation Market Garden), “Hell’s Highway and the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek

The Ardennes

See where Lt. Lyle Bouck and a platoon of 19 men held off a full strength German SS Battalion and view the site of the Malmedy massacre and the American Memorial

Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge

Study the history of the epic eight-day stand against the Germans in December 1944 in Belgium, while visiting key sites in and around this historic crossroads town

Nuremberg

See where Hitler staged his infamous Nazi rallies and the International Tribunal conducted the Nuremberg Trials

Dachau

Pay a solemn visit to the site of some of the most nefarious acts against humankind during the war

Hitler’s Alpine Retreat

Proceed to the war’s end and final victory at Berchtesgaden and experience the breathtaking views at Eagle’s Nest

Itinerary

You will join the group at the designated tour hotel in Amsterdam for a Welcome Reception followed by dinner at the hotel. Your historian will treat you to your first lecture, with introductions all around.

Today, you will begin your study of Operation Market Garden, the early attempt by the Allied forces to strike directly for Berlin. Control of the bridges at Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem in the Netherlands was essential for the push into Germany. You will travel along “Hell’s Highway,” where the 101st and 82nd Airborne broke through to connect with the British in Arnhem. You will visit Nijmegen to see the daring crossing of the Waal River by the 82nd Airborne. From there you will proceed to Arnhem where again you will cross the “Bridge Too Far.”

Your historian will recount the desperate three days that the British 1st Airborne under General John Frost held it. Afterwards, you will end the day at the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek.

This is where Hitler put everything he had into his only counter-attack. On December 16, 1944, Lt. Lyle Bouck was one of the first people to see the German columns coming on. Your first stop will be in the Ardennes at Lanzerath, the town where Bouck and a platoon of 19 men held off a full strength German SS Battalion under the infamous Joachim Peiper for an entire day. You’ll visit the American positions and hear their story, a breathtaking tale of heroism.

On December 17, 1944, the second day of the offensive, the Germans had several breakthroughs and many Americans surrendered near the town of Malmedy. Outside the town, Peiper’s SS lined up about 150 GIs and fired at them point blank. Less than half escaped alive. You will view the site of the massacre and the American Memorial at Malmedy. From there, you will enjoy a scenic drive through the Ardennes Mountains to our evening lodging.

You will travel to Bastogne where the Americans rallied and stopped the German attack. Here you will view the route of the initial American retreat and the place where the 101st Airborne and elements of the 10th Armored held off 15 German divisions for six days. You will visit key sites in and around this historic crossroads town. You’ll also drive by General McAuliffe’s HQ where he replied to German surrender demands with one word: “NUTS.”

Next, you will travel to nearby Hamm and the American cemetery and the site of General George Patton’s grave. America’s foremost WWII field general rests here among his men.

After this visit, it’s a short ride to Luxembourg. This afternoon affords some relaxing free time in the center of this bustling but charming old world city.

Today, you will move on to the Siegfried Line to see remnants of the German communication trenches, pillboxes and dragon’s teeth that American GI’s fought so hard to take in late 1944.

Overnight in Frankfurt.

You will continue your journey toward the Bavarian Alps, stopping first in the historic city of Nuremberg, where Hitler staged his infamous Nazi rallies and the International Tribunal conducted the Nuremberg Trials. After lunch in the picturesque market center dominated by the Frauenkirche, you will tour the Nazi Party Rally Grounds and visit the Nuremberg Trials Courtroom 600.

Today, you will travel south through Bavaria toward Munich, first stopping to visit Dachau, site of some of the most nefarious acts against humankind during the war. In total, over 200,000 prisoners from more than 30 countries were confined in Dachau: notably Jews, resistance fighters, clergymen, politicians, communists, writers, artists and royalty. Dachau was the second camp liberated by Anglo-American forces and one of the first places where the West was exposed to Nazi brutality. After lunch in a traditional Munich restaurant, you will enjoy a city tour of Munich before checking-into a hotel in the heart of Munich, our base for our final two days.

Today, you will tour Berchtesgaden and Obersalzberg, where you will visit the Eagle’s Nest and the remains of the vast Nazi Party complex liberated by the Allies in May 1945. The Eagle’s Nest was built as a 50th birthday present to Hitler from the Nazi Party. Perched at 6017 feet, the complex and road network leading to it were considered feats of engineering genius as they were completed in only 13 months in 1937-1938.

This evening, we will gather for a farewell dinner and reflect on our journey while enjoying the camaraderie of our fellow travelers.

There will be one morning transfer to Munich International Airport (MUC) to catch your flight home.

Dates & Prices

Dates

Double Occupancy

Single Occupancy

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Tour Includes

Professional historian traveling with you throughout the tour, lecturing and answering questions
Tour manager to handle guest needs and on-the-ground logistics
Educational road book of maps and historical information
3 or 4-star hotel accommodations
Rooms with private bath or shower
Hotel taxes and service charges
Touring by private first class, air-conditioned motor coach with logistical escort
Breakfast daily, some lunches, most dinners
All entrance fees to museums and attractions

Flights

Flights are not included in the cost of the tour.

Flights

Flights are not included in the cost of the tour.

Activity Level

This tour requires walking on uneven terrain— forests, fields, and cobblestone streets.

If you use a wheelchair, please read our Wheelchair Policy.

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Customize this Tour

If you would like to customize this itinerary for your alumni travel association, educational organization, high school, family or other private group, please see our private tours page.

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June 27, 2023

Drive to Victory in Europe Tour

Mark and Linda Lettow says:

5.0

The “Drive to Victory Tour” tour was outstanding! It is fulfilling in some way to stand in the locations where history was made. The Battle of the Bulge sites, Nuremberg, including the 1930’s rally grounds, Dachau, Berchtesgaden and the Eagle’s Nest were all highlights for us. We are very glad we went. The tour met our hopes and expectations. Our tour director, historian, and bus driver kept us on track, informed, safe, well fed, watered, and comfortable. Our tour manager graciously offered physical assistance to anyone who needed a hand. We are in our seventies, so the physical part of the trip was a concern before signing up. However, I think anyone who can walk a half-mile to a mile without difficulty can do fine on this trip. It was our second trip with Stephen Ambrose Tours, and we feel that we made the right choice both times.