News - TracesOfWar.com

Jun2017

Death of Fred Seiker

On June 2nd 2017, Fred Seiker died at the age of 101 at home. Fred has become known by publishing his book of paintings about his time in a Japanese prison camp. We wish his wife, family and friends a lot of strength with this loss.

Apr2017

Did we finally find turret 4?

In 2007 we already investigated the turrets in the vicinity of the seven exit roads in Bastogne. It turned out to be more difficult than we thought, but with a lot of outside help we identified 10 turrets in 2009. Many of them were moved these past years. One turret we could not find: turret 4, the twin brother of turret 3, which stood at the N834 in the direction of Bertogne, close to the Bastogne Barracks.

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Mar2017

Photo report Opening 'Airborne at the Bridge'

On 30 March 2017 the information centre Airborne at the Bridge opened at the new location. Guests of honour at this event were three Arnhem veterans: Arthur Letchford, David Whiteman and Geoff Roberts. Arthur is one of the few remaining veterans who reached the bridge and fought here.

Mar2017

Memorial Short Stirling I N-3709 unveiled

On 26 March 1943 Short Stirling I N-3709 of RAF 7 squadron crashed near the village of Etten. The aircraft was on the return flight from a bomb raid over Germany. It was set on fire by German anti aircraft guns. It had just crossed the German-Dutch border when it was shot down by a German Messerschmitt 110 nightfighter. The seven crew members all perished.

Jan2017

A visit to Auschwitz

A visit to Auschwitz is easy to plan. The camp is not very far from the airport of Katowice. A rental car is a must, but they are not really expensive in Poland. By car it's about 35 minutes drive to Oœwiêcim (the town where Auschwitz is located). Moreover, the trip can be combined with other places of interest like the city of Krakow. In Krakow are several WW2 places of interest, for example the former factory of Oskar Schindler which has been converted into a modern museum of the Second World War.

Jan2017

New website launched!

Sep2016

Photo Report Commemoration Oosterbeek with Boris Johnson

OOSTERBEEK - On 16 September 2016 the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson attended an extra commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem at the Military Cemetery in Oosterbeek. Also attending was the Dutch Foreign Secretary Bert Koenders.

Sep2016

Rededication Service six Graves The Border Regiment

There are a couple of hundred graves for unknown soldiers at the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek. These soldiers could not be identified when they were buried shortly after the war. Recently and with the help of modern DNA technology six soldiers of the Border Regiment could be identified, 72 years after they had passed away.

Apr2016

Video: Barbed Wire

The father of filmmaker Bob Entrop has been a prisoner between 1943 and 1945 in the camps Altengrabow and Muhlberg at the Elbe and wrote there the book BARBED WIRE about it. He belonged to the large group of soldiers to voluntarily given the choice in 1943 to report or to hide. Most of them went to work normally after the mobilization. Now, 65 years later, six men between 90 and 96 years speak, for the first time, richly illustrated with unique footage and recordings of the former camps about their captivity and why they have volunteered.

Sep2015

Commemoration Ginkel Heath 2015

On Saturday 19 September 2015 the annual commemoration of the Airborne landings was held at Ginkel Heath, Ede, The Netherlands. Due to low clouds the morning para drops were cancelled.

Sep2015

Three ceremonies for the interment of ashes of an Arnhem Veteran

On 18 September 2015 there were three interments of ashes at the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek of Arnhem Veterans that had passed away recently.

Sep2015

Funeral John Joseph Kennell

On 16 September 2015 John Joseph Kennell was buried at the Oosterbeek Airborne Cemetery. Many people attended the service despite the heavy rain.

Sep2015

Correction liberation monument Stiphout

Our investigation into Helmond war victims sometimes produces a remarkable catch. At a meeting of battlefield guides we spoke with a guide from Nuenen. Referring to the corrections he figured that we were talking about the monument in Stiphout, because, according to him, there appears a wrong battalion on the panels. We could hardly believe this, another monument with an error? Could this be true?

Jul2015

Flood of input WW2Awards.com

As team of volunteers working on the website WW2Awards.com, we are very pleased with the many input we receive from our visitors. For this we would like to thank you all. The amount of input we receive however is such that regulearly we receive questions why the input has not been added yet.

May2015

Liberation Parade Wageningen 5 May 2015

On 5 May 2015 the annual Liberation Parade was held in Wageningen. It was 70 years ago that the German capitulation, and therefore peace in the Netherlands, was signed in Hotel 'de Wereld'. Many foreign veterans attended this event for the 70th commemoration. It is likely that this will be the last time that such a large number of World War Two veterans come over to the Netherlands.

May2015

160 British veterans at the Airborne Museum

In the period from 3 till 5 May 2015 160 British veterans have a trip to the Netherlands to commemorate that this country was liberated 70 years ago. The veterans travel in London taxis. This morning they arrived at Hook of Holland. After lunch at Bronbeek they were hosted at the Airborne museum at Oosterbeek. Despite the rain many people attended this event. For some there was an opportunity for a meet & greet meeting with a couple of the veterans.

Feb2015

Photospecial In the footsteps of the 82nd Airborne Division 2015

Two years ago we already were present also; In the footsteps of the 82nd Airborne Division is a yearly organized march referring to the battles of the 82nd Airborne Division in the Ardennes. This year the locations that were visited, were related to the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The start and finish were in La Gleize, world famous for its enormous Tiger II Tank. Your reporter left the Netherlands on Friday, in order to drive in two days from the German border in a westerly direction via La Gleize to the farthest point of the German advances during the Ardennes offensive, near Dinant.

Feb2015

Recipient Military Order of William Van den Hoek (93) passed away

Ridder Militaire Willems-Orde Cornelis Pieter van den Hoek past away in Werkendam, last Thursday at the age of 93. The resistance fighter received the highest Dutch decoration of bravery for his heroic deeds during the Second World War in the Netherlands.

Dec2014

Photo Report Nationaal Militair Museum

On 13 December 2014 the Nationaal Militair Museum was first open to the public. Since then the museum has been a popular attraction . Your STIWOT reporter visited this unique building on Monday 22 December. Here is his photo report.

Nov2014

Interment of ashes of Joseph (‘Joe’) Reginald Roberts

On Friday 28 November 2014 was the internment of ashes of Joseph (‘Joe’) Reginald Robertsat the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery. Joe died on 20 June 2014 in England at the age of 91 :

Oct2014

Bastogne Historic Walk 2014 on the 13th of December, 2014

The 37th Bastogne Historic Walk will take place on Saturday the 13th of December, 2014. The route of the march will lead you through the southern sector around Senonchamps, Villeroux and Assenois. Hikers may choose from a distance of 8, 12 or 20 kilometers (approximately 5, 7.5 or 12.5 miles). Registration for a fee of € 6.00 from 07:00 till 09:30 AM and departure from 08:00 from the Sports Center in Bastogne.

Oct2014

The Juno Letters

Monday, 6 October 2014. I am in Normandy on a STIWOT Battlefield Tour. I am on Juno Beach on this wet and stormy morning. My interest in the Canadians in Normandy is known for years with my STIWOT colleagues. I read and write articles about it. Today my colleague tells about the actions on the beach, stories I have known for years. I take advantage of the moment to walk over the beach alone. All by myself, with only the sound of the surf. However one can never really be alone on that beach. The film in the Juno Beach Center later that day will confirm this. The title: They walk with you. I know the stories, the names, the faces... On the beach tears fill my eyes.

Sep2014

Thank you Mr Veteran event

On Sunday afternoon 21 September 2014 a large music and dance party was held in front of the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek to thank the veterans of the Battle of Arnhem Thank you Mr Veteran.