Musée December 44

About the museum

The museum owes its existence to the passion of the historian Philippe Gillain, who has collected uniforms and military equipment since the age of 14. During visits to La Gleize in the 1960s he discovered a huge quantity of equipment abandoned by the Waffen-SS during their retreat. Together with Gérard Grégoire, born in La Gleize and a witness to the fighting of 1944, he keeps the memory of the battle alive through temporary exhibitions.

In 1989 Philippe Gillain founded the museum with the help of the municipality of Stoumont and the Province of Liège. It was installed in a new building of 500 m², next to the former presbytery where German troops had set up a first-aid post during the siege of La Gleize. Tiger II no. 213 stands in front of the entrance.

Looking for successors in 2012, the founders saw the museum enter a second life in 2013: after a complete rebuild, the floor area was doubled to over 1,000 m² by incorporating the former presbytery. In 2019, rare new pieces from the private collection of the current owner, local historian Bernard Treinen, enriched the rooms. The museum sees itself as a place of memory on the battlefield, to make future generations aware of the consequences of war.

Highlights

• Tiger II no. 213, 69 tonnes, displayed in front of the museum, where it fought
• Personal card holder of Jochen Peiper, found near La Gleize
• Uniforms and equipment of both sides, recovered from the battlefield or donated by veterans
• Realistic dioramas on American resistance (3rd Armored Division, 82nd Airborne Division)
• Former presbytery of La Gleize, German first-aid post in 1944

Permanent exhibitions

• Parcours sur la bataille des Ardennes à La Gleize – A chronological and thematic route on the German offensive of December 1944 around La Gleize and the failure of Kampfgruppe Peiper, with uniforms, equipment and dioramas.
• Tigre II n° 213 – German heavy tank put out of action at La Gleize in December 1944 and displayed in front of the museum.

Founded

1989

Admission & discounts

Free admission for veterans of the Battle of the Ardennes (on presentation of an identity document or proof of service) and for two family members accompanying them, as well as for residents of Stoumont and La Gleize (on presentation of an identity document).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the museum, accessibility for people with reduced mobility is difficult.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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