After tracing the path of World War II through London and across the beaches and battlefields of Normandy, our journey continued east. In France, we had walked the sands of Omaha and Utah Beaches, stood beneath the steeple of Saint Mère Église, explored powerful memorials and museums, and paid tribute at the Normandy American Cemetery. The stories of bravery and sacrifice were vivid in every stop. Now, as we crossed into new countries and chapters of history, our focus shifted to the aftermath of liberation—how Allied troops advanced, what they encountered, and the enduring legacy left to remind the world of what happened and why we must never forget.

After the Allied troops secured Normandy, the next step was Operation Cobra, which began in 1944 to push toward Paris. By the fall of 1944, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of the Netherlands were successfully liberated. Our trip towards Munich, Germany, wound through Belgium and Austria to stop at other important places our troops passed through and fought for. Before reaching the heart of Belgium, we paused for a brief stop at the Amiens Cathedral. The towering Gothic architecture and stained glass offered a moment of stillness and peace before returning to the front lines of history. From there, we made our way to Bastogne, a name synonymous with endurance and sacrifice. It was here, in the brutal winter of 1944, that American forces, particularly the 101st Airborne Division, held the line during the infamous Battle of the Bulge—one of the
largest and bloodiest battles fought by the United States in WWII.

In Bastogne, we visited both the War Museum and the 101st Airborne Museum, each offering a different but equally moving window into the battle. The War Museum presented the larger scope of the conflict with immersive exhibits and firsthand accounts from soldiers and civilians alike. At the 101st Airborne Museum, the experience felt more personal—intimate rooms filled with relics, letters, uniforms, and life-sized dioramas offered powerful reminders of the men who dug in and fought back despite being surrounded, outnumbered, and under-supplied. It was here that the human cost of determination and courage came into focus once again.

Continuing to Germany, our next major stop was Cologne, Germany, for a night. Cologne was a major industrial and transportation hub used by Nazi Germany and targeted by Allied bombing raids. During the war, over 90% of the city was destroyed, though the stunning Cologne Cathedral survived, suffering some damage but never completely collapsing. The towering spires (500 feet tall) reach high above a modern city rebuilt from rubble, standing as a testament to endurance and the preservation of culture even amid war. The cathedral is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that truly is worth making a trip to visit. The contrast between destruction and beauty served as a powerful metaphor for the resilience of the human spirit.

As we moved deeper into Germany, we made a brief but sobering stop at the Zeppelinfeld in Nuremberg. Once a central location for Nazi propaganda rallies
designed by Albert Speer, the massive stadium space now lies quiet and mostly abandoned, its vast concrete platforms crumbling under time’s weight. Standing there reminded us how power can be manipulated—and how important it is to question, remember, and teach. From there, we continued on to Munich, carrying the weight of that symbolism with us.

In Munich, we visited the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Opened in 1933, Dachau was the first of its kind and became a model for all other Nazi concentration camps. Originally intended for political prisoners, it later housed Jews, clergy, Roma people, and other groups targeted by the regime. More than 200,000 people from more than 30 countries were imprisoned here, and over 40,000 died within its walls. The brutal conditions of the camp included forced labor, medical experimentation, starvation, and torture inflicted on the prisoners. Walking through the gates marked with the chilling phrase “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“Work Sets You Free”), it became clear that this was not just a historical site—it was a place of mourning and memory. The heavy, emotional air of the modern camp is something difficult to describe. Walking the same paths and through buildings where victims of the Nazi regime were confined gives a weight to history that textbooks can not convey.

American forces liberated Dachau on April 29, 1945. The U.S. 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions, including Todd Anton’s father, Wallace P. Anton, were the soldiers who entered and liberated the camp. The liberation revealed the true horrors of the Holocaust to the world and changed the course of public understanding forever. Today, the site exists as both a memorial and a warning of what happens when hatred and fear are allowed to grow unchecked. The museum and preserved barracks provide difficult but necessary insights into the victims’ suffering and the importance of human rights and justice. Silence often says more than words could as we moved through the site, especially Building X, the second crematorium built to keep up with the prisoner deaths.

Our final World War II–related stop was the Eagle’s Nest, the mountaintop retreat built for Adolf Hitler. Although he reportedly spent little time there, the structure symbolized Nazi wealth, power, and arrogance. Today, the building serves as a restaurant and historical site, with its commanding view over both Germany and Austria. The peaceful alpine scenery clashed with the history beneath our feet, but it offered a fitting end—standing in a place once claimed by tyranny, now freely visited by those committed to remembering what must never happen again.

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Crossing into Austria, we ended our journey on a lighter cultural note by visiting Mozart’s Birthplace in Salzburg. The small yellow building tucked along a busy street reminded us that Europe is more than a battlefield. It’s also a place of incredible beauty, creativity, and resilience. From war to music, pain to joy, history lives in every stone—and part of traveling is embracing its full spectrum.

Throughout this trip, we stood where history happened. We walked battlefields, crossed bridges, entered churches and camps, and stood in both reverence and reflection. Though these events happened over 80 years ago, they did not feel distant. The preserved sites, the personal stories, and the physical spaces we entered made it clear that history is not just dates in a textbook—it is alive, and it continues to shape who we are. We live free today because of the sacrifices made by those who came before us. That truth followed us from the beaches of Normandy to the gates of Dachau.

Traveling with this group was as rewarding as the journey itself. Under the guidance of our local history teacher, Todd Anton, the past came alive with every step. His knowledge, passion, personal connection, and storytelling connected each location to the people who lived through it. This wasn’t just a trip; it was an education in humanity, courage, and remembrance. As the group returned home, there was already talk of a future trip, perhaps following a different thread of history, with the same purpose: to remember, to learn, and to never forget.