Bastogne inaugurates WWII museum dedicated to Battle of the Bulge

Bastogne War Rooms, a new museum dedicated to the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, was officially inaugurated Friday.

The museum is located in the former Heintz Barracks, which was the American headquarters during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.

It was in these barracks that US General Anthony McAuliffe famously replied "NUTS!" to the German troops surrounding Bastogne's demand for surrender.

"This has become a symbol of resistance to extremism," Benoit Lutgen, mayor of Bastogne, said Friday.

The first floor of the building houses an interactive interpretation centre dedicated to the Battle of the Bulge. In the basement, visitors can relive the events of the battle through video projections and immersive scenography.

"This museum completes Bastogne's museum offer and allows the city to confirm its position as a centre of reference for the Second World War," said Lutgen, referring to the "extraordinary success" of the museum. Bastogne will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in 2024.

^{© BELGA PHOTO ANTHONY DEHEZ}