News - TracesOfWar.com

Jan2023

Voices of veterans' stories must be passed on

TRANSLATED BY FERNANDO LYNCH – Frank van Lunteren has been working on the history of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division since 2001. This unit fought, among other things, during Operation Market Garden and the Ardennes Offensive. The historian born and raised in Arnhem has published five books on the regiment. May 1st, 2022, marked the 80th anniversary of the 504th PIR. Reasons enough to ask Frank van Lunteren a couple of questions about his research on this platoon unit.

Jan2023

Marine Corps Honors WWII Veteran During Birthday Celebration

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Dec2022

"With trivializing remarks, we will not achieve a better understanding of the Dutch resistance"

TRANSLATED BY FERNANDO LYNCH – The British publisher Osprey Publishing published a book on resistance and collaboration in the Netherlands this spring. The authors are the Dutch friends Michel Wenting and Klaas Castelein. The title is The Dutch Resistance 1940-45, World War II Resistance and Collaboration in the Netherlands. The richly illustrated publication, with drawings by Mark Stacey, is the 245th volume in the publisher's Elite series. We asked the authors some questions about their book via e-mail.

Dec2022

Christmas and New Year’s greeting on behalf of our volunteers

It occurs on more and more locations in the Netherlands: lighting candles on wargraves on Christmas Eve. A tribute to all who fought and died for our freedom. The picture below was taken on the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Oosterbeek (also known as the Airborne Cemetery). Here, 1,680 war graves from the Commonwealth can be found, 245 of them unidentified. In addition there are 73 Polish and 3 Dutch wargraves. Are you also going to light a candle on a wargrave on Christmas Eve in memory of those who died for our freedom?

Dec2022

'We were losing people at a worse rate than Bomber Command': The forgotten heroes of WW2

The unarmed Photographic Reconnaissance Unit risked everything to spy on Germany. Time is pressing to erect a memorial to their sacrifice

Nov2022

World War 2 Youtube Series - 220 - Kiev Liberated! Celebrations in Moscow! - WW2 - November 12, 1943

New on Youtube, from the makers and creators of Youtube channel 'The Great War', the Second World War week by week, 6 years long.

Oct2022

World War 2 Youtube Series - The Combat Dogs of World War Two - WW2 Special

New on Youtube, from the makers and creators of Youtube channel 'The Great War', the Second World War week by week, 6 years long.

Oct2022

Photo Report Race to the Bridge

On the Saturday in the weekend in which the Battle of Arnhem is commemorated, the Race to the Bridge will take place in the afternoon. With original vehicles, a long procession departs from the landing areas at Renkum to the Frost Bridge in Arnhem. The end point is at the Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek.

Sep2022

Photo report commemoration at the Engineers Monument and Silent Tour White Ribbon Mile

When on 20 September the British 1st Airborne Division had to give up the positions at the Rhine bridge in Arnhem, they withdrew to the 'Perimeter' in Oosterbeek. This was a bridgehead of several square kilometers on the north bank of the Rhine. The idea behind this was that reinforcements could be transferred across the Rhine. After a few days it turned out that the perimeter could no longer be defended. On September 25, 1944, General Urquhart was ordered to withdraw the troops across the Rhine. The operation was codenamed: Berlin.

Sep2022

Photo report Commemoration Airborne memorial de Naald in Oosterbeek

On Friday 16 September the commemoration was held at the Airborne Memorial de Naald in Oosterbeek. By default, this ceremony is on September 17, but because that date fell on a weekend this year, this year it was moved to Friday.

Sep2022

World War 2 Youtube Series - Did D-Day win WW2? - a WW2 expert discussion

New on Youtube, from the makers and creators of Youtube channel 'The Great War', the Second World War week by week, 6 years long.

Sep2022

Photo Report Airborne Hospital

In the weekend of the commemorations of the Battle of Arnhem, 'War Department' had again set up an field hospital in the concert hall in Oosterbeek. This living history group lets you experience what the stress in his field hospital must have been like.

Sep2022

Photo report commemoration Battle of Arnhem in Lombok

Every year on Friday afternoon in the weekend of the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem, a commemoration is held at the September 1944 memorial in West-Arnhem (Lombok). This memorial was unveiled at the time by General Urquhart and it is located in the part of Arnhem where on the second day of the Battle of Arnhem the reinforcements for the 2nd battalion of Lt. Col Frost at the bridge, were blocked by the German defences.

Sep2022

Photo report unveiling new Airborne memorials

During the commemoration period of the Battle of Arnhem in September 2022, three new memorials were unveiled. With this image report we want to look at this in more detail:

Sep2022

Photo report interment of ashes Arnhem veteran John Jeffries

On Friday, September 16, 2022, the ashes of Arnhem veteran John Jeffries, who died in 2020, were interred at the Airborne cemetery in Oosterbeek. During the Battle of Arnhem John was assigned to the 156th Parachute Battalion as a liaison. He was injured during his jump on the Ginkelse Heide on September 18, 1944.

Sep2022

Photo report Commemoration Battle of Arnhem in the 'Berenkuil'

On Friday September 16, 2022, the annual commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem was held in Arnhem. As in previous years, there was first a meeting for invited guests in the Eusebius Church. One of the speakers here was Minister of Justice and Security Yeşilgöz-Zegerius. This was followed by the commemoration ceremony in the 'Berenkuil'.

Sep2022

Newsflash Freedom Fire de Peel Monday 19 September 2022

Today in Deurne, the annual Freedom Fire was distributed through the Peel communities. The Freedom Fire was brought from Eindhoven to Deurne yesterday and from there by various runners groups past through to the 11 Peel communities. The meeting began with a welcome speech from the mayor of Deurne, Ms. Buter. Sjoerd Ewals from the German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn gave a speech, after which the Freedom Fire was passed on to the different mayors. The meeting was livened up with the singing of Noëlle van Bussel and the Firebrigade Pipes & Drums.

Sep2022

Photo report Airborne landing and commemoration Ginkel Heath 2022

On Saturday 17 September, the annual airborne landing and commemoration was held on the Ginkel Heath near Ede. Early on, the column of historic vehicles was lined up and the market stalls were manned. At 10:00 am, Parachute Group Holland paratroopers made the first jumps from a Dakota.

Sep2022

Maximilian Lerner, Whose Espionage Skills Helped Win a War, Dies at 98

An Austrian immigrant, he was one of the so-called Ritchie Boys, who were trained at a secret Army intelligence camp to serve in World War II.

Sep2022

Germany to rebuild bridge over Rhine that collapsed during WW2

Appeal for funds to rebuild bridge at Remagen destroyed after capture by US troops in final days of war

Sep2022

Newsflash Commemoration Eerde Saturday September 17, 2022

The annual commemoration of Operation Market Garden was held on Saturday 17 September 2022 at the Geronimo monument and the Eerdse Molen in Eerde. Mayor Kees van Rooij and some American dignitaries from the embassy and the 101st Airborne Division gave a speech and wreaths were laid at the monument.

Sep2022

Newsflash Commemoration Son Saturday 17 September 2022

The annual commemoration of Operation Market Garden was held at the Parachutist monument in Son on Saturday September 17, 2022. Mayor Hans Gaillard gave a speech and flowers were laid at the monument. Reenactors and the Andrew Sisters created a nice atmosphere around the commemoration. The encampment of the reenactors can still be seen on the Oranjeveld in Son until Sunday the 18th.

Aug2022