Taps at Belleau Wood
Military history
Our house was in the middle of the turning-point battle of WWI, the Second Battle of the Marne. One of our early guests, John S.D. Eisenhower, son of Ike and a military historian, wrote a
book about it called “Yanks”. They were here for a week of fact checking.
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We are surrounded by WWI cemeteries. Belleau Wood, officially known as "Aisne-Marne", is dedicated to the Marines who first turned the tide. Nearby the "Oise-Aisne" cemetery
contains tombs of the famous, such as Joyce Kilmer, American poet and author of “Trees”.
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British cemeteries are dotted across the landscape and contain graves from all the Commonwealth, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and beyond.
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The Germans lost thousands here too in WWI and often their cemeteries are next to those of their past enemies. A touching juxtaposition.
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In Reims visit the Musée de la Réedition, where the Germans in WW2 surrendered to the Allies under General Dwight Eisenhower. The map room is very moving - all the tables and huge
wall maps to plan the Allied victory still line the walls.
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At the B&B we have many books on both wars to consult.
Champagne B&B
Print Version