Join us this Saturday, December 7th, 1pm to 2:30pm at the American Heritage Museum for a presentation on V-Mail during WWII. No reservations needed. For more information see: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/speaker-series-v-mail-in-wwii/
You might have just noticed that we added a brand-new event on December 28-29... the Battle of the Bulge History Experience! We are transforming our wooded tank course into an Allied encampment in the Ardennes in Winter of 1944 as the German surprise offensive cuts off soldiers from reinforcements. A force of 50+ Allied re-enactors and 40 German re-enactors will be braving the cold in foxholes and makeshift camps through the weekend. With your ticket, you'll be literally transported back in time as you are shuttled from the museum to the encampments in either a WWII vintage M3 Half-Track or WC56 Command Car - worth the ticket price in itself! ![]()
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Bring your family and friends who are visiting from out of town and share the living history at the American Heritage Museum and the Battle of the Bulge History Experience!
Battle of the Bulge History Experience Weekend - The American Heritage Museum
www.americanheritagemuseum.org
Join us on December 28th and 29th for the Battle of the Bulge Commemorative Weekend at the American Heritage Museum to honor the 80th Anniversary of the German offensive siege that surrounded and cut-...
As #GivingTuesday approaches on Tuesday, December 3rd, we are only $10,000 away from our $25,000 goal to unlock a donor challenge! Help us make your year-end donation go even farther to support our living history mission and allow us to continue growing our exhibits, programs, and events into 2025! Donate before midnight on 12/3/24! ![]()
Step Forward: Give to the 2024 American Heritage Museum Annual Fund
www.americanheritagemuseum.org
In the spirit of America's heritage of voluntary generosity, will you step forward with a year-end gift to support the Living History programs of the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA?
Our mission at the American Heritage Museum is to keep history alive for our future generations and when we meet young adults who have that same passion, we are happy to help! Meet Luke Morrison, a 13 year old historian from Vermont who is on his way to being the youngest person to operate a military museum! Way to go Luke!
As another amazing year comes to a close, the American Heritage Museum hopes that you will consider a year-end gift to help propel us into the coming year! Americas history is full of stories of voluntary generosity and we hope you'll join in that heritage to support our living history programs. Make your donation before #GivingTuesday on December 3rd and your donation will go even farther thanks to a $25,000 challenge from a group of donors. We are almost half-way to the goal, so please give today!
Step Forward: Give to the 2024 American Heritage Museum Annual Fund
www.americanheritagemuseum.org
In the spirit of America's heritage of voluntary generosity, will you step forward with a year-end gift to support the Living History programs of the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA?Crossing the Rhine
M22 Locust – USA | AIRBORNE TANK
M18 Hellcat – USA | TANK DESTROYER
A34 Comet – UK | CRUISER TANK
Two invasions of France in mid-1944, Operation Overlord in Normandy and Operation Dragoon in southern France, succeeded in moving multiple American and Allied armies to the border of Germany. Attack momentum was delayed in late 1944 by serious logistical issues and by the setback in the Netherlands and fierce German resistance in the Huertgen and Ardennes Forests. But by January 1945, the Western Allies had overwhelmingly superior ground and air forces looming all along the western borders of Germany. The problem was, how to get them over the Rhine, so that they could crush the last German resistance in the ETO and end the war.
By late January 1945, U.S forces, with their British, Canadian, and French allies, had regained the territory lost in December’s Battle of the Bulge and resumed their drive eastward to defeat Hitler’s Third Reich. Only one major obstacle stood in the path of their advance: the Rhine River, whose many bridges had been blown apart by retreating German armies. That forced the Allies to make an amphibious assault into the teeth of German river defenses. This strategic crossing of the Rhine river – also known as Operation Plunder, started on March 23rd, 1945.
When Allied forces reached the Rhine in early March 1945 they found just about every span across the river already destroyed. The one exception of some very important bridges that survived demolition from the Germans such as was a only partly destroyed bridge at Remagen, which was captured in a rush assault. Eisenhower decided that several simultaneous crossings over the 20 mile long battle front would have the greatest chance of success. His plan was to cross the Rhine, then drive into the Ruhr Valley to encircle a large part of the German Army and effectively end German resistance in the west. So began the massive mobilization and movement of engineers, soldiers, equipment and supplies across one of the most important river crossings of WWII.
Four thousand Allied guns fired for four hours during the opening bombardment. British bombers contributed with attacks on Wesel during the day and night of 23 March 1945 – Preparing for this monumental crossing into the heart of Germany.
