Bastogne remembers the Battle of the Bulge 80 years on

The Ardennes town of Bastogne drew more than 100,000 visitors for its commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.

Hundreds of reenactors in World War II-era garb – many driving old wartime vehicles or occupying military camps – provided an atmospheric backdrop to the packed programme of demonstrations, parades and shows.

They joined active Belgian and American troops to honour the sacrifice of the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives in the final and bloodiest offensive of the war.

Official ceremonies on Saturday were graced by Belgian and Luxembourg royals along with a host of national and international dignitaries.

As snow fell and temperatures hovered around freezing, they lay wreaths on the memorials of the battle’s hero of the hour Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe of the US army’s 101st Airborne Division and General George Patton, who helped liberate besieged Bastogne.

On the balcony of the town hall, the royals joined mayor Benoît Lutgen in the traditional nut-throwing ceremony as a comic tribute to McAuliffe’s famous “Nuts!” retort to the German invitation to surrender.

Royal salute to veterans

The dignitaries attended an official ceremony to honour the surviving soldiers, a group of 17 veterans, all either centenarians or in their late 90s. The 2024 commemorations are recognised as being probably the last to include the dwindling number of living veterans.

Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were accompanied by the Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg, Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo, European Parliament president Roberta Metsola and US ambassador Michael Adler.

The stars of the show were undoubtedly the old soldiers. As each one entered the auditorium – either in a wheelchair or leaning on a walker – they received a standing ovation from the audience.

Seated at the front of the auditorium, they listened to a string of speeches honouring their courage and fortitude in the harrowing sub-zero snowbound conditions of the surprise German offensive in December 1944.

King Philippe addressed them: “Your actions were timeless, and your heroism, forever engraved in our hearts. Your bravery is a beacon for all those who seek light in dark hours." He added poignantly: “As we reflect on this, democracy, dignity and peace are not to be taken for granted, they remain fragile.”

Prime minister De Croo (pictured) reiterated this sentiment, reminding the audience that freedom and democracy are again under pressure.

Bastogne mayor Lutgen drew a parallel between the fighting condition of the Ardennes battle and "the fierce resistance of the Ukrainian soldiers hiding in their forests".

American presidential delegation representative Bill Nelson (pictured) added. "It is in a very divided world and United States that we will find this unity and courage so expressed in these places 80 years ago."

In a moving video of the veterans’ recollections of the conflict, one US soldier recalled hearing two young local girls crying. They were making a coffin for their father who had been killed by the enemy. With tears on his eyes, he admitted that every time he recounted the event, he could not stop crying himself.

Another told of having to kill young German soldiers with his bare hands and how he could not bear to think about such cruelty today. His thoughts remained with his comrades who did not make it home.

Dave Marshall, 100, who fought in heavy snow without warm clothing, said the cold was as deadly as the Nazis. “I went into the war as a naive 20-year-old from New York. After the battle, I was a veteran soldier.”

The ceremony concluded with the royals and officials personally greeting and thanking each of the veterans, who were crouched in their seats clutching a lighted candle presented by children who had performed a musical tribute.

On each of the veterans’ lined and gentle faces, there was gratification that the enormity of their experience in the forests of the Ardennes 80 years ago, had not been forgotten.

Reliving history at Bastogne Barracks

The throaty roar of revving tanks punctuated the snow-flecked slopes of the Vehicle Restoration Centre at Bastogne Barracks, which welcomed more than 12,000 visitors over the weekend.

Giant steel beasts, from a Sherman Jumbo Cobra King and Russian JS-3 tank to a rare German 70-tonne Tiger II waited their turn to do a circuit for the delight of onlookers.

Adding to the immersive experience were military camps – American and German. Reenactors in great coats wrapping their hands around bottles of beer or steaming mugs of coffee to ward off the chill.

One family enjoying the show travelled from Appeldoorn in the Netherlands. Their fifth trip to Bastogne symbolically completing a circuit of WWII 80th anniversary commemorations after visiting Normandy in June and Arnhem in September.

What are they planning to see? “We would like to go to the War Museum and if there’s still some light, go to Bois Jacques and Neuville,” said Bastien, referring to the woods pitted by foxholes and the scene of some of the fiercest fighting. He was accompanied by his parents and son Lukas, who at 11 is already a fan of military history.

Alex Cruz (pictured) is another history buff appreciating the “full-on experience” of the special programme. The law enforcement officer travelled from the Dominican Republican in his sixth visit to the town. “I was here for the 75th anniversary, so I had to be back for the 80th,” he said, adding:  “It was the last offensive, a surprise attack on 16 December by some 200,000 Germans. It was interesting that at this stage of the war, they were still able to pull it off. It was unexpected by the Americans, they were absolutely caught off guard.”

Dual Belgian-American citizen Marianne (pictured) believes it’s important to honour all the veterans. “The battle of the bulge was one of the most important battles of the second world war and it was Hitler’s last hope to reach Antwerp,” she commented.

Photos: ©Damien Maguire/Image Digital