Stage 4 of the Liberation Trail brought us to the heart of one of WWII’s most infamous battlegrounds: La Gleize. This small Belgian village was the final stand for Kampfgruppe Peiper during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. As the German offensive ground to a halt, Peiper’s SS troops were encircled and forced to abandon their vehicles—including the now-iconic Tiger II tank that still stands as a silent witness in the center of the village.

Our runners started right there, under the looming shadow of the Tiger. The heat was brutal—32°C in the shade—but the spirit was unbreakable. The trail began with a steep ascent straight into the Ardennes forest, followed by a reverse descent down the notorious “Iceberg” trail from the night before. The terrain was unforgiving, but the landscape was stunning.

Checkpoint 1 near Petit Coo offered more than just water—it offered relief. Runners soaked themselves with bottles, sponges, whatever they could find. In this kind of heat, hydration isn’t optional.

From there, the route meandered past an old castle and along a dreamy, winding flowpath high above the Amblève River. A truly breathtaking section before Checkpoint 2—just in time for a long, grinding climb and a tricky descent through an old water drainage tunnel.

After 27 km, the finish line brought the ultimate reward: a cold plunge in the creek near La Gleize. Pure euphoria.
We closed the day with grilled food, good conversation, and a sense of quiet awe—both from the physical challenge and the history underfoot.

For those wanting to dive deeper into the story, the December 44 Historical Museum in La Gleize is a must-visit. Its collection—centered around Peiper’s retreat—brings this intense chapter of history vividly to life.