Do you enjoy military history? Do you have a relative who fought in WW1 or WW2 in Western Europe? Join Knee Deep Into History on one of our 2026 battlefield tours for an unforgettable experience. We offer tours for those seriously interested in military history and, true to its name, we strive to get you knee deep into history. As I write this text, I am leading a tour of the Meuse-Argonne and St. Mihiel battlefields of WW1. During this six-day tour we are exploring key parts of these two WW1 battlefields, including many remains of trench lines and bunkers. In two days I will fly to Munich for our Rise and Fall of the Third Reich Tour, which focuses on in-depth visits to locations in Bavaria and Austria that played a key role in the both the beginning and the end of the Third Reich. One example of sites to be visited is Landsberg Prison, where Adolf Hitler wrote Mein Kampf and where key Nazi leaders were executed after war crimes trials in 1945-46, and a nearby church cemetery where they are buried under unmarked crosses. I founded Knee Deep Into History after living in France for eight months during 2017-18, the Centennial of America’s involvement during WW1. However, I have been visiting the battlefields regularly since 1986, as has my German business partner, Markus Klauer. Take advantage of our 30+ years of experience touring the battlefields and let us bring history to life for you like you’ve NEVER experienced in a school classroom. Here’s a look at our 2026 battlefield tours:

Third Reich Underground Tour, 18 – 23 May, 6-day / 5-night

On this fascinating above- and below-ground tour in Central Germany we look at Nazi efforts to conceal its armaments industry from attack by moving them underground. The role of concentration camp and forced labor is also explored during this tour.

Guide Graham Gaulke explaining the layout of Mittelbau Dora Concentration Camp.

WW2 American Experience 28th Infantry Division Tour, 27 May – 4 June, 9-day / 8-night

Get knee deep into history following the soldiers of Pennsylvania’s 28th Infantry Division, also known as the “Bloody Bucket,” including its participation in the Normandy break-out, the Ardennes, the Huertgen Forest and the Colmar Pocket. The tour is designed to end just before the annual commemorations in Normandy. Tour participants can easily make their own plans to attend the commemorations.

German Westwall Bunker in the Huertgen Forest. The 28th Infantry Division suffered huge casualties in these woods.

June 1944 Normandy Tour, 10 – 15 June, 6-day / 5-night

Take an in-depth tour focusing on all Allied landing beaches and airborne drop zones of the largest amphibious invasion ever attempted. The tour is scheduled just after the annual commemorations to avoid the crowds. Participants who want to attend the annual commemorations can do so on their own before joining the tour.

Visiting La Cambe German War Cemetery to tell both sides of the stories of the Normandy Landings

Somme and Verdun 110th Anniversary Tour, 29 June – 3 July, 5-day / 4-night

2026 marks the 110th anniversary of 1916, a year that really witnessed the industrialization of warfare. This tour will include attending portions of the 1st July commemoration ceremonies on the Somme Battlefield, including the morning kick-off at the Lochnagar Crater.

Annual commemoration ceremony at Fricourt German Cemetery on the Somme battlefield

Meuse-Argonne and St. Mihiel Tour, September dates TBD, 6-day / 5-night

Get knee deep into history with the AEF Doughboys on this in-depth exploration of these two famous battlefields.

Visting the remains of a WW1 German medical bunker in the St. Mihiel Salient

Ardennes “Battle of the Bulge” Tour, December dates TBD, 6-day / 5-night

Experience the Ardennes battlefield as the GIs did during our December 2026 battlefield tour and participate in some of the annual commemoration events.

We do work in cultural events on our tours, such as a visit to the Aachen Christmas Market

On our Knee Deep Into History 2026 battlefield tours we strive: 1) to take clients into the field versus just visiting museums and markers; 2) to guide small group tours, allowing for great interaction with guides and clients; 3) to promote a balanced view of both sides; 4) to offer tours for passionate history buffs, and 5) to help Americans bridge cultures and feel comfortable overseas. We will have full details for each tour up shortly. Visit our website, https://kneedeepintohistory.com or email founder, Randy Gaulke, for more details.

Montfaucon-en-Argonne is one of the best-known sites of the WW1 battlefields

After decades of personal battlefield tours, Randy Gaulke quit his job as a financial analyst in Manhattan and spent eight months in France in 2017-18 as a freelance guide during the World War I Centennial. He subsequently founded Knee Deep Into History, with a philosophy of getting clients into the field on a small-group tour designed for the military history enthusiast. Equally important is the attempt to tell both sides of the story and to help Americans bridge cultures. Most tours are led jointly with European guides, including retired Bundeswehr officer and historian Markus Klauer. The groups enjoy family-owned European hotels and restaurants. Experience a military history tour that brings the battlefield to life! Learn more at www.kneedeepintohistory.com Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.