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Europe Remembers on Tour! in Paris
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On August 24 and 25 2019, the Europe Remembers on Tour team was in Paris to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the city.
A great number of activities took place throughout the weekend. Amongst others, we visited several historical sites such as the Army Museum and the Musée de la Libération de Paris – Musée du Général Leclerc – Musée Jean Moulin, which was reopened and moved into its new location at the square Denfert-Rochereau. We also interviewed French historian Stéphane Simonnet about the liberation of Paris in August 1944.
We followed a guided tour in central Paris themed on the occupation, the resistance and the liberation of the city during World War II. Finally, we took part in the very animated Freedom Parade and attended several commemorative ceremonies, including the public ceremony for the Spanish La Nueve Company, and the official ceremony in front of Paris City Hall.
All videos including the interviews we made, our visits to historical sites, and the events we attended, are available on our YouTube channel.
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Launch of 75 years of Freedom in Terneuzen
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On August 31, Europe Remembers was at Terneuzen, in the Dutch province of Zeeland, for the official launch of the programme celebrating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.
Terneuzen was one of the sites where the Battle of the Scheldt was fought in the fall of 1944 and it was eventually liberated by the 1st Polish Armoured Division. Dutch King Willem-Alexander officially started the celebrations and was later joined by prime minister Mark Rutte. The event included concerts, speeches, and a mobile exhibition on the history of military engineering.
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75th anniversary of the Liberation of Belgium
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Step 1: Mons
Our activities to celebrate the liberation of Belgium started in Mons, the first Belgian city to be liberated by American troops on 2 September 1944. First, we visited the Mons Memorial Museum and its new temporary exhibition 1944 Immersive Experience, which can be visited until June 2020. Then, we attended the ceremony held on Mons’ Grand-Place for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the city. The next day, we enjoyed a bike tour from Mons to Halle, passing through Ronquières and Ittre, following in the footsteps of the liberators.
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Step 2: Brussels
On September 3, we followed a guided tour centred on WWII in Brussels, which ended at Cinquantenaire Park where the Liberation Column North –a 700-meter long military column with nearly 70 WWII vehicles– had just arrived. We attended the official protocol ceremony held at Cinquantenaire. The next day, we were in Molenbeek for the ceremony at the National Monument "To the Glory of the Piron Brigade". We ended at the Halles Saint-Gery for the Liberation Ball and the inauguration of the photo exhibition Brussels, freed city, which was created in cooperation with the Sege-Soma (Centre for Historical Research and Documentation on War and Contemporary Society) and can be visited until 3 November 2019.
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Step 3: Mechelen, Breendonk and Antwerp
On September 5, our journey continued in Flanders, where we visited the Kazerne Dossin in Mechelen and the Fort Breendonk in Willebroek. At both locations, we saw the advancing Liberation Column North. On September 6 and 7, we participated in Antwerp’s Liberation Days. Amongst other activities, we followed the Liberation Parade, we visited the Liberation Village where we could experience how life was during the wartime years, and we witnessed a unique joint parade of historic and contemporary vessels and aircraft over the Scheldt river.
On September 12 and 13, the Liberation Column will arrive at its final destination in Leopoldsburg, where a series of events and commemorations will be held.
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Next: Operation Market Garden commemorations in The Netherlands
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After successful tours in the UK, France, and Belgium, the next leg of Europe Remembers on Tour will take place in the Netherlands to mark the 75th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, one of the largest Allied operations of WWII that took place in the fall of 1944.
Between 17 and 20 September, the team will walk sections of the Airborne path from Eindhoven to Arnhem. On the way, we will visit a series of historical sites including the Wings of Liberation Museum (Best), the Canadian War Cemetery (Groesbeek), and the famous John Frost Bridge (Arnhem). Just like we did in previous legs of Europe Remembers on Tour, we will be there to meet with historians and veterans, and take part in some of the many commemorations, liberation parades, and other events organised to commemorate Market Garden.
To stay informed of our activities during these few days, follow us on Facebook in English or Dutch, Twitter and Instagram.
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