RIDE TO THE KÖNIGSTIGER

Story and Photos by ITN European Reporter Herve’ Rebollo.

Salut à vous riders from all over the world,

For years, there was a ride I wanted to do: to see (and shoot) one of the rare Panzerkampfwagen VI (or Sd.Kfz.) 182 Panzer VI Ausf. B Tiger II still visible on this planet. Naturally, I suppose you agree with me and see clearly what I’m’ talking about ?!?

Ok, on this Saturday 15 of March, it was time to hit the road again for my monthly ride. It was cold (zero degree Celsius / 32 Fahrenheit), sunny and dry. Let’s go back to Belgium!

More precisely, let’s go to the little village of LA GLEIZE. Once again, the idea stays the same: to take a long walk (at least 800km/500miles), discover the country (and why not a foreign country) and improve my level of culture (all in a single day!).

On my way to Belgium,  I made a stop to salute an old friend : WOINIC, the world wide largest wild hog (remember, this IRON TRADER NEWS post:  https://irontradernews.com/october-ride-to-the-wild-hog/ ).

La Gleize is a village of Wallonia and a district of the municipality of Stoumont, located in the province of Liège in Belguium. La Gleize is located on a rocky outcrop in the Ardennes region. Its church knew serious damage caused in 1944 by the Battle of the Bulge.

Established in the village square opposite the church. A 1000 m2 museum is devoted entirely to the famous Battle of the Bulge of December 1944.

La Gleize was where the advance of Kampfgruppe Peiper was halted. A German KÖNIGSTIGER tank is at the entrance of the building.

Inside is an abandoned reconnaissance armored Willys Jeep in perfect condition.

La Gleize is located in the heart of the northern part of the Belgian Ardennes. The December 44 Museum is housed in an historic building in the center of the village. It is dedicated entirely to the Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive.

When one thinks about the Battle of the Bulge, it is inevitably about the heroism of the American troops while surrounded at Bastogne. But from the German’s point of view, the big push and main effort had to be concentrated in the northern Ardennes forests. Bastogne was only a secondary matter that was to be bypassed without delay, like other resisting forces. The spearhead of the offensive thus rested on 1.SS Panzer-Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler in which the legendary commander, Obersturmbannführer Jochen Peiper command a regiment. Literally “bodyguard division of Adolf Hitler”, abbreviated LSSAH or LAH it was one of the elite Waffen-SS units. It held the dual role of protection unit of the Führer and a combat unit. Members of the LSSAH are ingloriously known to have participated in numerous atrocities and war crimes.

To oppose Peiper’s spearhead, the Allies sent several of their elite divisions, first the tanks of the 3rd Armored Division to support of the infantrymen of the 30th Division and later the paratroops of the famous 82nd Airborne Division.

Surrounded by American forces at La Gleize, 800 survivors of the 1st Panzer SS lead by Peiper fled on Christmas Eve, leaving behind 135 armored vehicles including the 70 tons King Tiger which still stands in front of the museum. It is this failure that is considered today as the principal cause of Germany’s defeat in the Battle of the Ardennes.

It is often said that if the Americans won the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne, the Germans lost it at La Gleize.

In 1944 the church crypt provided shelter for civilians, and cellars throughout the village sheltered families, occupying SS troops and US prisoners alike during the American bombardment. Peiper allegedly had one of his grenadiers shot for desertion against one of the walls of the church.

The church sustained severe damage during the battle and lost its tower. It was rebuilt in 1951. Directly opposite the church, on the other side of the village square is the December 1944 Museum.

The museum accurately recounts these tragic events and offers the visitors a chance to see one of the most important collections in Europe.

The impressive quantity of material was found for the most part in the surroundings of La Gleize.

The Tiger II was the successor to the Tiger I (remember this former Iron trader post: https://irontradernews.com/ride-in-france-and-eat-camembert-and-shoot-the-tiger/ ). It was the costliest German tank to produce at the time. The tank weighed almost 70 tons, and was protected by 100 to 185 mm (3.9 to 7.3 in) of armor to the front. It was armed with the long barrelled (71 calibres) 8.8 cm KwK 43 anti-tank cannon.

The Tiger II was issued to heavy tank battalions of the Army and the Waffen-SS. It was first used in combat by during the Allied invasion of Normandy on 11 July 1944. Due to heavy Allied bombing, only 492 were produced.

Development started in 1937 with a design contract awarded to Henschel. Another design contract followed in 1939, given to Porsche. Both prototypes used the same turret design from Krupp. The main differences were in the hull, transmission, suspension and automotive features.

Tiger ‘213’ was one of the tanks of schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 attached to 1. SS-Panzer-Division ‘Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler‘ during the Ardennes offensive. This last-ditch effort of the Third Reich saw the mustering of three armies: 6th SS-Panzerarmee, 5th Panzerarmee and the 7th Armee. On 16 December 1944 these armies attacked the allied position along a 100 kilometers long front. Their goal was to cross the Meuse river and head for Antwerp to cut off the bulk of the allied armies on the western front. Hitler was convinced that cutting off the allied armies in the low countries would force them into peace negotiations.

Preparing to defend La Gleize, Peiper organized his defenses around the town. All command posts were situated in cellars, sheltered from the continuous heavy artillery bombardments.

The next day, about 15 tanks of Task Force McGeorge appear. A firefight ensues, but no hits are scored by either Tiger. 213 is hit, losing about 1/3 of its barrel, rendering it inoperable. 221 is also struck and its electrical firing mechanism fails. Both crews bail to find shelter in the farm’s basement. This encounter goes to show that even the invincible Tiger II could be knocked out due to the large number of tanks the American were able to field. Moreover, the use of the Tiger II in forested areas, like the Ardennes, was disliked by its crews: the long barreled gun prevented traversing the turret and the limited room for maneuvering made the tank vulnerable from the sides

A tremendous amount of materiel was left in the area around La Gleize after Peiper’s chaotic retreat, including no less than six Königstiger. While most of the Tigers are recovered and scrapped by US engineers, 213 is saved by interference of Madame Jenny Geenen-Dewez who buys the tank at the price of a bottle cognac. After the war it is towed to Place Publique besides the presbytery near the church. In November 1951, the tank was subsequently moved to its currently place with help of the Belgian army. September 1970 saw the lifting of the tiger onto a more solidly built underground. Monsieur Gérard Gregoire bought a piece of a Panther’s 7,5 cm barrel which was attached to the severed barrel in 1975, giving the tank a more authentic look.

I could have stay there, by the side of this fascinating monster, hours. But, after visiting the little museum …

It was time to hit (heat? It was so cold) the road again and discover some memorials to all the battles which took place in this region around La Gleize.

Come back home, biker!

After two new hours of road, I was quit tired (don’t forget, I’m a young old biker of 61 soon). I needed a little pause in the amazing city of REIMS, in France (and no, it’s not a tea you can see on this pic’ – it’s something hot with a base of Jack Dan’ mixed with orange and some cloves … and yes, it’s very good).

Reims is recognized for the diversity of its heritage, ranging from Romanesque to Art-déco. Reims Cathedral is listed together as a UNSECO World Heritage Site in 1991 because of its outstanding Romanesque and Gothic architecture and its historical importance to the French monarchy. Reims also lies on the northern edge of the Champagne wine region and is linked to its production and export. I absolutely wanted to take this following picture.

And then, after 791,2 kms / 491,6 miles on this sunny historical Saturday, I was at home.

See ya soon on the road, who knows?

Hervé you French biker friend.