Malmedy is gearing up to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the bombing that nearly destroyed the town on 23, 24, and 25 December 1944. To mark the occasion, a series of events will take place throughout December.
The small town in the Belgian Ardennes was heavily bombed during the Battle of the Bulge. Over 200 civilians and 40 American soldiers were killed, though it was US bombardiers that at first mistakenly hit the town.
The Malmedy Association for the Promotion of Art and Culture (AMAPAC) will kick off the observance on 20 September with a concert by the “Big Band de Sourbrodt”, featuring 90 minutes of the most popular songs by Glenn Miller, the US big band conductor and serviceman during the World War II.
The evening will also include a wartime scene reenactment with period equipment, photo exhibitions, paintings illustrating the event, and witness testimonies from those who lived through the bombing. A military vehicle will be displayed in front of the Fraternity Hall.
The commemoration will continue on Thursdays, 12 and 19 December, with the screening of the documentary “Childhood Memories: Living and Surviving in Malmedy During the War”, highlighting the experiences of those under the bombs in winter.
On Friday, 20 December, the exhibition “Malmedy, Days of War” will open, showcasing around forty historical photos, videos, and archives. It will be on display at the Malmundarium until 29 June 2025.
A permanent memorial route, “Malmedy Battle Tour 44”, featuring 22 historical photos, will be inaugurated on Saturday, 21 December, following commemorations at the Baugnez Memorial and the traditional homage to civilian and military victims. The event will conclude on Sunday, 22 December, with a mass at Malmedy Cathedral, followed by a moment of reflection.
