This tour focuses on Air Force actions in Germany during World War II. Our tour will begin in Prague and end in Amsterdam. We will offer both pre- and post-tour options.  We will examine the famous Dambusters’ Raid with stops at the Eder and Möhne Dams. We will tour Colditz Castle, the famous prisoner-of-war camp for “incorrigible” Allied officers who had repeatedly escaped from other camps.

In Dresden, we will hear stories of the fire-bombings and in Berlin, we will look at how the bombing raids impacted the citizens of the then Nazi capital. We will cross the border into Poland to tour Stalag (Luft) III featured in the film ‘The Great Escape.’  We will visit Ravensbruck, a concentration camp for women. On the Baltic Sea we will tour Peenemünde where Wernher von Braun’s team developed the V-2, the world's first guided ballistic missile. On the nearby island of Rügen, we will see Prora, the colossal beach resort (nearly 3 miles in length) built by the Nazi party.  Part of the Nazi ‘Strength Through Joy’ program, they offered affordable beach vacations to average workers. The itinerary includes two Luftwaffe museums in Gatow and Hannover. We conclude our tour in the Netherlands with stops including Arnhem's “A BridgeToo Far.”

Our itinerary will be published in a few weeks time.

Highlights include:

Colditz Castle

The Dresden Raid

Buneswehr Military History Museum in Dresden

Meissen Factory

Stalag Luft III, the POW camp featured in the film “The Great Escape”

The Air Museum at RAF Gattow

Berlin War Cemetery

Flak towers and Air raid shelters in Berlin

Zossen’s bunkers, were home to the German General Staff throughout WWII

Ravensbruck Concentration Camp for Women

Full day at Peenemünde, birthplace of the V-2 rocket 

Full day in Rugen to see Prora, the ‘Strength through Joy’ beach resort

Hannover Air Museum

Möhne Dam and the Eder Dam of the Dambuster Raid

The “Bridge too Far” in Arnhem

HISTORIAN GUIDE:  We are delighted to announce that battlefield guide Bill McQuade, will accompany us on our journey as our expert guide. Bill garnered rave reviews as the historian on our 2018 "Fall of the Third Reich" tour. He says that his life long passion for military history was first stimulated on his 10th birthday by a present from his grandmother – a book by the RAF hero Guy Gibson entitled, “Enemy Coast Ahead.” Bill was stationed in Germany during the Cold War when he served with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, an armoured regiment. This posting provided Bill the opportunity to visit WWI and II battle sites, many of them still in their war time condition. Upon discharge from the Army, Bill earned his teaching qualification at Wakefield College and began a career in adult education. However, his passion for military history was too strong. He began leading battlefield tours and soon found himself in high demand by documentary film makers. Bill is a student of both ancient and modern warfare including the Battles of Marathon and Waterloo; the Franco-Prussian War; the Great War; the Second World War; the Holocaust; the Cold War; the Arab-Israeli conflicts and Vietnam. Acknowledged by many as one of the finest and most experienced battlefield guides currently operating tours, Bill leads tours of Third Reich Germany 6 to 8 times a year. Bill is a founding member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides.

GUEST HISTORIAN:  We have also invited our dear friend Edwin C. Bearss to join us on this trip as our special guest.  Author, lecturer and one of our nation's preeminent historians, Ed's encyclopedic knowledge and unflagging energy are legendary. A native of Sarpy, Montana, Ed is a decorated WWII Marine Corps veteran from the Pacific Theater. Ed has enjoyed a 41-year career as an historian for the National Park Service. In 1981, he was named Chief Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service, a position he held until 1994. Ed has led many WWII tours from Normandy to the Rhine River; the Battle of Crete, and the Italian Campaign and he is looking forward to joining us in Germany.

TOUR INCLUDES (13 days/11 nights):

* Guest Historian Guide: Edwin C. Bearss is scheduled for this tour

* Battlefield Guide: Bill McQuade is scheduled for this tour

* Services of a professional tour director: Marty Gane is scheduled for this tour

* 11 nights hotel accommodations

* Private, air-conditioned, motor coach for all sightseeing

* 2 wine/beer receptions, daily breakfast, x lunches, and x dinners

* All admissions, tours and excursions as described in the itinerary

* All taxes, baggage handling (one bag per person), & gratuities

* Pre-trip notes, reading list and map book

What is Not Included:

Airfare; transfers between airport and hotel; trip insurance; personal items such as wines, liquors, a la carte orders, room service, laundry charges; and meals and other items not specifically mentioned as included.

Price will not include airfare, however, we are happy to assist you with flight arrangements. We will post staff flight details shortly in case you would like to book seats on the same flights as Historian Ed Bearss and Tour Manager Marty Gane.

COST: 12 DAYS/11 NIGHTS
Double Occupancy: TBA per person

Single Occupancy:  TBA

(NOTE: All costs are based on a minimum of 25 participants.)