News - TracesOfWar.com

Oct2021

WWII was above all won by the blood and sacrifice of the Soviet people

Russia’s losses during the Second World War were beyond imagination and touched the lives of an entire population caught between a brutal and murderous invader and a ruthless leadership at home. Soviet victory over the Nazis, which effectively won the war, according to the author, was the end result of effort and sacrifice by the ordinary millions who were totally committed to saving their motherland'. The humanity of the ordinary Soviet citizen in uniform is often forgotten because of later Cold War narratives propagated East and West for differing ideological reasons. With Red Star at War Colin Turbett seeks to redress these imbalances. We asked him some questions about his book by e-mail.

Sep2021

Photo Report Race to the Bridge 2021

When the first Airbornes landed on 17 September 1944 in the Renkum/Wolfheze area, it was of the utmost importance to reach their target as quickly as possible: the road bridge in Arnhem. Every year on the Saturday afternoon during the memorial weekend, this Race to the Bridge is reenacted.

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Sep2021

Photo Report Airborne Commemorations Renkum and Heelsum 17 September 2021

On September 17, 2021, the Airborne commemoration was held at the landing areas near Renkum at the beginning of the afternoon. It was then exactly 77 years ago that the first paratroopers and gliders of the 1st Airborne Division landed here. In the evening the commemoration took place at the Airborne memorial in Heelsum.

Sep2021

Photo Report Commemoration Victims Bomb Raid 17 September 1944 Ede

On September 17, 1944 at 11:41 in the morning the first bombs fell from allied aircraft in the area around the Parkweg in Ede. The bombs were intended to attack German targets on the east side of Ede, prior to the Airborne landings later that day. A second attack followed in the afternoon. A total of 71 inhabitants of Ede died as a result.

Sep2021

Photo Report Commemoration Air Despatch Memorial 2021

The last formal commemoration in the Arnhem Airborne weekend is the commemoration at the Air Despatch monument, near the cemetery in Oosterbeek.

Sep2021

Photo report Ceremony headstone with name for unknown Polish soldier

On Friday, September 16 2021, a ceremony was held at the Airborne cemetery in Oosterbeek because the grave of an unknown Polish soldier was given a new stone with name. Thanks to research by Mateusz Mróz, it has been established that the remains in this grave must have come from Edward Trochim of the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade. The ceremony attracted a lot of interest.

Sep2021

Photo report Airborne commemoration Bear Pit Arnhem

Prior to the ceremony in the 'Bear Pit' on Friday evening September 16, 2021, there was a meeting for invited guests in the Eusebius Church. Speeches were given here by, among others, Mayor Marcouch and State Secretary Blokhuis.

Sep2021

Photo Report Airborne Commemoration Arnhem-West

During the first days of the Battle of Arnhem there was heavy fighting in Arnhem-West. The units intended to reinforce the bridge were stopped here. Every year on the Friday afternoon during the memorial weekend in September, there is a ceremony at the monument that General Urquhart himself unveiled. An impression of Friday 17 September 2021:

Sep2021

Photo Report Air landings and Commemorations Ginkel Heath

On Saturday 18 September 2021, the Air Landing and commemoration took place on Ginkel Heath near Ede. Because of Covid without veterans, but with a large crowd and many historic vehicles.

Sep2021

Photo Report Commemoration Airborne Cemetery Oosterbeek

On Sunday, September 19, 2021, the annual commemoration was held at the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek. Due to the Corona measures, unfortunately with a limited number of invited guests and no Arnhem veterans.

Sep2021

Photo Report Airborne region gears up

The weekend of 17 to 19 September is the focus of the commemorations of the Battle of Arnhem. During the days leading up to this, a lot is already happening. In recent years, exercise Falcon Leap has been held in this week. Large groups of military paratroopers are dropped at various places in the region. Flags are hung and crosses are placed. The first wreath laying takes place. Reenactors and old vehicles appear in the streets etc.

Sep2021

Photo report Parachute jumps at Wolfheze on 16 September 2021

On Thursday morning Parachute Group Holland made parachute jumps near Wolfheze on the eastern part of the terrain that was known as Landing zone S during the Battle of Arnhem.

Sep2021

World War 2 Youtube Series - The German Slave Economy - 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.

Aug2021

World War 2 Youtube Series - 157 - Yamamoto: Midway Round Two? - World War Two - August 28, 1942

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

Aug2021

World War 2 Youtube Series - The Symphony That Defeated the Wehrmacht

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

Jun2021

World War 2 Youtube Series - By Sea, By Land - A Global History of the Marines - 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.

Jun2021

World War 2 Youtube Series - 146 - Sevastopol Must Fall! - WW2 - June 13, 1942

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

May2021

World War 2 Youtube Series - The Great All-Out Battle - Naval Warfare in the Pacific - 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.

May2021

World War 2 Youtube Series - 141 - Carrier vs. Carrier - The Battle of Coral Sea - WW2 - May 9, 1942

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

May2021

Two Airborne veterans passed away

This week two Airborne veterans sadly passed away: Jim Chittenden 21st Independent Parachute Company (Italy) and Arnhem veteranLuis Dimarco, Signals Platoon, HQ Coy, 1st Parachute Battalion.

Apr2021

The Netherlands Carillon will finally sound harmoniously after May 5

In 1951, the Dutch government decided to donate a carillon to the United States as a gesture of gratitude for the liberation and the Marshall aid. The instrument initially consisted of 49 bells and ended up in a modernist bell tower right next to Arlington National Cemetery with a view on the American capital of Washington D.C. In Bells for America, Diederik Oostdijk describes the arduous history of the Netherlands Carillon. The author is professor of English and American literature at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. We asked him several questions by e-mail about his book and the restoration of the instrument. The text was translated by Arnold Palthe.

Apr2021

World War 2 Youtube Series - Hitler's Money and How He Stole It - 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.

Apr2021

[video] New documentary released about forgotten Battle of Otterlo (NL)

The Battle of Otterlo (April 15-17 1945) was an intense fight, including tanks, flamethrowers and hand-to-hand combat, with more than 1,000 soldiers involved and more than 100 persons killed in action. Remarkably, this battle is mostly unknown to the general public. Consequently, Menno J. de Vries decided to create a documentary about it that visualizes the events. The result was published yesterday on YouTube, at the 76th remembrance day.