Vector of Memory: A symbol of friendship

A symbol of friendship
September 1944: Operation Market Garden, the allied offensive, is underway. The paths of two glider pilots cross. They are best friends, but one becomes badly wounded. As they say their goodbyes, the other rips an armband in two as a symbol of their pledge to see each other again after the war. But things don't work out that way. A story about friendship and the price of our freedom.

When over 10,000 Allies landed near Wolfheze, Renkum and Ede on Sept. 17 and 18, 1944, many Dutch people thought that liberation was only a matter of time. The Airborne soldiers, mostly volunteers, trained together for years during which close bonds of friendship were formed.

Due to unexpectedly strong German resistance, they fail to capture the objective, the Rhine Bridge at Arnhem. Eventually, the British must retreat to Oosterbeek where they defend an area around headquarters Hartenstein. In the houses and woods, fierce fighting ensues in which civilians are not always spared either. They often find themselves in the cellars of their houses. Wounded soldiers can hardly be cared for. After nine days, the British must retreat across the Rhine. Thousands of dead and wounded remain behind. The war would continue until May 5, 1945.

Audiospot - A symbol of friendship

Liberation Route Europe is a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. With hundreds of sites and stories in nine European countries, the route links the main regions along the advance of the Allied Forces in 1943-1945.
The entire route consists of themed routes that can be travelled by by hiking, walking, cycling and car. These routes pass numerous historical and interesting sites and tell stories from a multitude of perspectives that were important in the final phase of World War II.

A separate group within the routes are the Vectors of Memory designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. They form a symbolic family of landmarks that honor people, places and stories in the European landscape. The vectors are a topography of memory. They act as points in both space and time and connect to the liberation story. It is important that the markers convey a clear and powerful message.

There are 4 types of vectors:
- The Remembrance Site Vector
- The Crossroads Vector
- The Wall Vector
- The Floor Vector

For more information on the Vectors of Memory see the Liberation Route Europe site: https://www.lre-foundation.org/vectors-of-memory/.
The routes can be found on the website of Liberation Route Europe or in the app through which many stories can also be listened to.

The routes can be found on the Liberation Route Europe website or in the app through which many stories can also be listened to.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar & Liberation Route Europe
• Photos: Arjan Vrieze