“...We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may
always be free.”
President Ronald Reagan
Omaha Beach, June 6, 1984

Tom Brokaw called the World War II generation "The Greatest Generation." Certainly, this generation saved our western civilization from Nazi terror. As President Roosevelt expressed it, the generation had a "Rendezvous with Destiny."

Among the very greatest were the soldiers who landed at Normandy on D-Day in the largest military invasion from the sea
in the history of the world. These men fought in Normandy during the summer of 1944 and advanced across France to the Siegfried Line. The Battle of the Bulge during the bitter cold winter of 1944-45 was the largest battle ever fought by the
American Army.

Our one week journey will follow the path of our soldiers from the D-Day landings in Normandy to the Crossing of the
Rhine in March, 1945.

Of course the war did not end at the Rhine. Much fighting still remained. Our troops crossed the Rhine in early Marchand advanced across Germany to V-E Day on May 8. Our weekend extension will include Weimar and the concentration camp
at Buchenwald. Enroute to Berlin, we’ll stop at Torgau on the Elbe, where our soldiers linked up with Russian troops
advancing from the East.

The advance from D-Day to Berlin was not without mistakes. In Normandy our army was unprepared for hedgerow
combat. The huge losses in the Hürtgen Forest served no significant purpose. Our army was initially unprepared for
the German offensive of December 16, causing high casualties until the Germans were stopped and pushed back.
These battles will be covered by our historians, and we will visit some of the sites.

The trip is more than a retracing of battles. Education sessions are included to enhance our understanding of World
War II in Europe. Our approach will consider both the “worm’s eye view” of Ernie Pyle, and the high command
environment of General Eisenhower and his staff.

Most of our historians are graduates of West Point or have taught at West Point; all have advanced degrees.

Our journey will be memorable; we hope that you will join us.

Fly this afternoon from your departure city to Paris. Beverages, dinner and continental breakfast will be served in flight.
There is also a movie for your in-flight enjoyment.

Arrive Paris in the morning, local time. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

The balance of the morning is at leisure.

This afternoon we have included a panorama tour of the major sights of Paris.

Those who already know Paris may wish to spend the afternoon at the Louvre or another of the city’s world class
museums. Or, you may prefer just to stroll along the Champs Elysees, or while away the afternoon at a sidewalk cafe.

This morning we'll follow the Seine west to Normandy, a land of rich pastures and orchards; of castles, cathedrals and medieval towns.

“Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”
General Eisenhower, Order of the Day, June 4, 1944

Two of history’s greatest epics occurred in Normandy. William the Conqueror invaded England from Normandy in 1066. In 1944, green and peaceful Normandy with its picturesque landscape and villages was the setting for the greatest military invasion from the sea in world history. On June 6, 1944 — called the Longest Day — General Eisenhower’s allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy.

This afternoon we’ll visit the Memorial Museum of Caen to introduce us to the events of D-Day and the summer of 1944 .

Next, we will pay homage to our British allies and visit Pegasus Bridge, where British glider troops landed and
captured the span over the River Orne, preventing the Germans from using the bridge to reinforce their defenders
at the landing beaches. Landing at 12:30 AM on June 6, these British airborne troops had the honor of beginning
the Battle of Normandy.

“In this column I want to tell you what the opening of the second front entailed, so that you can know and
appreciate and forever be humbly grateful to those both dead and alive who did it for you.”
- Ernie Pyle, June 12, 1944

Today and tomorrow we will follow the paths of the American infantry, rangers, and paratroopers in Normandy.

The first Americans to land on June 6 were our paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions. We will visit
the Airborne Museum at Ste. Mère Eglise, the first village to be liberated. Today, this village still hangs a parachute
on its church steeple as a reminder of its liberation.

We will visit the bridge at La Fière, where the 82nd Airborne Division sealed the Ste. Mère Eglise - Carentan - Utah
Beach area against German reinforcements from the North. We will see the foxhole of General Gavin, Commander
of the 82nd, still largely intact.

Next, we will proceed to Utah Beach, where our troops landed about a mile from its intended point. Theodore
Roosevelt, Jr., senior officer present, and at age 57 the oldest person to land at D-Day, declared “We’ll begin
our war right here.” We will visit the museum at Utah Beach.

“These are the boys of Pointe Du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who
helped free a continent. These are the the heroes who helped end a war.”
- Ronald Reagan,
  June 6, 1984, Normandy, France

Pointe Du Hoc - Rudder’s Desperate Mission

Among the bravest of brave on D-Day were the Rangers, led by Lt. Col. James E. Rudder, who scaled the vertical cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc in face of opposing enemy fire. As General Omar Bradley wrote, “Never has any commander been given a more desperate mission than that assigned to James Earl Rudder.”

We will visit Pointe du Hoc to see the German fortifications and pock-marked landscape resulting from the massive pre-assault bombardment.

We will walk on the beach at “Bloody Omaha” and visit the cemetery overlooking the beach, where more than 9,000 Americans are buried.

The D-Day book of Cornelius Ryan was called The Longest Day, as was the film staring John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens.
The phrase came from the analysis of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel,
Commander of the German forces in France.

“Believe me...the first 24 hours of the invasion will be decisive...the fate of Germany will depend on it...for the Allies,
as well as for us, this will be the longest day.”

Rommel was correct. D-Day was decisive. Fortunately for us, the beaches were secured. Although terrible fighting
lay ahead, Germany's fate was sealed on this fateful day. General Eisenhower's prayer was answered.

American infantrymen engage the enemy in a thick Norman hedgerow, June 1944. We will walk along a typical hedgerow near St. Lô.

During the ensuing weeks, fierce battles were fought throughout the Normandy hedgerows. The largest battle was around the town of St. Lô, which was almost totally destroyed. We will visit the surrounding hedgerow (bocage) country and see the monument to Major Tom Howie, the “Major of St. Lô,” who was killed on the Martinville Ridge. The hedgerows in the “bocage” (a French word meaning a mixture of pasture and wooded land) are small fields ringed by earthen banks of dirt and roots four to six feet high, with trees and shrubs growing out of them—tight enough to serve as fences that cattle and other farm animals could not get through. Our historian will walk with us along a typical hedgerow near St. Lô, and show us why the Normandy hedgerows were so extremely difficult for the American troops to attack, and so advantageous for the Germans to defend. The break-out from Normandy took 75 days. We will visit the museum of the Battle of Normandy in Bayeux.

The invasion of 1944 was not the first invasion across the English Channel. Nearly 900 years earlier in 1066, William the Conqueror invaded England from Normandy. Pictures of William’s 1066 expedition can be seen in Bayeux. Honest! The famous Tapestry of Bayeux, 230 feet long and 900 years old, shows in astonishing detail - via millions of stitches - the life and customs of the Middle Ages and William’s epic invasion of England. This afternoon we will proceed east to the medieval city of Rouen for dinner at a typical provincial restaurant. Continue to Paris for overnight.

Technical innovations helped turn the tide in Normandy. A Sherman tank is equipped with a hedgerow cutter constructed of materials from German beach obstacles. Invented by Sgt. Curtis G. Culin of the 2nd Armored Division, the “rhino” device was a huge benefit to our tanks in hedgerow combat.

What were the causes of World War II? The war can be considered as an extension of the First World War, which destroyed the European civilization that existed in 1914.

Woodrow Wilson called World War I “The war to end all wars.” Although hindsight is always 20-20, this prediction was wildly wrong. In one of the ironies of history, our troops in eastern France in 1944-45 retraced some of the same battlefields where American “doughboys” fought in 1918.

We’ll visit Belleau Wood, where U.S. Army and Marine Corps troops helped to stop the German advance from reaching Paris. In the Meuse-Argonne Region, we’ll see the Pennsylvania State Monument and the American Memorial at Montfaucon. It was
in the Argonne Forest that Sergeant Alvin York showed his extraordinary courage and marksmanship, Battalion,” led by a Wall Street lawyer called up from the reserves, was surrounded by the Germans for five days, refusing to give up. A precursor of Bastogne!

World War I on the Western Front was largely trench warfare - a four year stalemate where millions of soldiers were killed or wounded. Although American troops were not involved, we will also visit Verdun. The Battle of Verdun, lasting from February
to December 1916, was the longest and largest single battle in world history. In planning for the Second World War, senior generals on both sides were determined to avoid the futile slaughter of trench warfare.

Next, we enter Luxembourg and return to World War II. We’ll visit the American Military Cemetery, where General Patton
is buried.

“They got us surrounded - the poor bastards”
American Army Medic

“Nuts”
General Anthony McAuliffe

The Bitter Woods: Battle of the Bulge, Winter 1944-45, John S.D. Eisenhower, Author

The Battle of the Bulge, as the Ardennes Campaign is widely known, was the largest land battle of World War II. It was also the largest battle ever fought by the American Army. The last offensive of the German Army, the battle cost 19,000 Americans killed in action. But our troops held the line and the offensive was a disaster for the Germans, who had put their soldiers in a noose to be cut off by reinforcing Americans under General Patton. The above comments during the siege, from an unnamed army medic and General McAuliffe, became the most widely quoted comments of the war in Europe. We’ll visit Bastogne, where our soldiers were surrounded for a week, and see the town’s monuments to this epic battle. The noose was closed on January 16, 1945, when the 2nd Armored Division of our First Army linked up with the 11th Armored Division of our Third Army at Houfalize, north of Bastogne. Near Malmedy we will visit the site where Nazi troops massacred 85 American prisoners.

We will visit the Battle of the Bulge Museum at Diekirch, where Colonel James E. Rudder and his troops fought to prevent Germans from expanding the southern shoulder of their penetration. By this time, Rudder was a regimental commander with the 28th Infantry Division. Greatly assisting General Patton’s 4th Armored Division in its drive north to relieve Bastogne was the close air support provided by XIX Tactical Air Command under General Otto P. Weyland. The book Air Power and Ground Armies from the Air University at Maxwell AFB described the cooperation between Patton’s Third Army and Weyland’s XIX TAC as “the most spectacular Allied air-ground team of the Second World War .” Patton himself called the relationship “love at first sight."

Because of its rugged construction, heavy firepower, and ability to haul large bombloads, the P-47 Thunderbolt was ideally suited for close air support missions. General Weyland’s command included six P-47 groups, two P-51 groups, and one reconnaissance group, totalling 400 aircraft.

“In the [Hürtgen] forest our gains came inch by inch and foot by foot, delivered by men with rifles–bayonets on one
end and grim, resolute courage on the other. There was no battle on the continent of Europe more devastating,
frustrating or gory.”
Maj. Gen. Wiliam G. Weaver
Commanding General
8th Infantry Division

“The Hürtgen’s voracious appetite for casualties was greater than the army’s ability to provide new troops.”
Michael Doubler, author
Closing With the Enemy

“The Hürtgen was a battle that should not have been fought.”
Maj. Gen. James M. Gavin
Commanding General
82nd Airborne Division

Kall Trail, looking toward Vossenack in the Hürtgen Forest. Note thrown tank tracks. We will walk on the Kall Trail.

The battle of the Hürtgen Forest, lasting from September, 1944, to February, 1945, was one of the worst battles ever experienced by the American Army. Negligently planned by senior generals who had no knowledge of forest combat, we could not employ in the dense forest the advantages of air superiority, artillery, and armor, which had been decisive for us since D-Day. The crucial objective of the Roer River dams was ignored for weeks.

The battle of the Hürtgen Forest has been overshadowed in historical memory by the Battle of the Bulge. A textbook example of high command negligence and its disastrous consequences, the Hürtgen Forest battles have been presented as case studies to classes at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Accompanied by our historian, we will walk on the Kall Trail near Vossenack, reflecting back on that horrible time in the autumn of 1944 when thousands of American soldiers became casualties among the firs of the black Hürtgen Forest.

“We’re gonna hang out our washing on the Siegfried Line if the Siegfried Line is still there.”

Anti-tank “dragon’s teeth” along the Siegfried Line, still visible today. We will see dragon’s teeth close up.

This humorous song was popular in England and the U.S. during World War II.

But nothing was humorous about the Siegfried Line Campaign. There was enormous, brutal combat, with American soldiers pitting their courage and stamina against extremely cold weather and a fiercely stubborn enemy.

From D-Day on June 6, it took our troops 96 days to reach the border of Nazi Germany and the Siegfried Line (also known as the West Wall), a complex of pillboxes, dragon’s teeth, and strongpoints built during the 1930’s to protect the Reich against invasion from the West.

It took us almost five additional months to advance beyond the Siegfried Line and continue less than 100 miles into Germany to reach the Rhine River.

We will visit a German pillbox along the Siegfried Line, and then drive east to Remagen.

Remagen – The Rhine – Darmstadt

The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen after capture by American troops on March 7, 1945. The bridge collapsed on March 17.

By 1945, both the American and German armies assumed that all permanent bridges across the Rhine would soon be destroyed and any crossing by the Allies would be via boat or pontoon bridge. But the retreating Germans failed to bring down the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine at Remagen; our Ninth Armored Division captured the structure on March 7.

The capture of the bridge at Remagen enabled thousands of our troops to cross the Rhine “with dry feet.” General Eisenhower called the bridge “worth its weight in gold.”

The enormous benefit of the bridge to the Allied advance was recognized by Hitler, who ordered an all-out assault against the bridge by aircraft bombing, rockets (the V-2 had just become operational), frog men, and artillery.

At Remagen, we will visit the site of Ludendorff Bridge and see
the imposing towers that still stand today. We will visit the small museum inside the towers on the West Bank.

This afternoon enjoy a delightful drive along the Rhine. See the vineyards of the famous Rhine wines, the many barges on
the busy waterway and perhaps best of all, the fairy tale castles around almost every bend in the River. Of particular note
are the famous Lorelei rocks, immortalized in the classic poem of Heinrich Heine. Set to music, the poem tells the story of
the boatmen lured to their death by a beautiful maiden sitting on the rocks, combing her long blonde hair while singing her fateful song.

Dinner this evening, with German entertainment, will be at a popular Rhineland restaurant.

This morning we will be transferred to Frankfurt airport to board our return flight to the U.S. Cocktails and meals will
be served in flight, and a movie will also be available. Arrive back in the U.S. this afternoon.

Left to right: Vonnie Block, Kathy McCary, Ken Block, JoAnn West

Our holiday is operated by Matterhorn Travel. Established in 1986, Matterhorn Travel has carried over 50,000 passengers to Europe. Matterhorn officers have a combined experience of 102 years with the company. Please note the all-inclusive nature of our trips. There are no hidden operational costs. We include all features for a complete holiday - breakfasts, dinners every evening, and full sightseeing.

Deposits and Final Payments
An initial deposit of $400 per person must be sent with the reservation(s). Final payment is due two months before departure.

Responsibility
These tours are under the operation and management of Matterhorn Travel Service, Inc., 3419 Hidden River View, Annapolis, Maryland 21403.
The Tour Operator shall be responsible for supplying the services and accommodations as outlined in this brochure, except to the extent that
such services and accommodations cannot be supplied due to delays or other causes beyond its control, in which case the operator will use
its best efforts to supply comparable services and accommodations. The Tour Operator reserves the right at its discretion to change the
sequence or alter any part of the itinerary or hotel accommodations, without prior notice for any reason; but in the event of substantial
reduction in the services rendered, a proportionate refund will be made to tour participants upon written request to the Tour Operator.
If there is a major change in the itinerary, participants will be notified before departure and offered an opportunity to cancel with full refund.

In the absence of negligence by the Tour Operator, the Tour Operator accepts no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to
delays or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather strikes, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will be borne by the
passenger. The tour member waives any claim against the Tour Operator for any damage to or loss of property or injury or death of persons
due to any act of negligence of any hotels, or any other persons rendering any of the services or accommodations included in the ground
portion of the itinerary. The Tour Operator shall not be responsible for any delays, substitution of equipment or any act of omission whatsoever
by the carrier, its agents, servants and employees, and tour member hereby waives any claim arising therefrom. Tour participants agree that
the Tour Operator has no responsibility or liability of any nature whatsoever for loss, damage or injury to property or person resulting from air transportation. The air carrier provides insurance for the protection of passengers and performance within the provisions of its tariffs. The
Tour Operator reserves the right to decline, accept or remove any tour member as a participant of these tours at any time. If any tour member
is removed from the tour, a proportionate refund for unused services will be made.

Cancellations/Refunds
Refunds cannot be made to any passenger who does not complete the tour. In the event of cancellation by the Tour Operator, Tour Operator's
liability shall be limited to a refund of all payments made by the tour participants to Tour Operator.

All cancellations and requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to the Tour Operator. If cancellation in writing is received by the Tour
Operator more than two months before tour departure, an administration charge of $90 per person will be retained. For cancellations received
within two months of departure, the following cancellation charges apply:

Two months to one month before departure: 25% of the tour price
One month to one week before departure: 60% of the tour price
Less than one week before departure: No refund

Insurance
Trip accident, health and baggage insurance is recommended. Cancellation insurance is also available and is particularly recommended.
Details will be furnished upon request.

Baggage
One suitcase per person (50 pounds) may be taken on the trip. The liability of the carrier for loss or damage to personal baggage shall
be limited to the actual value of such baggage but not more than approximately $9.07 per pound in the case of checked baggage and
approximately $400 per person in the case of unchecked baggage or other property. (Domestic-actual value not to exceed $500.)

Airport Transfers
Airport transfers are provided only for passengers arriving and departing Europe via flights reserved by the Tour Operator. Passengers
using different flights are responsible for their own airport transfers.

Special Note
Prices quoted are based on air fares, taxes, European supplier costs, and rates of foreign currency as of September 15, 2008. Prices are
subject to change prior to departure. Participants will be notified in writing at least two months before departure if there is any increase in
tour price required by such cost increases. There is no credit for unused services. Forwarding of participants' deposit(s) indicates
acceptance of these terms and conditions.

THE AIRLINES participating on this tour are not responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time the passengers are not on board
their airplanes or conveyances. The issuance of the passage contract by the airline concerned shall constitute the sole contract between
the airline and the purchaser of this tour and/or the passengers. In addition to the participating airlines, the services of any IATA and ARC
carrier may be used in connection with these tours.

This program is valid from May 1 to October 31, 2009.