European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 26, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Vehicles of War Story and photograph by David Tarrant Brussels Bureau world War ii marked the first time that military vehicles were used extensively in combat. They played crucial roles in the hot desert campaigns in North Africa the frigid fighting in the belgian forests and the frantic Street combat in Berlin. Few people today have had a Chance to inspect those vehicles of War. But that changed with the april 26 opening of a remarkable museum in the Southeastern Corner of Belgium one that houses a unique collection of More than 150 vehicles from virtually All the countries involved in world War ii. Victory memorial museum in Arlon is an unabashedly enthusiastic testimonial to the Allied Victory Over nazi Germany. It is also a Well documented and entertaining exhibition that looks closely at the technological achievements of Germany and the allies accomplishments that were spurred by the War. The museum is two hours by car from Brussels near the Border of Luxembourg. It has the world s largest collection of military vehicles from world War ii according to founder Guy Franz Arend. The 25-acre site just off the e411-e25 Brussels Luxembourg Highway includes a Large exhibition area 250-seat Cinema cafeteria souvenir shop workshop and other facilities. During world War ii industries of the warring nations competed to produce faster More durable More innovative vehicles. The museum allows the visitor to do what the Engineer during the War could Only wish to do a compare the results which Range from the Sublime to the ridiculous. Some German half tracks which were introduced during world War ii were among the most sophisticated and technically marvelous pieces of machinery used in the War. But they proved to be expensive to use difficult to drive under powered and often incompatible with the War Mission. The american Model pragmatic and standardized proved More durable Arend said. Some German half track models Are so rare that Only one or two have been found Arend said. The collection also includes samples of All the German and american military motorcycles As Well an extremely rare belgian motorcycle the Sarolea 1000, with its Sidecar. There is also a motorcycle used by american airborne units that was dropped with the paratroopers for Quick transport on the ground As Well As a jeep and a three Quarter ton vehicle used by the flamboyant . Gen. George Patton. One of the prizes of the collection is the Peculiar and quixotic Humber hex naut manufactured by Britain. Only three prototypes were built. The hex naut is Likely the Only amphibious vehicle Ever to have featured a six wheel drive directed by two motors a one for each Side. It was designed to enter through the cargo door of the dc-3 plane. A the British must have had a sense of humor to build this vehicle Quot said Arend. Arend is not new to the museum business in 1976, he founded the Bastogne Belgium historical Center which is dedicated to the Battle of the bulge in 1944. Inspired by the Success of that museum and having Learned a thing or two in the process Arend began planning Victory memorial museum in 1978. The idea was to put together a representative collection of vehicles used for the first time intensively by the military forces in world War ii. Except for tanks such vehicles had largely been neglected in other Public museums. Arend established a list of the vehicles he wanted in the museum using specialists to help in the research and documentation. Many of them expressed doubts that he would be Able to find Many of the vehicles 35 years after the War. Arend who was the president of an outdoor advertising company for 35 years said he made extensive use of his numerous friends and business contacts in other countries. Some of the vehicles were found on farms in France and some were scattered throughout Scandinavia. The Taiwan government donated an m-18 american tank killer which was shipped More than 1 2,000 Miles to the museum. The process of finding restoring and documenting the vehicles took More than 10 years he said. The collection now includes about 80 German vehicles 20 from Italy 25 from Britain 1 5 from France and the rest from the United states. The museum is designed so that the visitor can see the front sides and Back of each vehicle s. More than 250 mannequins in military uniforms Are displayed in or around the vehicles which Are also fully equipped with arms accessories and even Luggage. The displays also include an elaborate description of each vehicle detailing its manufacturer the number produced its Mission and other information. The museum s private foundation also Aims to encourage studies concerning world War ii through the funding of scholarships to students. The ardennes Region is Rich in War history and the visitor to the Victory memorial museum can also take advantage of those memorials and museums in nearby Bastogne. The adventurous May even want to include a trip to the tank museum in Brussels parc do Cinque attenaire. Arend a native of Luxembourg who now makes his Home in Belgium has a Strong personal interest in world War ii. His father a Luxembourger was forced to fight with the German army when the tiny country was absorbed by the third Reich. When the americans arrived in 1944, the younger Arend then about 15, ran off to fight with the americans who repeatedly sent him Home. As Europe embarks on a new Era of peace and Prosperity Arend Hopes to preserve the memory of those who sacrifice d their lives in a War that ended just 45 years ago on May 8,1945. A we need this kind of museum Quot Arend said. A we need to  april 26, 1990 stripes Magazine