FRANCE S WESTERN FRONT

Transcription

1 S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y FRANCE S WESTERN FRONT October 7 to 18, 2018

2 After four long years of violent fighting, trench warfare and the introduction of revolutionary battlefield technology, November 1918 saw the much-anticipated end of The Great War. While it completely devastated early 20th-century Europe, in many ways, World War I marked the arrival of the modern era and makes for a fascinating study. Alongside historian James Sheehan, 58, we ll learn about legendary battles that marred the topography of the region; major turning points such as the arrival of American troops; and the negotiations, signing and long-term impact of the Treaty of Versailles. Join us on this one-of-a-kind journey through Northern France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. BRETT S. THOMPSON, 83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY BUTTE DE VAUQUOIS MEMORIAL Highlights LEARN of American soldiers heroics during the Battle of Belleau Wood at Château-Thierry that helped change the course of the war. COVER: HÔTEL DES INVALIDES, PARIS VISIT memorials and cemeteries paying tribute to the tens of thousands of French, British and American soldiers who died defending the Western Front. GAIN perspective on the firsthand experiences of soldiers and civilians alike at the Verdun Memorial Museum and Museum of the Great War in Péronne. PALACE OF VERSAILLES

3 Jim Sheehan added very high educational value, morning, noon and night. SUE MCCOURT COBB, 59, VOYAGE ON THE BLACK SEA, 2016 Faculty Leader JAMES SHEEHAN, 58, is the Dickason Professor in the Humanities and professor emeritus of history at Stanford University. His research focuses on 19th- and 20th-century European history, specifically on the relationship between ideas and social and economic conditions in modern Europe. His most recent book, Where Have All the Soldiers Gone, examines the decline of military institutions in Europe since He is now writing a book about the rise of European states in the modern era. About this program, Jim states, The First World War is one of the most significant events in world history. There is no better place to think about the experience and memory of the war than the Western Front, where some of its fiercest battles were fought and where its most moving monuments can be found. Professor emeritus, department of history, Stanford University Senior fellow, by courtesy, Freeman-Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University Dean s Award for Distinguished Teaching, Stanford University, 1993 Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching, Stanford University, 1993 Guggenheim Fellow, Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?centenary2018 OR BY PHONE: (650) SOMME AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL

4 Thiepval Trescault Albert Somme SOMME Péronne American Cemetery Cantigny American Monument Compiègne Paris Versailles Château-Thierry F RANCE Reims Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte Château de Fontainebleau BELGIUM LUXEMBO Meuse-Argonne American Ceme Verdun MEUSE Saint-Mi Itinerary SUNDAY & MONDAY, OCTOBER 7 & 8 U.S. / PARIS, FRANCE / ALBERT Take independent overnight flights to Paris. Upon arrival on Monday, connect with our group at the airport and head north to the Somme region. En route to Albert, our home for the next three nights, visit Compiègne, a memorial commemorating the place where both the Armistices of 1918 and 1940 were signed, and continue to the Cantigny American Monument. Enjoy a welcome reception and dinner this evening. HÔTEL ROYAL PICARDIE (10/8: L,D) TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9 ALBERT / SOMME REGION Spend the morning exploring Albert and nearby Somme memorials and battlefields. Begin with the Somme 1916 Museum, which offers a glimpse into daily life on the front lines and chronicles the evolution of weaponry. Next visit the Lochnagar Crater, the largest crater ever made by man in warfare and now a one-of-a-kind memorial. Continue to Thiepval to see the moving Memorial to the Missing of the Somme and other sites detailing the joint British-French offensive during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. HÔTEL ROYAL PICARDIE (B,L) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10 ALBERT / PÉRONNE / TRESCAULT Travel to Péronne to visit the Museum of the Great War, with exhibits showing how lives of combatants and civilians were drastically altered by the war, and the Somme American Cemetery and Memorial, where more than 1,800 Americans are buried. In Trescault, see the remains of a British tank that was buried in a shell hole in 1917 and forgotten until its rediscovery in HÔTEL ROYAL PICARDIE (B,L) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11 ALBERT / REIMS / VERDUN Depart Albert this morning for Verdun. Along the way, stop in Reims, the historic location of the coronation of French kings. Visit both of the city s coronation churches: the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims, commissioned as a hospital at the outbreak of World War I, and the delicate abbey of St. Rémi, dating back to the 6th century. Indulge in a tour and tasting at one of the city s most prestigious champagne houses before continuing on our journey, arriving in Verdun in the late afternoon. HÔTEL LES JARDINS DU MESS (B,L,D) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 VERDUN / SAINT-MIHIEL Today we begin at the Verdun Memorial Museum, dedicated primarily to the 1916 Battle of Verdun, an artillery duel without precedent and the longest battle between German and French armies during WWI. The murderous frontal assault and pursuit of complete annihilation that took place here is considered one of the most devastating battles in the history of warfare. Continue to Saint- Mihiel in the afternoon to learn about the first and only World War I offensive launched solely by the United States Army. HÔTEL LES JARDINS DU MESS (B,L) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13 VERDUN / MEUSE REGION Early on in the war, neither the French nor German troops were making much progress above ground in the Meuse region, so both sides turned to mine warfare and began digging vast and complex networks of under-

5 URG tery hiel CHÂTEAU DE VAUX-LE-VICOMTE ground galleries. Take a guided tour at the Butte de Vauquois Memorial to see remnants of the tunnel system and the vast impact that subterranean warfare had on the landscape. Continue to the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, the largest American cemetery in Europe. More than 14,000 American military members are buried here, most of whom lost their lives during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The nearby Montfaucon American Monument, our last stop of the day, commemorates the resulting American victory in that battle. HÔTEL LES JARDINS DU MESS (B,L) SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 VERDUN / CHÂTEAU-THIERRY / VERSAILLES Transfer today to Versailles, stopping en route at Château- Thierry to learn about the Battle of Belleau Wood. Château- Thierry was strategically important during World War I as it was a key point of the barrier against the German advance toward Paris. Learn how fresh American forces deployed here saved Paris from falling into enemy control. This afternoon visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial and the Château-Thierry American Monument, commemorating the Second Battle of the Marne. In the late afternoon, check in to our hotel in Versailles. PULLMAN CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES (B,L) MONDAY, OCTOBER 15 VERSAILLES / PARIS Travel to Paris this morning and stop at Picpus Cemetery to see the grave of General Marquis de Lafayette, whose participation in the American Revolution set the precedent for a long-standing partnership between the French and the Americans that was enhanced by their alliance during World War I. Continue to the Hôtel des Invalides to visit Paris exceptional Army Museum, and explore exhibits of the Contemporary Department focusing on the two world wars. The afternoon and evening are free for independent pursuits in Paris. PULLMAN CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES (B) TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16 VERSAILLES Spend the entire day at the Château de Versailles. Begin with a guided tour of the private apartments of Louis XV and Louis XVI and view some of their most ornate 18th-century furniture. Hear about the Treaty of Versailles, negotiated between January and June of 1919, and learn about the strict provisions that the treaty imposed on the Germans. After lunch, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure for continued exploration of the château and gardens. PULLMAN CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES (B,L) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17 CHÂTEAU DE FONTAINEBLEAU / CHÂTEAU DE VAUX-LE-VICOMTE Depart this morning for a tour of the spectacular Château de Fontainebleau, the favorite residence of French kings for some 800 years. Highlights include the château s famous horseshoe-shaped staircase and its spectacular gardens. After lunch, continue to Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th-century masterpiece of modern design and elegance. Return to Versailles and gather for a farewell reception and dinner to commemorate our journey. PULLMAN CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES (B,L,D) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 VERSAILLES / PARIS / U.S. Transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport early this morning to connect with independent flights back to the U.S. (B)

6 ARMY MUSEUM, PARIS Trip Information DATES October 7 to 18, 2018 (12 days) SIZE 30 participants (single accommodations limited please call for availability) COST* $8,995 per person, double occupancy $10,495 per person, single occupancy *Stanford Alumni Association nonmembers add $300 per person INCLUDED 10 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 3 dinners Welcome and farewell receptions Gratuities to porters, drivers and guides for all group activities All tours and excursions as described in the itinerary Group transfer and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days Minimal medical, accident and evacuation insurance Educational program with lecture series and pre-departure materials, including recommended reading list, a selected book, map and travel information Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program NOT INCLUDED International and U.S. domestic airfare Passport and visa fees Immunization costs Meals and beverages other than those specified as included Independent and private transfers Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance Excess-baggage charges Personal items such as internet access, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services AIR ARRANGEMENTS You are responsible for booking and purchasing airfare to the start location and from the end location of the program. These air purchases are NOT included in the program cost. To assist you in making these independent arrangements, we will send you details with your confirmation materials on when to arrive and depart. WHAT TO EXPECT We consider this to be a moderately strenuous program that is at times physically demanding and busy. Daily activities involve one to three miles of walking, sometimes on uneven terrain such as cobblestone streets or dirt paths, and standing for extended periods of time during tours of museums, battle sites and cemeteries. Guided tours may require climbing up and down several flights of stairs, sometimes without handrails. While we generally travel by motor coach, some sites do not allow the coaches to pull directly in front, thus requiring a short walk to reach the entrance. Participants must be physically fit, in good health and able to keep up with the group without assistance from tour staff. We welcome travelers 15 years of age and older on this program.

7 CATHEDRALE NOTRE- DAME DE REIMS Terms & Conditions Deposit & Final Payment A $1,000-per-person deposit is required to reserve space for this program. Sign up online at alumni. stanford.edu/trip?centenary2018 or call the Travel/Study office at (650) Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability. Cancellations & Refunds Deposits and any payments are refundable, less a $500-per-person cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to departure. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place(s) can be resold, in which case a $1,000-per-person cancellation fee will apply. Insurance Stanford Travel/Study provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage under our group-travel insurance policy. Our group policy is intended to provide minimal levels of protection while you are traveling on this program. You may choose to subscribe to optional tripcancellation and baggage insurance. Information offering such insurance will be provided to travelers with their welcome materials. The product offered includes special benefits if you purchase your policy within 14 days of written confirmation of your participation on the trip. Eligibility We encourage membership in the Stanford Alumni Association as the program cost for nonmembers is $300 more than the members price. A person traveling as a guest paid for by a current member will not be charged the nonmember fee. For more information or to purchase a membership, visit alumni.stanford/ goto/membership or call (650) Responsibility The Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motor coach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner s risk entirely. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time that passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance. Neither the Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University nor our operators accept liability for any carrier s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect in March 2018 and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. TELEPHONE (650) travelstudy@alumni.stanford.edu California Seller of Travel Program Registration # COPYRIGHT 2018 STANFORD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED ON RECYCLED, FSC-CERTIFIED PAPER IN THE U.S.

8 Stanford Travel/Study Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center 326 Galvez Street Stanford, CA (650) FRANCE S WESTERN FRONT October 7 to 18, 2018 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Stanford Alumni Association This was the most intellectually and emotionally engaging trip I have ever been on. JANE ADAMS, REMEMBERING WORLD WARS I AND II, 2013 S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y AISNE-MARNE AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL