Mardasson Memorial & Bastogne War Museum – Bastogne, Belgium


Mardasson Memorial - Full View
Mardasson Memorial – Full View

Mardasson Memorial History

A huge memorial in the shape of an American star was resurrected in Bastogne to commemorate the American soldiers who fought bravely and left so much behind on the battlefields during the Battle for the Ardennes in December 1944. The Belgium – American Association initiated this idea. Plans to build the memorial started in 1946 with the presentation of a box filled with earth from this site to President Harry Truman. The monument is situated north east of Bastogne on the Mardasson hill which was the centre of the Battle of the Bulge, or Wacht am Rhein, in 1944. Mardasson Memorial was officially opened 4 years later on the 16th of July in 1950. The Belgian name for the monument is: ‘Mémorial du Mardasson’ as is Bastenaken the name for Bastogne.

Mardasson Memorial - View on the Atrium
Mardasson Memorial – View on the Atrium
Mardasson Memorial - Battalion Isignas
Mardasson Memorial – Battalion Isigna’s
Mardasson Memorial - Text inside the Atrium and Stairs
Mardasson Memorial – Text inside the Atrium and Stairs

Mardasson Memorial Monument

The design, the shape of the American star, was created by an architect named George Dedoyard. George Dedoyard was born in 1897 in Belgium and died at the age of 91 in 1988.  With its 12 meters height the American Liberators Memorial towers over the countryside. A 20 meters wide atrium is extended with 31 meter long star tips. A spiral stairs will take you up for a great view on the countryside and the battlefield around Bastogne. On the monument are the names of 48 states, Alaska and Hawaii followed in 1959. The monument is covered with text and battalion insignia’s which refer to the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle for the Ardennes and the 101st Airborne Division, with their commander Anthony McAuliffe, who fought and defended Bastogne. And to the 76,890 soldiers who died, were wounded or went missing during this battle. In the center of the Atrium is written, in Latin, ‘The Belgian people remember their American liberators – 4 July 1946’. The written history ends with:

They who live now can witness the grandness of those who died here, they all fought with an increasing respect for freedom for which they went through an ordeal of fire to achieve it.

Mardasson Memorial - Atrium from Above
Mardasson Memorial – Atrium from Above
Mardasson Memorial - Bastogne in the Back
Mardasson Memorial – Bastogne in the Back
Mémorial du Mardasson
Mémorial du Mardasson
Mardasson Memorial - point of a Star
Mardasson Memorial – point of a Star
The Bastogne War Memorial with the Stars and Stripes in front
The Bastogne War Memorial with the Stars and Stripes in front

The Crypt

Under the monument is a crypt, carved out of the rock bed, with beautifully coloured mosaic by the French artist Fernand Léger. In the crypt are three altars which represent the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish religion.

Mardasson Memorial - the Crypt
Mardasson Memorial – the Crypt entrance
Mardasson Memorial - Text inside the Crypt
Mardasson Memorial – Text inside the Crypt
Bastogne War Memorial - view of the altar inside the crypt
Bastogne War Memorial – view of the Protestant altar inside the crypt with mosaic of Fernand Léger

Bastogne War Museum

Bastogne War Museum seen from the monument
Bastogne War Museum seen from the monument

Next to the Mardasson Memorial on the Mardasson hill is the Bastogne War Museum. The museum has lots of items on display, from small gear to uniforms to vehicles like jeeps and tanks; Two Sherman tanks, a G13 tank which is a replica of the German Hetzer tank, but mostly it consists written history. If you know the story of the Battle of the Bulge and seen some Sherman tanks the museum is not that interesting, the Bastogne Barracks and the Bastogne Ardennes 44 Museum are higher up the ladder for us.

Bastogne War Museum
Bastogne War Museum
Bastogne War Museum - Damaged Sherman
Bastogne War Museum – Damaged Sherman
Bastogne War Museum Multiple impacts on Sherman tank
Bastogne War Museum – Multiple impacts on Sherman tank
Bastogne War Museum - Patton's Battle dress
Bastogne War Museum – Patton’s Battle dress
Bastogne War Museum - German Winter Camouflage
Bastogne War Museum – German Winter Camouflage
Bastogne War Museum - G13 Swiss Tank
Bastogne War Museum – G13 Swiss Tank
Swiss G13 tank at the Bastogne War Museum
Swiss G13 tank at the Bastogne War Museum
Bastogne War Museum - MG
Bastogne War Museum – MG

Visit

The monument is free to visit; the museum charges a fee for a visit. With 14 euro’s for an adult in 2015, a stiff fee if you ask us.

Mardasson Memorial
Mardasson Memorial


6 thoughts on “Mardasson Memorial & Bastogne War Museum – Bastogne, Belgium

Brenda Carlan Currahee Military Museum in Toccoa, Georiga on

When did Mardasson Memorial – the Crypt entrance open to the public? I somehow missed it in 2004. The monument was so emotional, I may have just walked right pass it. Thanks for posting.

Patrick @(Brenda Carlan Currahee Military Museum in Toccoa, Georiga) on

Hi Brenda,
Thank you for your comment, We do not know when it opened or if it was closed. It is easy to miss to be honest. If we did not wander into the right direction to make a photo we missed it as well.

Paul hilton @(Patrick) on

When did the tanks on the roof come down l remember same time in 1968 that tanks were there thank you Paul

Patrick @(Paul hilton) on

Dear Paul Hilton, we have no idea how the memorial looked in 1968. Maybe the internet can help you there.

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