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Westwall-Museum - Festungswerk Gerstfeldhöhe
in Niedersimten/Pirmasens 13th April 2002
The entrance to the Westwall-Museum is actually located inside a part of the Westwall bunker line. It was built before WWII as a counter piece to the French Maginot line. This bunker where the museum is housed was never really used in a military way and served as air raid shelter for civilians and later for storage in post war times until it was converted recently.	Inside the bunker there is a small collection of WWII vehicles and a lot of displays and dioramas explaining the different types of German bunkers. The collection is growing as is the area of the bunker open to the public. Over 4500m of tunnels are not accessible right now. The staff is working on a PzIV (not on display) that will be a runner in the future. Our third trip with André from Luxembourg whom we met at the museum.

Inside the bunker there is a small collection of WWII vehicles and a lot of displays and dioramas explaining the different types of German bunkers. The collection is growing as is the area of the bunker open to the public. Over 4500m of tunnels are not accessible right now. The staff is working on a PzIV (not on display) that will be a runner in the future. Our third trip with André from Luxembourg whom we met at the museum.

**Russia from 14th to 16th September 2001**
No Lindan-tank-O-meter with me this time. I revisited the Victory Memorial in the Poklonnaya Gora Victory Park again.	Some new vehicles had been added and weather was way better than the last time.
Inside the Memorial building are some great dioramas showing the most important battles of the Great Patriotic War. This picture shows a part of the Kursk diorama.	Finally I was able to visit the Red Army Museum in Moscow. They have a huge collection of vehicles outside the museum.
And of course I visited Kubinka a second time. This is a replica of an armored car that Lenin used to stand on while holding a speech.	You may not believe it but I actually managed to sqeeze in some art galleries and the usual tourist stuff.

Russia from 14th to 16th September 2001

No Lindan-tank-O-meter with me this time. I revisited the Victory Memorial in the Poklonnaya Gora Victory Park again.

Some new vehicles had been added and weather was way better than the last time.

Inside the Memorial building are some great dioramas showing the most important battles of the Great Patriotic War. This picture shows a part of the Kursk diorama.

Finally I was able to visit the Red Army Museum in Moscow. They have a huge collection of vehicles outside the museum.

And of course I visited Kubinka a second time. This is a replica of an armored car that Lenin used to stand on while holding a speech.

You may not believe it but I actually managed to sqeeze in some art galleries and the usual tourist stuff.

1. Museumsnacht in der
Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung Koblenz 8th September 2001
At the 8th of September a lot of museums were opened or had special events. We went to Koblenz as they showed some vehicles moving in public.	The StuGIII and the Panther were most impressive. It was too dark for good shots and the weather was miserable...

Panzermuseum Munster 18th August 2001
and Lehrsammlung Flugabwehr in Rendsburg 23rd August 2001
At the 18th of August I visited the Panzermuseum Munster. I did this as part of the summer holidays so "tank-o-meter" Lindan was left behind.	Besides the huge collection of vehicles used by the Bundeswehr the Panzermuseum has a lot of vehicles from before '45. Most of them are in prime condition. This is a replica WWI A7V tank.
Besides the tanks Munster has other exhibitions like 1:35 models (a Kugelblitz on PzIV on this picture) and documentations, about operation "Zitadelle" for example.	On the 23rd I visited the Lehrsammlung Flugabwehr in Rendsburg. It is not open to the public. It is a collection of the history of German Anti-Air ground troops. Thanks to Hauptmann Hardtmann for the excellent tour of the collection.

Panzermuseum Munster 18th August 2001
and Lehrsammlung Flugabwehr in Rendsburg 23rd August 2001

At the 18th of August I visited the Panzermuseum Munster. I did this as part of the summer holidays so "tank-o-meter" Lindan was left behind.

Besides the huge collection of vehicles used by the Bundeswehr the Panzermuseum has a lot of vehicles from before '45. Most of them are in prime condition. This is a replica WWI A7V tank.

Besides the tanks Munster has other exhibitions like 1:35 models (a Kugelblitz on PzIV on this picture) and documentations, about operation "Zitadelle" for example.

On the 23rd I visited the Lehrsammlung Flugabwehr in Rendsburg. It is not open to the public. It is a collection of the history of German Anti-Air ground troops. Thanks to Hauptmann Hardtmann for the excellent tour of the collection.

**Ardennes of Belgium 24th June 2001**
Our first stop at the Sherman VC Firefly in Thimister-Clermont. It stands next to the "Remember Museum '39-'45". A small private museum outside of Clermont open just one day a month.	In Stavelot was a huge festival so we skipped the Halftrack there and went on to La Gleize. This orchard was once littered with vehicles from Peiper's KG.
There was a children's festival in La Gleize too. But the museum was open anyway.	Vincent and Lindan enjoying Jupiler (Belgium beer), the sun and the Königstiger in La Gleize.
View down into the valley from the road between La Gleize and Stoumont. You can see the railroad that leads from Trois-Ponts to Stoumont station (outside the right hand of the pic).	The Amblève river at Trois-Ponts. Somewhere up there in this forest was the escape route of Peiper's KG.
The 3 big vehicles to be seen at the Ardennen Poteau-'44 Museum.	We took a ride in the museums Germanized OT-810 (SdKfz 251/1). This picture was taken from the front passengers seat.
The Halftrack rumbles along the road away from Poteau eastwards.	This is the famous place where the German propaganda movie and photos on the 18th of December 1944 were taken. Some things did not change in all those years.
This is an original shot from the propaganda movie. Note the small cottage and the pine trees to the right behind the soldier.	The small pine trees are huge today but they are still there. And they now tower over the broken and withered cottage (click on thumbnail!). You can see the pines from another angle in the picture above.
The rough (and noisy) ride back to the museum.	The czech T-928-3 motor of the OT-810.

Ardennes of Belgium 24th June 2001

Our first stop at the Sherman VC Firefly in Thimister-Clermont. It stands next to the "Remember Museum '39-'45". A small private museum outside of Clermont open just one day a month.

In Stavelot was a huge festival so we skipped the Halftrack there and went on to La Gleize. This orchard was once littered with vehicles from Peiper's KG.

There was a children's festival in La Gleize too. But the museum was open anyway.

Vincent and Lindan enjoying Jupiler (Belgium beer), the sun and the Königstiger in La Gleize.

View down into the valley from the road between La Gleize and Stoumont. You can see the railroad that leads from Trois-Ponts to Stoumont station (outside the right hand of the pic).

The Amblève river at Trois-Ponts. Somewhere up there in this forest was the escape route of Peiper's KG.

The 3 big vehicles to be seen at the Ardennen Poteau-'44 Museum.

We took a ride in the museums Germanized OT-810 (SdKfz 251/1). This picture was taken from the front passengers seat.

The Halftrack rumbles along the road away from Poteau eastwards.

This is the famous place where the German propaganda movie and photos on the 18th of December 1944 were taken. Some things did not change in all those years.

This is an original shot from the propaganda movie. Note the small cottage and the pine trees to the right behind the soldier.

The small pine trees are huge today but they are still there. And they now tower over the broken and withered cottage (click on thumbnail!). You can see the pines from another angle in the picture above.

The rough (and noisy) ride back to the museum.

The czech T-928-3 motor of the OT-810.

**France/Luxembourg/Belgium 01st to 07th April 2001**
We stayed a day in Paris. This is the location where French cuisine in Paris ambushed us und left us wounded and bleeding. A blow our monetary reserves never really recovered from...	From Paris we drove directly to Saumur. Obviously a lot of insects died in the process again.
210mm Nebelwerfer on display at the Musée des Blindés, the tank museum in Saumur. They are rather restrictive about pictures on the net. So we will show a maximum of two pictures per vehicle.	The Saumur museum has a huge collection. If you ever get in the area pay it a visit! It is quite a distance from Paris though. This is the display area for French WWII tanks.
We visited the museum "Le Grand Blockhaus" in Le Croisic. This German bunker was part of the Atlantikwall and made up to look like a normal building You can see a painted "window" at its left side.	A view out of the uppermost level of the Blockhaus. It was an observation and command bunker for huge railway guns.
This is Lindan on top of the Schleusenbunker in Saint-Nazaire. In the rear you can see the German U-Boot bunkers.	This is a French postwar submarine but very similar to the German Typ XI. The Schleusenbunker and submarine are part of a museum today.
After crossing through France again we arrived in Luxembourg. History came alive when we crossed over this Bailey bridge between Ettelbrück and Diekirch.	The Musée National D'Histoire Militaire in Diekirch. A nice WWII collection and the post war history of the army of Luxembourg.
We made a short stop in Bastogne/Belgium. Here is one of the "guardian" sherman turrets.	The last museum we visited was the Ardennen Poteau '44 Museum. On the pic is Mr. André Flener with the two halftracks of the museum that are in full running order. Visitors can get a ride in them at the weekends.

France/Luxembourg/Belgium 01st to 07th April 2001

We stayed a day in Paris. This is the location where French cuisine in Paris ambushed us und left us wounded and bleeding. A blow our monetary reserves never really recovered from...

From Paris we drove directly to Saumur. Obviously a lot of insects died in the process again.

210mm Nebelwerfer on display at the Musée des Blindés, the tank museum in Saumur. They are rather restrictive about pictures on the net. So we will show a maximum of two pictures per vehicle.

The Saumur museum has a huge collection. If you ever get in the area pay it a visit! It is quite a distance from Paris though. This is the display area for French WWII tanks.

We visited the museum "Le Grand Blockhaus" in Le Croisic. This German bunker was part of the Atlantikwall and made up to look like a normal building You can see a painted "window" at its left side.

A view out of the uppermost level of the Blockhaus. It was an observation and command bunker for huge railway guns.

This is Lindan on top of the Schleusenbunker in Saint-Nazaire. In the rear you can see the German U-Boot bunkers.

This is a French postwar submarine but very similar to the German Typ XI. The Schleusenbunker and submarine are part of a museum today.

After crossing through France again we arrived in Luxembourg. History came alive when we crossed over this Bailey bridge between Ettelbrück and Diekirch.

The Musée National D'Histoire Militaire in Diekirch. A nice WWII collection and the post war history of the army of Luxembourg.

We made a short stop in Bastogne/Belgium. Here is one of the "guardian" sherman turrets.

The last museum we visited was the Ardennen Poteau '44 Museum. On the pic is Mr. André Flener with the two halftracks of the museum that are in full running order. Visitors can get a ride in them at the weekends.

**Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung des Bundesamtes für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung in Koblenz/Germany 28th January 2001**
We visited the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung finally. It is just an hour away from the place we call home. They exhibit mostly German vehicles. Here Lindan stands next to a French FT 17.	There is quite a collection of artillery pieces there. Including some russian ones used by the Germans. This is Lindan standing in front of a huge German piece.

**Russia/Moscow and Kubinka 17th to 21st November 2000**
I spent some days in Moscow with relatives and visited the Red Army Tank Museum in Kubinka at 18th November 2000. This time I had to leave Lindan behind. I still managed to have some fun though. This picture shows me standing next to the Maus in Kubinka.	I also visited the obligatory tourist places in Moscow. Above is the so called Tzar Cannon displayed in the Kreml. A weight of 40 tons and a calibre of 890 mm.
I wanted to take a look at the Red Army Museum in Moscow too but it was closed for some weeks. This is a field gun in front of it.	The Victory Memorial was closed the first day I gave it a try. So I visited it again the day I had to fly back. It is a must if you should happen to be in Moscow. Inside the memorial building are great dioramas and a huge exhibition about the Great Patriotic War.

Russia/Moscow and Kubinka 17th to 21st November 2000

I spent some days in Moscow with relatives and visited the Red Army Tank Museum in Kubinka at 18th November 2000. This time I had to leave Lindan behind. I still managed to have some fun though. This picture shows me standing next to the Maus in Kubinka.

I also visited the obligatory tourist places in Moscow. Above is the so called Tzar Cannon displayed in the Kreml. A weight of 40 tons and a calibre of 890 mm.

I wanted to take a look at the Red Army Museum in Moscow too but it was closed for some weeks. This is a field gun in front of it.

The Victory Memorial was closed the first day I gave it a try. So I visited it again the day I had to fly back. It is a must if you should happen to be in Moscow. Inside the memorial building are great dioramas and a huge exhibition about the Great Patriotic War.

**Belgium/Ardennes 13th and 14th October 2000**
Our trip to Belgium 13th October 2000. We reached the Autobahn A3 at 0530 am. Nobody should be awake that early... We decided to use Axis hardware and drove in Lindan's Fiat instead of my Ford. ( A mighty Fiat Autoblinda 89/75hp "UNO" ) Lindan	We reached Brussels in the morning and visited the Royal Museum of the Army and Military History Brussels. Lindan standing on the Esplanade.
In the afternoon we reached La Roche-en-Ardenne. This picture was taken from the old castle "Le Château Féodal". We visited the Museum of the Battle of the Ardennes there. La Roche is a nice medieval village and kept its character despite the devastation during the war.	We spent the night in Bastogne. This picture shows one of the "guardians" of Bastogne. A 76mm Sherman turret. There even is a café called "Nuts" because of General McAuliffe's answer to the offer of surrender in December '44. (and a "McAuliffe's" restaurant, a bistro called "Duke" etc.)
The Bastogne Historical Center. Before going here we had been to "The Original Ardennes Museum" in Bastogne near the town square (where you can buy a Sturmgewehr 44, a Panzerfaust, Thompson MP or any other knife or small arm used in the battle ).	The Memorial for the siege of Bastogne.
A picture taken from the roof of the memorial towards Bastogne.	Around noon we reached Houffalize with a nice Panther G on the townsquare. There was no sign that said you should not climb upon it (and this shapeless form in the middle is called "Warphead", hehe, couldn't resist...)Lindan
*Despite the Fiat's dirty windows we drove the highway E25 to the next stop on our trip. (I always drive with full FOW. Lindan)*	The Panther G in Grandmenil. The tracks are damaged but it certainly is a nice piece.
The Königstiger in front of the December 1944 Historical Museum in La Gleize. In the Ardennes I liked this museum the most because of the way it was done. Very much info and a lot to see. (Warphead again...)Lindan	This is a view from Cheneux towards La Gleize. It is the street coming from Rahier. In the foreground you can glimpse a roof of one of the buildings of Cheneux. On the ridge in the back lies La Glaze.
Coming from Cheneux this is a view of La Gleize.	This junk-road was a shortcut between La Gleize and the road to Francorchamps. The program I had used to plan the route with had suggested going this way. The sturdy Fiat survived it...

Belgium/Ardennes 13th and 14th October 2000

Our trip to Belgium 13th October 2000. We reached the Autobahn A3 at 0530 am. Nobody should be awake that early... We decided to use Axis hardware and drove in Lindan's Fiat instead of my Ford.
( A mighty Fiat Autoblinda 89/75hp "UNO" ) Lindan

We reached Brussels in the morning and visited the Royal Museum of the Army and Military History Brussels. Lindan standing on the Esplanade.

In the afternoon we reached La Roche-en-Ardenne. This picture was taken from the old castle "Le Château Féodal". We visited the Museum of the Battle of the Ardennes there. La Roche is a nice medieval village and kept its character despite the devastation during the war.

We spent the night in Bastogne. This picture shows one of the "guardians" of Bastogne. A 76mm Sherman turret. There even is a café called "Nuts" because of General McAuliffe's answer to the offer of surrender in December '44. (and a "McAuliffe's" restaurant, a bistro called "Duke" etc.)

The Bastogne Historical Center. Before going here we had been to "The Original Ardennes Museum" in Bastogne near the town square (where you can buy a Sturmgewehr 44, a Panzerfaust, Thompson MP or any other knife or small arm used in the battle ).

The Memorial for the siege of Bastogne.

A picture taken from the roof of the memorial towards Bastogne.

Around noon we reached Houffalize with a nice Panther G on the townsquare. There was no sign that said you should not climb upon it (and this shapeless form in the middle is called "Warphead", hehe, couldn't resist...)Lindan

Despite the Fiat's dirty windows we drove the highway E25 to the next stop on our trip. (I always drive with full FOW. Lindan)

The Panther G in Grandmenil. The tracks are damaged but it certainly is a nice piece.

The Königstiger in front of the December 1944 Historical Museum in La Gleize. In the Ardennes I liked this museum the most because of the way it was done. Very much info and a lot to see.
(Warphead again...)Lindan

This is a view from Cheneux towards La Gleize. It is the street coming from Rahier. In the foreground you can glimpse a roof of one of the buildings of Cheneux. On the ridge in the back lies La Glaze.

Coming from Cheneux this is a view of La Gleize.

This junk-road was a shortcut between La Gleize and the road to Francorchamps. The program I had used to plan the route with had suggested going this way. The sturdy Fiat survived it...