This week, I embarked on a profound journey through liberated Europe, tracing the footsteps of the Allies during 1944 and 1945. One of my notable stops was Bastogne, where I encountered a remarkably unique World War II museum. Upon entering, I was handed a headset that transported me through the museum’s exhibits, presenting a compelling narrative from four distinct perspectives. I heard the story of a young boy who witnessed the Battle of the Bulge unfold in Bastogne, an adult Belgian woman involved in the resistance, a German soldier, and an American soldier. Remarkably, these were all true stories. Each narrative was also brought to life through an innovative 3D theater experience.
I had never encountered such an unconventional approach to a museum before. The method employed truly captivated my attention and ensured that I remained engrossed in the museum and its narratives. More importantly, it succeeded in humanizing the stories, reminding me that the artifacts I encountered were not mere relics, but objects that had shaped the lives of countless individuals. The weapons on display had once claimed lives of family members and loved ones, the propaganda posters had led neighbors to betray each other, resulting in tragic consequences, and the rations ledgers had inflicted hardships on ordinary people. As I examined the uniforms, the two soldiers vividly recounted their experiences as warriors and the rigorous training they endured. Meanwhile, while perusing domestic items, the woman and the boy spoke of the deterioration of their lives when the Germans took control.
The 3D theater experience added another layer of realism to the stories. In one theater, I found myself immersed in a wooded area where soldiers sought refuge in foxholes, shielding themselves from the enemy. As screens at the back of the theater described the battle’s progression, I felt a semblance of the fear that gripped those soldiers and gained insight into the intensity of their experiences. In another theater, a scene in a café unfolded before my eyes. The American soldier had taken a German soldier hostage, while the woman and the boy sought refuge in the café. When the bombs started raining down, the woman invited the American soldier to seek shelter inside, and they all huddled in the basement for several arduous days. In a breathtaking moment, the floor lifted to reveal the very cellar in which they had hidden. This evocative depiction granted me a glimpse into the harsh realities endured during that time. Both this unique theater experience as well as the narrations succeeded in captivating me in a way that no other museum ever has.