Centennial Organizations for the U.S. and France
The United States World War One Centennial Commission http://worldwar-1centennial.org
Mission Centenaire ’14 – ’18 http://centenaire.org/fr
In the “en France” section readers can filter by region.
Research and Preservation Organizations
Deutsches Erinnerungskomitee Argonnerwald eV (DEA) www.argonnerwald.de
(German Remembrance Committee of the Argonne Forest)
Active in exploring, documenting and restoring sites in the Argonne Forest.
Les Amis de Vauquois et de sa region (Les Amis)
(The Friends of Vauquois) http://butte-vauquois.fr/
This group maintains and offers monthly tours in the tunnels at Vauquois Hill.
The World War 1 Historical Association www.ww1ha.org
Combination of the WFA—US Branch and The Great War Society
Western Front Association www.westernfrontassociation.com
Western Front Association—East Coast Branch (USA) No longer has a website?
War Grave Associations
American Battle Monuments Commission www.abmc.gov
Le Souvenir Français www.le-souvenir-francais.fr
Le Souvenir Francais–Dun-sur-Meuse Chapter http://souvenirfrancaisdun.free.fr
The Dun Chapter is very active in local commemorations and it operates a “Maison de l’histoire” in Doulcon.
Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge eV www.volksbund.de
Commonwealth War Graves Commission www.cwgc.org
Museums and Preserved Areas in the Region
Romagne 14-18—Private Collection www.romagne14-18.com
Musee de la Grand Guerre http:// www.museedelagrandeguerre.eu/
(in Meaux, near Paris)
Arthur S. Tozar Museum: American Historical Center http://astozarmuseum.chez.com
(Still in planning stage?)
14-18 Nantillois www.14-18nantillois.com
Small museum and B&B in Nantillois.
La Main de Massiges lamaindemassiges.com
Wonderfully-preserved French-German 1915 battlefield in the Champagne, just east of the Argonne Forest.
Museums in the U.S.
National WW1 Museum at Liberty Memorial http://theworldwar.org
Kansas City, MO
First Division Museum at Cantigny www.firstdivisionmuseum.org
Wheaton, IL
Library of Congress Site: Newspaper Pictorials: World War 1 Rotogravures http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/rotogravures
Library of Congress: A Guide to World War I Materials
https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/wwi/wwi.html
Maps for Touring and Driving
Institut de L’information Géographique et Forestiére (IGN) www.ign.fr
(France’s National Geographic Institute.)
Their Série Bleue (Blue Series) maps (1:25,000 scale) are absolutely essential for stomping the battlefields.
Michelin www.michelin.com
Their 500-Series maps are (1:200,000 scale) are absolutely essential for driving in France. Three maps will get tourists to the Argonne: #514 Ile-de-France; #515 Champagne-Ardenne; #516 Alsace, Lorraine.
Great War Digital www.greatwardigital.com
A very unique computer-based product that allows users to switch between current maps and period trench maps. This product covers most of the Commonwealth portion of the Western Front and some of the French battlefields. At present, it does not yet cover the American portions.
Perry Castaneda Library Map Collection http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/ww1/
This map collection of the University of Texas, Austin contains the supplementary folding maps from the book series “Summary of Operations in the World War” published in 1944 by the American Battle Monuments Commission. It also contains links to the full text scans of the books.
Tourist, Hotel and Restaurant Guides
Department of the Meuse Tourist Office www.tourisme-meuse.com
Readers can also download brochures and documents such as restaurant and lodging guides.
Gîtes de France www.gites-de-france.fr
Website for Vacation Rental Properties. Gites are ideal for guests travelling to the region for more than a few days. For bookings in the Meuse-Argonne and St. Mihiel regions one should look for gites in the following Departements: Ardennes–08, Marne–51 and Meuse–55.
It should be noted that many Chambres d’hotes (B&Bs) are listed on this website. Thus, it is a good place to look for B&Bs as well.
Michelin Hotel and Restaurant Guide www.viamichelin.com
Verdun Tourist Pages www.tourisme-verdun.fr www.en.verdun-tourisme.com
Hotels and Chambres d’hotes (B&Bs) in the Region
This listing has been expanded in March 2018 in advance of the coming Centennial Commemorations.
Hôtel du Commerce, Aubreville www.hotel-restaurant-aubreville.com
Quaint hotel and restaurant situated a few towns south of the 26 September 1918 jump-off lines. The Webmaster has been staying with Laurent et Patricia Labrosse almost always since 1997, so it is his “home away from home”–when he is not renting a gite. However, guests should speak at least the basic tourist French–i.e. be able to order a meal and a room.
Argonne-auberge.com, Aprémont-en-Argonne hotel-argonn-auberge.com
Very popular hotel, restaurant and caterer in Aprémont, just outside of the Argonne Forest. The Webmaster has eaten here several times; but has never stayed here. However, many of his European friends stay here.
Le Tulipier, Vienne-le-Chateau www.letulipier.com/en/
The Webmaster has never stayed here, but several clients and friends have. The ABMC and other groups often use this hotel because of its larger size and slightly more American feel.
Les Jardins du Mess, Verdun http://lesjardinsdumess.fr/
There are many hotel alternatives in Verdun; but this is the most “American-like,” so it could be good for travelers who are used to staying at “nicer” hotels in the U.S. It is in a great location to walk to restaurants and shops, and it has a unique history: The building was a French Officers’ Club until around 2014. It was even mentioned in Alistair Horne’s “The Price of Glory.” It is not a “budget” choice.
LeCoq D’or Bar and Chambres d’Hôtes, Montfaucon http://www.bblecoqdor.com/
Bar and B&B in Montfaucon run by a Belgian. English is spoken and the location (Montfaucon) can’t be beat. Marc Calluy, the owner, has quite a collection of artifacts from the battlefields.
14-18 Nantillois, Nantillois www.14-18nantillois.com
Small museum and B&B in Nantillois run by Didi and Maarten Otte of the Netherlands. Maarten has written several books on the Meuse-Argonne battlefield and he is a tour guide as well.
Chambres d’Hôtes Arara, Montfaucon arara-frankrijk.com/us
B&B in Montfaucon with pool table and a handicapped accessible room on first floor. Good for those who have reduced physical ability. Again, English is spoken and the location (Montfaucon) can’t be beat.
Two Wheel Moorings, Dun-sur-Meuse www.bikersbedsfrance.co.uk/
B&B in Dun-sur-Meuse operated by British couple Carol and Ian Moore. They cater primarily to motor bikers, but they also have an interest in WW1 in the region. Friends and clients of the Webmaster have enjoyed staying there. At the time of this writing (March 2018) the owners are looking to sell the B&B; but they will be operating through 2018.
Hattonchatel Chateau, Hattonchatel www.hattonchatelchateau.com
Upscale hotel / restaurant in the old chateau in Hattonchatel. This location is especially fitting for those interested in the Yankee or First Divisions and the St. Mihiel Offensive. The Webmaster had a client who stayed there.
Chateau des Monthairons, (S of Verdun) www.chateaudesmonthairons.fr/fr/
Upscale hotel / restaurant in the old chateau at Les Monthairons, south of Verdun. Friends who have stayed there have said that it is very beautiful, but also very secluded.
Book Dealers—For Locating Regimental Histories, Biographies, Etc.
Abebooks.com www.abe.com
Zentrales Verzeichnis Antiquarischer Bücher www.zvab.com
Regiments & Divisonsgeschichten des 1. Weltkrieges auf CD Rom www.military-books.lima-city.de
Patrick Schallert’s source for German regimental histories on CD Rom.
Ebay www.ebay.com
Also a good and often inexpensive alternative. Also look on the foreign sites such as ebay.de and ebay.fr.
U.S. Military Websites
U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ahec/index.htm
From the Army’s USAHEC in Carlisle, PA
U.S. Army Medical Department, Office of Medical History
E-book: “The Medical Department of the United States Army in the World War, Volume VIII Field Operations”
Personal Websites
The Doughboy Center http://worldwarI.com/dbc
A section of Trenches on the Web.
Expedition Hartmannsweilerkopf 1914-1918 http://www.hk1418.de
German Detlef Bussat’s webpage on Hartmannsweilerkopf in WW1.
Militärgeschichte zum Anfassen (Military History to Touch) www.weltkriegsbuch.de
German Markus Klauer’s webpage. He is a long-term friend and a very knowledgeable battlefield guide.
Morthomme http://www.morthomme.com
German Stefan Schweitzer’s webpage / blog. Covers the Argonne, Verdun and St. Mihiel Salient.
Pierre’s Photo Impressions of the Western Front 1914-1918 http://pierreswesternfront.nl/
Stenay 14-18 http://stenay-14-18.com
Alain Cesarini’s website on Stenay during the war.
Tom Morgan’s Hellfire Corner. Great War Web Pages. www.hellfirecorner.co.uk
Trenches on the Web www.worldwar1.com
An Unfortunate Region www.unfortunate-region.org
Battlefield-oriented website produced by two Dutchmen.
Verdun—Eine Schlacht im Weltkrieg www.verdun14-18.de
Michael Prisille’s and Oliver Scheer’s Verdun page. Offers comments and details on the battles as well as helpful tourist information.
Verdun–mon site (My site) https://verdunmonsite.wordpress.com
Alain Cesarini’s site on Verdun.
War Untold: The Collection of Andrew Pouncey www.waruntold.com
Andrew Pouncey’s website that combines his years of collecting memorabilia with the stories behind the artifacts.
Latest update: 9 February, 2017
Rene Brouwer
Please consider adding my website to your links page.
https://worldwar1.nl