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Your Guide to WWII Sites in Europe
WWII sites in Europe are diverse and numerous. The Second World War was truly a global conflict in every sense of the term. Over 70 countries played an active role in the war and the fighting spanned nearly every continent. An estimated 70 million soldiers served in the war. By the end of the fighting at least 85 million people, soldier and civilian alike, had lost their lives. The world had never and, hopefully, will never see a war capable of causing such large scale devastation again.
With the shear number of nations actively participating in the war, it is unsurprising that WWII sites can be found from Alaska to Australia. Whether you are an avid history-driven traveler seeking the obscure sites or a war novice eager to visit some of the more famous locations, it can be daunting to try to decide how to discover the right WWII site to fit into your interest or itinerary. For this reason, I have created an in-depth look into the best WWII sites in Europe. Keep reading for the best strategies for locating sites based on your travel destination and/or your special area of interest.
Choosing a WWII Site in Europe by Location
Unless you are visiting with the sole purpose of seeking out specific WWII sites in Europe, you will probably be selecting your sites based on your travel destination. The good news for anyone hoping to fit a war site into an existing itinerary is that WWII sites in Europe can be found in every country on the continent. Additionally, it is highly likely that a WWII site sits within an easy drive or train trip from wherever you are visiting in Europe.
Below I have listed some of the major nations in Europe who participated in the war as well as their most important or easily-accessible sites. Please keep in mind that this list is far from exhaustive, but is meant to serve as a place to start to add WWII sites into any European travel itinerary.
Great Britain
Great Britain officially entered the war on September 3, 1939 when the nation declared war on Germany after the German invasion of Poland. Following the fall of France to the Germans in the summer of 1940, Great Britain became the sole nation fighting the Germans on the western front until U.S. entry into the war in December 1941. Great Britain remained an active combatant throughout the entirety of the war, contributing over 3 million soldiers to the fight and ending the war with an estimated 450,000 solider and civilian deaths.
Due to its strategic location, active participation throughout the war, and commitment to preserving war sites, the island nation of Great Britain is home to one of the best collections of WWII sites in Europe. I have listed some of the most worthwhile below.
Churchill War Rooms
Located beneath the heart of central London, a visit to the Churchill War Rooms allows visitors to experience two important WWII sites in Europe, the Cabinet War Rooms as well as the Churchill Museum. It was within this underground bunker that Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his staff sought safety during the notorious Blitz, the German bombing campaign against Great Britain. The rooms were utilized throughout the war as a central intelligence location. Following the end of the war, the bunker was sealed off in a perfect state of preservation. Because of this, visitors are able to view the rooms exactly as they looked during their years of operation.
- Location: Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AQ
- Cost: £33 (adult)
- Hours: 9:30am to 6pm daily, last entry 5pm
- What to watch: Darkest Hour (2017)
- More information: Imperial War Museum
Bletchley Park
In the early years of the war, the British turned this 19th century mansion into the hub for Allied intelligence. Brilliant codebreakers worked throughout the course of the war to decipher German ciphers, most notably the Enigma machine. The most notable resident of Bletchley Park was Alan Turing. Considered the father of computer science, Turing is widely credited with saving millions of lives due to his work at Bletchley Park. Despite this, Turing’s story was one of incredible tragedy in the years following the war. A visit to Bletchley Park is a small way to honor a lesser known war hero. For fans of Alan Turing, it is one of the most moving WWII sites in Europe.
- Location: The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Sherwood Dr., Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB
- Cost: £25.50 (adult)
- Hours: 9:30am to 5pm daily, last entry 3pm
- What to watch: The Imitation Game (2014)
- More information: Bletchley Park
Dover Castle
Deep beneath the historic fortress of Dover Castle lies a collection of tunnels from which the heroic rescue of 300,000 Allied forces stranded on the shores of Dunkirk, France was planned. Operation Dynamo, as the rescue mission was called, was coordinated from the majestic white cliffs of Dover. The evacuation of Dunkirk became an instant rallying cry for British soldiers during the war and inspired one of Winston Churchill’s most famous speeches.
“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”
The tunnels can be viewed by joining the Secret Wartime Tunnels Tour where you will learn about the planning and carrying out of Operation Dynamo.
- Location: Castle Hill Rd., Dover CT16 1HU
- Cost: £22.70 (adult) – Includes Secret Wartime Tunnels Tour
- Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- What to watch: Dunkirk (2017)
- More information: Dover Castle
For more on a visit to Dover Castle check out Operation Dynamo and The Secret War Time Tunnels.
The D-Day Story
On June 6, 1944 thousands of Allied troops, sailing from southern England arrived on the shores of Normandy, France and began the invasion that would culminate in the unconditional surrender of Germany and the end of the Second World War in Europe. The D-Day museum tells the story of the Allied invasion of Normandy from its inception to its execution. Through a mix of audio-visual components, interactive elements and artifacts, the museum tells the story in such a compelling manner that even the greatest historical skeptic will be moved. Particularly if you are unable to visit the landing beaches in Normandy (discussed below), a visit to the D-Day Story is a must to bring this critical historical event to life.
- Location: Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 3NT
- Cost: £17.55 (adult)
- Hours: 10:00am to 5:30pm daily, last entry 4pm
- What to watch: The Longest Day (1962)
- More information: The D-Day Story
Poland
With the exception of the Soviet Union and China, no country experienced more loss of human life during the war than Poland. The country emerged from WWII with a long list of notable statistics, each more haunting than the last. The Poles suffered 240,000 military deaths and 5.6 million civilian deaths, with an estimated 3 million of these being Jews. All six Nazi extermination camps were established in Poland. These camps differed from other concentration camps as their sole purpose was the extermination of human lives. Because of these facts, the World War II related sites in Poland often represent the darkest aspects of the war and humankind. While these sites are arguably the most important to visit, it is important to proceed with caution, particularly for younger travelers.
Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp
There is no place more synonymous with the atrocities committed during the Second World War than Auschwitz-Birkenau. It was within this massive camp complex that an estimated 1.3 million people lost their lives, with the vast majority of these victims being Jews. A visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau is incredibly emotional and difficult, but it can certainly be argued that a more important WWII site in Europe does not exist.
The camp complex is free to visit but vast, a sobering reminder of the massive scale of the Nazi operations. Allow at least a half-day to visit both camps and remember to enter the grounds with an elevated level of reverence for the victims of Auschwitz as well as the concentration camps littered across the continent.
- Location: Więźniów Oświęcimia 55, 32-600 Oświęcim
- Cost: free, requires advance reservation
- Hours: vary by season
- What to watch: The Zone of Interest (2023)
- More information: Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum
Warsaw Uprising Museum
In August 1944, as the Soviet Union approached the Polish capital of Warsaw, Polish resistance fighters launched an uprising against German occupying forces. Operating under the assumption that the uprising would be supported by the Red Army, Polish fighters envisioned a quick defeat of the Germans. Unfortunately, the Soviet Union did not support the attempt but instead watched as the resistance fighters were quelled, civilians were rounded up and executed and the city was burned.
The Warsaw Uprising Museum tells the harrowing story of the Polish resistance fighters whose attempt to liberate their city from the clutches of Nazi control, while ultimately unsuccessful, highlighted the unwavering courage of a people who had been pushed to the limits of human suffering.
- Location: Grzybowska 79, 00-844 Warszawa
- Cost: 35 PLN (adult)
- Hours: 10:00am to 6:00pm, closed Tuesday
- What to watch: Uprising (2001)
- More information: Warsaw Uprising Museum
Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory
By employing Jewish workers at his enamel factory in Krakow, Poland, Oskar Schindler was able to save the lives of over 1200 individuals. Schindler accomplished this by proving that the Jews he employed were vital to the war effort. As a direct result of his actions, there are over 8500 descendants of the Schindlerjuden (“Schindler Jews”) alive today.
Today, you can visit the original factory where the “Schindler Jews” were employed to learn more about their story as well as Oskar Schindler. The museum also covers the Nazi occupation of Krakow and serves as a great place to learn more about the Nazi presence in Poland before journeying to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
- Location: Lipowa 4, 30-702 Kraków
- Cost: 40 PLN (adult)
- Hours: vary by day
- What to watch: Schindler’s List (1993)
- More information: Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory
France
German armies marched into France on May 10, 1940. Six weeks later, France had fallen. With the Nazi occupation of France came the fall of the last European ally of Great Britain as well as the completion of a German stronghold across the western half of the continent. Hitler was now free to secure his borders against any possible invasion from England or any of her potential allies. This stronghold would remain until the allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1941, a date which marked the beginning of the end of the war on the western front.
Despite its early departure, France remained a key battleground country throughout the war. Even before the allied landings at Normandy, France played an important role in the fight through its extensive network of resistance fighters.
Oradour-sur-Glane
When German Waffen-SS troops marched into Oradour-sur-Glane on June 10, 1944, it was a quiet rural community with less than 1000 inhabitants. When they marched out, the population was reduced to six and the town lay in ruins. An estimated 643 people, including over 200 children, were killed in a ruthless attack by members of the SS whose motives remain unclear even all these years later.
Following the massacre at Oradour-sur-Glane, the town was ordered to be preserved in its ruined state. Eighty years later it remains one of the most haunting WWII sites in Europe as it serves as an example of Nazi atrocities. A visit to the town is free and brief as the entire ruined area is easily walkable in under an hour. However, don’t let the relative remoteness or small size of the setting dissuade you from a visit. It is an incredibly powerful experience and a site that was thankfully preserved to remind future generations of the horrors of this time.
- Location: Oradour-sur-Glane, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Cost: free
- Hours: always open
- What to watch: Village of Death: Oradour-Sur-Glane 1944 (2024)
- More information: National WWII Museum article on Oradour-sur-Glane
Normandy Landing Beaches
There is arguably no site more relevant to the European Theater of Operations than the Normandy landing beaches. It was along this stretch of coastline that over 100,000 soldiers from the western allied nations of the United States, Great Britain and Canada landed on June 6, 1944. It was from these beaches that the western advance broke through Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, revealing the first cracks in the German defense of Fortress Europe. Less than a year after the Allied landings at Normandy, Hitler had taken his own life and the war in Europe came to an end.
The sites in Normandy span vast distances and are many in number. A minimum of two days is needed to visit all five landing beaches (Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword). The region is scattered with dozens of museums, monuments, cemeteries and other sites of interest related to the landings. It is nearly impossible to see it all on one trip. If you are feeling overwhelmed, simply take a stroll down Omaha Beach (where the most ferocious fighting took place) and imagine the scene that took place here 80 years ago.
- Location: various locations along Normandy coast
- Cost: free
- Hours: always open
- What to watch: Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- More information: Normandy Tourism
Normandy American Cemetery
Perched on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach, the Normandy American Cemetery is the final resting place of over 9,000 American service members who lost their lives during the Battle of Normandy. The neatly ordered rows of white crosses and Stars of David, each inscribed with the name of a brave American whose life was cut short under the most tragic of circumstances, are a sobering reminder of the cost of war. Walk among the stones, read their names aloud, do not allow their memory to be lost to time. It is because of these men and women that we are able to enjoy the freedoms we so often take for granted today.
A visit to the Normandy American Cemetery is a visit to one of the most moving WWII sites in Europe. The site includes the cemetery itself as well as a visitor’s center and poignant flag lowering ceremony. The grounds are meticulously maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission. With its setting overlooking the English Channel, the cemetery is a beautiful place for quiet reflection on this tragic period in world history.
- Location: Rte du Cimetiere Americain, 14710 Colleville-sur-Mer
- Cost: free
- Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm daily
- What to watch: Overlord (1975)
- More information: American Battle Monuments Commission
Italy
The Italian Campaign is one of the most over-looked of the entire war. Beginning in July 1943 with the Allied invasion of Sicily and stretching until the end of the war, the campaign was long, grueling and incredibly bloody. Allied forces suffered 55,000 casualties in the Battle of Monte Cassino alone. However, due to battles of greater strategic value raging across the other European campaigns, the fighting in Italy remains relatively unknown. Because of this, Italy’s WWII sites often do not receive the same recognition as many of the other WWII sites in Europe. That does not make them any less important or accessible. In fact, due to its excellent train network and popularity as a tourist destination, WWII sites in Italy are some of the easiest to incorporate into an existing travel itinerary.
Abbey of Monte Cassino
As previously mentioned, the Battle of Monte Cassino was one of the toughest battles fought by the Western Allies in the European Theater. Mistakenly believing the Germans were using the historic abbey of Monte Cassio as a stronghold, the Allies rained down bombs on the structure, resulting in the near total destruction of the abbey. It was only later they discovered the Germans were positioned elsewhere. Ironically, the Germans utilized the ruined remains of the abbey after Allied bombing had ceased. Fighting raged in the area of Monte Cassino for over four months and proved incredibly costly for the Allies. Unfortunately, this battle was only one stop along the sluggish journey through Italy.
Today the Abbey of Monte Cassino has been rebuilt and can be visited for stunning views over the surrounding countryside. The area around the abbey also contains several monuments, memorials and cemeteries (including the beautifully maintained Polish War Cemetery).
- Location: Via Montecassino, 03043 Cassino FR
- Cost: free
- Hours: 9:30am to 6:30pm daily, last entry 4pm
- What to watch: The Green Devils of Monte Cassino (1958)
Anzio
Before Normandy there was Anzio. Months before the Allied landings on the Norman beaches, American and British forces launched Operation Shingle. A series of landings by Allied forces were carried out near the Italian city of Anzio, about 50km south of Rome. In what would become the Battle of Anzio, German and Italian forces clashed with the Allies in fierce fighting that raged on for months. As was often the case in the Italian Campaign, the Allies proved victorious but at a steep cost.
Visitors can learn more about the often-overlooked battle through several locations in Anzio and the nearby town of Nettuno. Sites include the landing beaches themselves as well as the Anzio Beachhead Museum. Several cemeteries also dot the landscape including the Anzio War Cemetery, the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and the Beach Head War Cemetery.
- Location: Anzio and Nettuno, Italy
- Cost: varies by site
- Hours: varies by site
- What to watch: Anzio (1968)
- More information: Liberation Route Europe – Anzio Beachhead Museum
Germany
When deciding upon the best country in which to visit the greatest number of WWII sites in Europe, the obvious answer would appear to be Germany, but this may not be the case. While it is certainly true that Germany is home to a large number of important WWII sites, many of them are poorly maintained, difficult to reach or inadequately presented to tourists. The reason for this is clear. Germany not only lost the war but was responsible for some of the worst crimes against humanity the world has ever known. Because of this, Germany is faced with a particularly difficult task.
Not only does the country have to wrestle with its own role in this dark past when presenting sites to the general public, it also must walk a fine line between preserving history and discouraging pilgrimages. Several sites, such as Hitler’s bunker in Berlin, have been intentionally destroyed in order to prevent groups like Neo-Nazis from flocking to the location as a site of celebration or worship.
This is not to say that Germany does not have several WWII sites worth visiting. The country has done an excellent job maintaining several Holocaust sites and memorials in order to pay tribute to the victims of the Nazi regime. Additionally, the country maintains many sites dedicated to telling the story of the Allied advance into Germany and the trials and punishments of the perpetrators.
Hitler's Eagle's Nest
Perched high above the Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden, Germany rests the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountaintop retreat. While only visited by Hitler on a handful of occasions, due to the Führer’s fear of heights, this former teahouse did play host to several high-ranking Nazi officials. The Eagle’s Nest avoided destruction by Allied bombs due to its remote location and lack of strategic importance. Today, the site primarily functions as a restaurant but remains a historical site as well.
The best way to visit the Eagle’s Nest is by guided tour. While it is accessible by private car (or hike), the road to the top is treacherously steep and is closed during the winter months due to safety concerns (note that tours also do not operate in the winter.) Guided tours allow you to conveniently visit other Nazi sites in Berchtesgaden and Obersalzberg including the sprawling ruins of the Berghof, Hitler’s retreat located further down the mountain. The views from the Eagle’s Nest are nothing short of amazing and a journey to the top provides a unique look into the privileged lifestyle enjoyed by the Nazis far from the centers of death and destruction elsewhere on the continent.
- Location: Kehlsteinhaus, 83471 Berchtesgaden
- Cost: free to visit restaurant, guided tour prices vary
- Hours: 8:30am to 4:50pm daily, closed during winter
- What to watch: Downfall (2004)
- More information: Eagle’s Nest Today
Dachau Concentration Camp
Unlike Auschwitz-Birkenau, Dachau Concentration Camp is easily accessible from a major city (Munich) and able to be explored in a relatively short amount of time. Because of this, Dachau is a great choice for anyone seeking to add a trip to a concentration camp into their schedule. Even though Dachau did not see many of the darkest qualities of Auschwitz-Birkenau, such as the widespread use of gas chambers and crematoriums, the camp was responsible for the death of over 40,000 individuals. It was also the first permanent concentration camp constructed by the Nazis and served as a model for subsequent camps.
Located thirty minutes from Munich, Dachau can be explored in as little as two hours. A visit to this camp provides a sobering look into the early stages of the Nazi killing machine. Through original artifacts and reconstructed buildings, the site does a great job of providing visitors a glimpse into daily camp life. While often times difficult and certainly emotional, a visit to a concentration camp such as Dachau is a powerful and important experience for anyone seeking to fully understand the Second World War.
- Location: Pater-Roth-Straße 2A, 85221 Dachau
- Cost: free
- Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm daily
- What to watch: Dachau: Death Camp (2021)
- More information: Dachau Concentration Camp
Nuremberg Party Grounds
The German seat of power during WWII was in Berlin. Hitler’s adopted homeland was in Bavaria. But the heart of the Nazi regime rested in Nuremberg. The first Nazi Party rally took place in Nuremberg in 1923, with additional gatherings taking place until 1938. It was in Nuremberg that Hitler delivered some of his most notorious speeches and where German soldiers goose stepped past adoring crowds. Following Germany’s surrender, Nuremberg was also the location chosen by the Allies to host the post-war trials of many top Nazi officials, the Nuremberg Trials.
Nuremberg is home to many WWII sites, but one of the most compelling is the Documentation Center and Nazi Party Rally Grounds. The center contains an extensive museum dedicated to telling the story of the Nazi rise to power, a detailed look at its victims and countless atrocities, and its fall and aftermath. The rally grounds are a sprawling complex of crumbling ruined structures once used by the Nazis. Some of the sites on the grounds include the Zeppelinfield Grandstand where Hitler once delivered speeches and the Great Avenue where Nazi architect Albert Speer envisioned the return of spectacular political rallies following the war’s conclusion.
- Location: Bayernstraße 100, 90471 Nürnberg
- Cost: 7.50 EUR (adult)
- Hours: 10:00am to 6:00pm daily
- What to watch: Triumph of the Will (1935)
- More information: Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds
Netherlands
The Netherlands were invaded by Nazi Germany on May 10, 1940 along with Belgium and Luxembourg. The country surrendered four days later and remained under German occupation until the final days of the war. Despite its relatively small size, the country is home to some of the most important WWII sites in Europe. From a moving museum tribute to one of the most well-known victims of the Holocaust to locations devoted to detailing the daring, yet ultimately unsuccessful, Operation Market Garden, the Netherlands is a must-visit country for WWII site seekers. The country is also relatively easy to incorporate into many European itineraries due to its compact size, well-connected transportation system and major international airport (Amsterdam).
Anne Frank House
Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl of thirteen when she was forced into hiding along with her family and several others in a small annex concealed behind a bookcase in an office building in the Netherlands. The group remained hidden for over two years before their location was betrayed, and the Frank family was arrested and deported to concentration camps. Anne and her sister Margot traveled from Auschwitz to Bergen-Belsen where both girls died of disease. Anne Frank was only fifteen years old. After the war, her father Otto, the only survivor from the annex, discovered Anne’s diary and had it published. The Diary of a Young Girl is still being published in over 70 languages. It remains one of the most commonly read stories of the Second World War.
Today, the hiding place of the Frank family has been transformed into a museum. Visitors can walk through the secret annex to see firsthand the cramped conditions the eight occupants of the quarters were forced to endure for over two years. Due to the enduring legacy of Anne’s story, the Anne Frank House is one of the most popular sites in all of Amsterdam. Advanced reservations are highly recommended and can often be difficult to acquire even weeks in advance.
- Location: Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam
- Cost: € 16.00 (adult)
- Hours: 9:00am to 10:00pm daily
- What to watch: The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
- More information: Anne Frank House
Dutch Resistance Museum
The Dutch Resistance Museum uses artifacts and personal accounts to tell the story of the Dutch people during the Second World War. Exhibits span topics ranging from the Holocaust to daily life of citizens under occupation. As the name suggests, the primary focus of the museum is to tell the story of the Dutch Resistance Movement, Dutch civilians who actively opposed the rule of the Nazis throughout the occupation of the Netherlands. In addition to informing visitors about the role of the Dutch Resistance Movement in WWII, the museum also discusses the fate of the former Dutch colonies in Indonesia and the Caribbean after the war.
- Location: Plantage Kerklaan 61, 1018 CX Amsterdam
- Cost: € 16.00 (adult)
- Hours: 10:00am to 5:00pm daily
- What to watch: The Forgotten Battle (2020)
- More information: Dutch Resistance Museum
Belgium
Belgium experienced several similarities to their Dutch neighbors during WWII. Both relatively small nations played host to key battles, strong resistance movements, and fierce German occupation. Belgium was invaded by the Germans in May 1940 and remained under occupation until early 1945. The country’s key WWII sites revolve around its role in one of the most notorious battles of the entire war, the Battle of the Bulge. In the final major German offensive of the war, Hitler attempted to disrupt Allied supply lines by recapturing the Belgian port at Antwerp. Due to complete elements of surprise, unfavorable weather conditions which prevented effective air support as well as frigid temperatures endured by underprepared Allied troops, the Battle of the Bulge was initially successful for the Germans. However, as conditions improved, the Allies were quickly able to turn the tide and the final push for the Germans was halted and turned back.
Similar to the Netherlands, Belgium’s compact size allows for easily coverable terrain. The major Battle of the Bulge sites can be visited in a long weekend or added on to an existing European itinerary.
Visiting Belgium? Check out WWII sites in Bastogne.
Bastogne War Museum
Easily one of the best WWII museums in all of Europe is the Bastogne War Museum. The museum combines immersive sets with authentic artifacts to tell the story of Bastogne and its involvement in the Battle of the Bulge in a highly engaging manner. The experience is further enhanced by the museum’s use of narrators. Through an audio guide, four people (a young boy, a schoolteacher, an American soldier and a German soldier) “guide” you through what it was like to live and fight in Bastogne during the battle. The guides provide a human element to the story and allow the visitor to gain a more personal understanding of the events. The stories are interwoven with multimedia exhibits which help create a truly memorable museum-going experience that is sure to leave even the most hardened visitor in tears by the end.
- Location: Colline du Mardasson 5, 6600 Bastogne
- Cost: €22.00 (adult)
- Hours: 9:30am to 6:00pm summer, hours vary seasonally
- What to watch: Patton (1970)
- More information: Bastogne War Museum
Bois Jacques Battlefield
A short 4 km drive from the museum will bring you to the edge of a small cluster of trees surrounded by a fence and turnstile entry gate. Within these boundaries visitors can walk amongst both the trees of the Bois Jacques as well as the foxholes of the 101st.
To those uninterested in World War II history, these may appear nothing more than a dozen or so holes in the middle of a sparse grouping of trees, but to those in the know they are so much more. It was from these foxholes that the men of the 101st Airborne Division’s Easy Company held the line as they battled encirclement by German troops. The site has become a pilgrimage location for fans of the story, and for good reason. It is remarkable that over eighty years later, visitors can still walk amongst the actual foxholes used by the men of Easy Company. It is rare to experience such a tangible and easily accessible piece of World War II history.
- Location: Bois Jacques, 6600 Bastogne
- Cost: included with ticket to Bastogne War Museum
- Hours: see Bastogne War Museum hours
- What to watch: Band of Brothers (2001)
- More information: Bois Jacques Battlefield
Choosing a WWII Site in Europe Based on Interest
While the most common strategy for adding a visit to a WWII site in Europe into a trip is to add a nearby site to an existing travel itinerary, this presents a unique problem. What if you are not interested in any of the nearby sites? It is not always practical to add an additional country, or even an additional region of a country, into an already jam-packed itinerary in order to get a chance to visit the site that most suits your interest. I have found that most people are typically interested in one specific aspect of the war. Some people will be most interested in visiting purely military sites while others find themselves most connected with sites pertaining to the Holocaust. Rest assured though, whatever your interest there is most likely a WWII site in Europe for you.
Below I have listed some of the most popular, important or interesting sites broken down by different areas of interest. Hopefully, this will help you to incorporate the sites that are most important to you into your trip.
WWII Battlefield/Combat Sites in Europe
The first group of sites are the true “war” sites. While WWII took the notion of total war (warfare in which everything from soldier to civilian is in play) to an unprecedented level, there are several sites that represent a more traditionally militaristic quality and center around one specific battle or campaign. Keeping in mind that as many as thousands of individual battles took place across the continent throughout the war, I have selected some of the most well-known to focus upon.
Battle of Normandy Sites (Operation Overlord)
- Dates: June 6, 1944 – August 30, 1944
- Belligerents: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Other Allied Forces, Germany, Italy
- Location: Normandy Region, France
- Result: Allied victory, establishment of an Allied foothold in Western Europe
Landing beaches – visit all five landing beaches (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, Utah) in order to gain a better understanding of the scope and obstacles facing the invading forces
Mulberry “Port Winston” Artificial Harbor – an artificial harbor created by the British to allow for the steady supply of troops and equipment after the D-Day landings
Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery – German coastal battery consisting of five guns in concrete bunkers in place to fire over Gold Beach
Normandy American Cemetery – final resting place of 9,389 Americans, the majority of whom were killed in the Battle of Normandy
Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument – visit the spot where U.S. Army Rangers scaled 100-foot cliffs to seize German artillery positions
Utah Beach Landing Museum – one of the best museums in Normandy to gain a better understanding of the events of D-Day
Battle of Dunkirk Sites
- Dates: May 26, 1940 – June 4, 1940
- Belligerents: France, United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, Germany
- Location: Dunkirk, France
- Result: German victory, successful evacuation of over 300,000 stranded Allied troops through Operation Dynamo
Dover Castle Secret Wartime Tunnels – location of the planning of Operation Dynamo, the coordinated rescue of the troops stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk
Dunkirk War Museum – tells the story of the Battle of Dunkirk and Operation Dynamo through a wide array of permanent exhibits
Fort des Dunes – 19th century fort that played a critical role in Operation Dynamo and serves as a final resting place for several soldiers killed during the battle
Dunkirk Beach shipwrecks – at low tide, walk amongst the remains of several ships wrecked during the evacuation
Battle of the Bulge Sites
- Dates: December 16, 1944 – January 28, 1945
- Belligerents: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, Germany
- Location: Ardennes region, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany
- Result: Allied victory, end of final German offensive campaign on the Western Front
Bastogne War Museum – fantastic museum which tells the story of the Battle of the Bulge through a series of narrators to help explain the human cost of war
Bastogne War Rooms – visit the location where General McAuliffe delivered his famous “NUTS” response to the German request for surrender
Battle of the Ardennes Museum – dedicated to telling the complete story of the battle by including the British contribution as well as the U.S. and German
Malmedy Massacre Memorial – pay tribute to the 80 U.S. and Belgian soldiers who were murdered by members of the Waffen SS
Operation Market Garden Sites
- Dates: September 17, 1944 – September 25, 1944
- Belligerents: United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
- Location: Eindhoven, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Netherlands
- Result: Allied failure to capture the Arnhem bridge of the Rhine in an attempt to enter Germany
Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery – the final resting place of over 1,700 Allied troops killed during Operation Market Garden
Airborne Museum – focuses on the Airborne component of the operation through artifacts and interactive experiences
John Frost Bridge – the infamous “bridge too far” this was the only bridge objective not secured, resulting in the overall failure of the operation
John S. Thompson Bridge – this bridge was quickly and successfully captured by the Allies
Holocaust Related Sites in Europe
One term is nearly synonymous with the European Theater of Operations in WWII, the Holocaust. In what was to become the largest genocide in all human history (in fact, the Holocaust directly led to the need to create a term which described the mass murder of individuals based solely on cultural, religious or racial terms) the Holocaust resulted in the death of over six million European Jews.
Due to its large-scale and methodical nature, Holocaust sites are prevalent across the continent in the form of concentration camps, memorials and museums. Unfortunately, you do not often need to look far during your European travels to discover a Holocaust site nearby. However, it should be noted that the Holocaust only refers to the systematic killing of European Jews. The Nazi persecution of Poles, Homosexuals, Roma, disabled people and other “undesirables,” while still considered genocide, are technically not apart of the Holocaust. However, I have included sites related to these victims as well.
Concentration Camps
Auschwitz-Birkenau – Poland, the largest of the Nazi concentration camps, an estimated 1.3 million people were killed here, the vast majority were Jewish
Treblinka – Poland, one of six extermination/death camps (built for the sole purpose of killing rather than labor or imprisonment) at least 700,000 people were killed here including Polish Jews and Romani
Dachau – Germany, the first permanent concentration camp established by the Nazis, originally created to house political prisoners
Buchenwald – Germany, the camp originally held Communist prisoners but expanded to include Jews, Slavs, Poles and other “undesirables”
Mauthausen – Austria, one of the first camps created and the last to be liberated, an estimated 90,000 people were killed here including political prisoners and Soviet POWs
Memorials and Monuments
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe – Berlin, Germany, 2,711 concrete slabs represent the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, nearby the site is a list containing the names of over 3 million Jewish victims
The Shoah Memorial – Paris, France, museum and remembrance site containing a list of Jews deported from France, personal items from the victims as well as learning spaces for continuing education
Shoes on the Danube Bank – Budapest, Hungary, memorial dedicated to the estimated 20,000 Jews who were executed along the riverbank by members of the Hungarian police, before execution the prisoners were ordered to remove their shoes as they were considered valuable articles of clothing
Memorial to the Sinti and Roma Victims of National Socialism – Berlin, Germany, reflecting pool with a triangular stone in the middle (symbolizing the badges worn by concentration camp prisoners) dedicated to the up to 500,000 Sinti and Roma victims of the Holocaust
Holocaust Historical Sites
Anne Frank House – Amsterdam, Netherlands, museum containing the secret annex which hid Anne Frank, her family and several other Jews before their discovery and subsequent deportation by the Nazis
Memorium Nuremberg Trials – Nuremberg, Germany, exhibition located above the original court room where several high ranking Nazis were tried for their crimes against humanity after the war
House of the Wannsee Conference – Berlin, Germany, villa where Nazi officials met to finalize the implementation of the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question”
Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory – Krakow, Poland, former factory operated by Oskar Schindler who saved the lives of 1200 Jews by employing them to make enamelware and ammunitions during the war
Conclusion
As one of the most important historical events to hit the continent (and the world), it is no surprise that WWII sites in Europe abound. Whether it be a battle of Holocaust related site in England, Poland or anywhere in between, I hope I have inspired you to add a visit to a WWII site to your next European itinerary.
Let me know in the comments what sites I missed, what site you most look forward to visiting or which site you have already visited!
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