The relationship between love and war is intimate and as old as mankind. Under the threat of death, life and love are experienced much more intensely. World War II affected the love life of a whole generation of people. They - as always - got butterflies in their stomachs: in the air-raid shelter, in hiding, at the front or simply on the streets. The 'Love in wartime' exhibition, from 5 June 2024 to 30 March 2025, shows how people found each other under difficult circumstances. And how feelings can overcome everything. After all, what is 'right' or 'wrong' in love? In the 'Love in Wartime' exhibition, we see war from its most intimate, human side. From a boy who met his first boyfriend during forced labour in Germany to a newly married couple who survived Auschwitz, always looking for a sign that the other was still alive. These personal love stories often had major consequences, such as: the journey of thousands of wartime brides to and from the Netherlands, the at least as many children fathered by an Allied or German soldier, the persecution of homosexuals and large-scale paid love in the war years. Behind special curtains, adults can even peek into stories about wartime sex and admire vibrators from the 1940s.Love in Wartime is a unique exhibition that immerses visitors in the atmosphere of a cosy 1940s street with fully historically decorated rooms on either side. Behind one door is a living room, behind the other a hiding place or a café celebrating the liberation. This makes the exhibition an adventurous experience for young and old. The exhibition 'Love in wartime' is inspired by Steffie van den Oord's book of the same name, available in new print from 4 June 2024.The Freedom Museum shows the passionate story of love with unique masterpieces such as sheet music, diaries, love letters and wedding dresses. An intimate exhibition with never-before-seen material that will make your heart beat faster!

The Netherlands

Love in Wartime

<h3 style="text-align: start">Paradijs in de duinen</h3>De Terrorist is gelegen in de duinen van Ameland, op 20 meter van het strand. Hier kunnen na de oorlog de 'nagelaten betrekkingen' van gevallen verzetsstrijders gratis vakantie vieren. Het gaat om weduwen, kinderen en ouders van verzetsslachtoffers, maar ook om gezinnen die nog compleet zijn, maar psychisch of fysiek erg hebben geleden onder de oorlog. Er is plaats voor 25 personen per keer, twee weken per groep, van&nbsp;mei tot en met september. De gasten komen veelal uit Friesland, maar ook uit andere delen van het land zoals Rotterdam of Groningen. Het vakantiehuis is een initiatief van de&nbsp;Stichting Oud-KP, een vereniging voor voormalig leden van het gewapend verzet, de knokploegen (KP's). Met wat hulp van de burgemeester van Ameland, oud-verzetsman Roel&nbsp;Walda, kunnen vrijwilligers in vijf weken tijd een oude Duitse barak opknappen en ombouwen tot knus vakantieoord.<h3 style="text-align: start">Gratis krant: 'de terrorist'</h3>Voor deze tentoonstelling zijn bijzondere gesprekken gevoerd met voormalige gasten of hun nakomelingen. In een speciale krant zijn deze interviews te lezen. Ook is een hoorspel te horen, waardoor bezoekers als het ware teruggaan in de tijd, alsof zij toevallig een gesprek uit de woonkamer van De Terrorist opvangen.

De terrorist

Ils se prénomment Joseph, Nicole, Paulette, Rémy, Marguerite, Janine…..
Ils étaient âgés de 12, 15, 18 ans, 20 ans….
Ils étaient à Saint-Aubin, Bernières, Courseulles,  Douvres-la-Délivrande, le 6 juin 1944, lorsque les soldats canadiens débarquèrent sur la zone de Juno Beach  pour les libérer de l’occupation allemande. Ils étaient aussi à Carpiquet en juillet 1944 lors des combats pour la prise de l’aéroport.

80 ans après, dans le cadre des cérémonies commémoratives du Débarquement, l’association « La semaine acadienne » et l’association « Mémoire collective de Carpiquet » leur consacrent une exposition, dans la partie ouest de la célèbre maison des Canadiens à Bernières-sur-Mer, rachetée récemment par la communauté de communes Cœur de Nacre. 

Mêlant portraits au crayon réalisés par Jacques Doll, lui même présent le Jour J, à partir de documents d’époque, photos actuelles de Bernadette Taupy ainsi que Maryvonne Lépine, et témoignages, elle donne l’image et la parole à ces 72  témoins qui  n’ont jamais oublié ces jours synonymes de libération, mais aussi de souffrance. 
Des témoignages d’autant plus précieux que, malheureusement, les voix de la plupart de ces  témoins se sont aujourd’hui éteintes.

France

Exposition : "Ils ont vu le débarquement à Juno Beach et la libération de Carpiquet" / Festival la semaine acadienne

Dans le cadre du 80ème Anniversaire du Débarquement en Normandie, le service Archives &amp; Patrimoine de la ville d'ÉVREUX en collaboration avec la ville de Rüsselsheim (ville jumelle depuis 1961) vous propose une exposition qui retrace la Libération de la ville d‘Evreux et de Rüsselsheim et ses conséquences. Cette exposition présente également leur histoire croisée de cités ayant traversées les épreuves de la Seconde Guerre mondiale dans deux camps opposés mais qui ont rencontré par la suite, les mêmes problématiques. L’animation d’un cycle de conférences et séances de médiations scolaires autour de l’exposition est également prévue. Entrée Libre.

Libération, Reconstruction, Réconciliation (1944-1961)

Taken by local photographer Matt Sills during the museum’s veteran event held on 3 June 2024 during the D-Day 80 commemorations.Free admission to the exhibition which will run until 18 January 2025.

United Kingdom

The lucky ones grow old

This exhibition reveals the full story: from isolation to extermination, captured in a rich collection of photographs, many never before seen. The images, captured by both professional photographers and courageous amateurs, document the harrowing reality of raids, the introduction of the Star of David, hiding activities, and the roles of perpetrators and bystanders.Historians Erik Somers and René Kok searched dozens of archives at home and abroad for this exhibition and the book of the same name. Their work reveals the complexity and impact of anti-Jewish measures in the Netherlands during World War II.The photographs on display not only show the brutality of the German occupation, but also highlight the help given to people in hiding, the daily life of Jews at the time, and the aftermath of the war with the return of the few survivors from the camps.This exhibition, previously shown at the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam, National Monument Kamp Vught and at Topographie des Terrors in Berlin, is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of World War II and the persecution of Jews.Visit the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bevrijdingsmuseumzeeland.nl/de-jodenvervolging-in-fotos-nederland-1940-1945/">Liberation Museum Zeeland</a> and be immersed in this powerful and educational experience

The persecution of the Jews in photographs. Netherlands 1940-1945 - Liberation Museum Zeeland

From October 2024 to the end of 2025, the Thornsche Molen Foundation will present a cross-border project with the theme ‘Flights Then and Now’ as part of 80 years of Freedom.The theme was chosen with the background of the evacuation of the residents of the hamlet of Thornsche Molen at the time of WW2 at the end of September 1944. They had to flee the violence of war and so did many other groups and, of course, the residents on the German side of the border. We want and need to continue to commemorate the destruction of the hamlet but now, 80 years on, we are going to celebrate freedom above all! We will do so with the cooperation and involvement of our German neighbours! It is important to emphasise the preservation of our democracy and freedom with this project. We want to make an effort to involve the current generations and especially the youth in the project! The latter group is formed by schoolchildren from primary school Op Weg in Ooij and Grundschule Christophorus in Kranenburg. We also want to pay attention to the NOW refugees who can be found in our region, such as Syrians and Ukrainians.FREEDOM cannot be taken for granted and we must continue to fight for it!

Exhibition | Flights then and now

La mostra racconta le distruzioni della guerra, la storia delle forze alleate che liberarono Riolo e il contributo della lotta partigiana antifascista, anche grazie ad alcuni dei suoi protagonisti riolesi più importanti (fra tutti Ivo Mazzanti e Angelo Morini), nonché la storia degli IMI - Internati Militari Italiani, i soldati che dopo l'8 settembre decisero di non collaborare con la Repubblica di Salò e il Terzo Reich. La cerimonia di inaugurazione si terrà sabato 7 dicembre 2024 alle ore 10.00, con partenza dal Monumento delle Vittime Civili, ed i pannelli saranno presentati da Marco Dalmonte, dell’Associazione Senio River, che organizzerà una visita guidata lungo il percorso espositivo della mostra.Sabato 14 e sabato 21 dicembre 2024 gli studenti dell’Istituto Alberghiero di Riolo Terme organizzeranno ulteriori visite guidate, aperte al pubblico.L'allestimento della mostra sarà fruibile liberamente dalla cittadinanza a partire dal 7 dicembre 2024 e fino ad aprile 2025.

Italy

Le 127 Giornate di Riolo 

About the Mariatoren in HapertThe <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://schipvast.com/projecten/portfolio-view-uitkijktoren/">Mariatoren</a> is located in Hapert along the A67, within the Kempisch Business Park (KBP), a 69-hectare industrial estate at a unique location that meets all the conditions necessary for a business to thrive. The business park is a joint initiative of the municipalities of Bladel, Eersel, Bergeijk, and Reusel-De Mierden and is strategically situated in the successful Kempen region, the gateway to Brainport Eindhoven. The region is known for its advanced manufacturing industry, with the global player ASML located nearby, just about 14 kilometers from the tower. The tower also stands at an important logistical crossroads on the A67. This highway connects the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam with Germany and the rest of Europe.The Mariatoren is an initiative of SchipVast—the real estate branch of The Schippers Group—and the Kempisch Business Park. The tower is named after Maria Schippers, who, together with Martien Schippers, founded The Schippers Group. The tower is approximately 22 meters high and serves a dual purpose. In addition to functioning as an observation tower, it also serves as an information mast. On three large LED screens, each measuring 25 square meters, businesses and social organizations can broadcast advertising messages.Observation Function and Exhibition of Stories from the RegionThe Kempen region is known for its numerous walking, cycling, equestrian, and carriage routes, with several routes passing through the business park. The observation tower is connected to these recreational routes. From a height of approximately 22 meters, there is a view of the Kempisch Business Park, the highway, and the Cartierheide. As you climb the tower, information and stories about the region are presented on information panels with images, created in collaboration with local historical societies. Each year features a different theme. Each story also has a QR code that links to a video or website with more information about the featured story.World War II Theme in the Mariatoren from Liberation DayThis year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Kempen, as well as the rest of Brabant. It is a moment to reflect and realize that we are fortunate to live in freedom. Starting on Liberation Day, stories from that time in the Kempen can be read in the Mariatoren in Hapert, including stories about hiding and the resistance.Practical Information<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/8SadeLvyY4Fdxu9CA">The Mariatoren is located at exit 29 of the A67</a> and can be reached by bicycle and on foot from De Pan Hapert (the forest area to the west of the business park). You can also reach the tower by car from that side, but you must park at De Pan and walk through the forest to the tower. The tower is not wheelchair accessible. The tower is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and the entrance fee is €1 per person, payable contactless by card at the entrance. Half of the entrance proceeds go to the historical society, the organization that keeps the stories of the past alive. Google Maps recognizes the Mariatoren on its map;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mariatoren+Hapert/@51.3515264,5.2707213,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x47c6cfd41d14a23d:0x6b540a99bd6bf2a6!8m2!3d51.3515231!4d5.2732962!16s%2Fg%2F11kpdnk8jy?entry=tts"> click here for the link to Google Maps.</a>

Exhibition WWII stories from the Kempen in the Maria Tower Hapert

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of France, the Département du Var and the Musée National de la Marine in Toulon are joining forces to highlight the landings on the Var coast on 15 August 1944.The exhibition Operation Dragoon. 1944, the Provence landings in photographs features a large number of photographs from French, British and American institutions, illustrating the preparation and conduct of this major yet little-known event of the Second World War.Opposite: A convoy of ships carrying the men of the 1st Army Corps set sail from Naples for France in preparation for the Allied landings on the coast of Provence (Operation Anvil-Dragoon) in August 1944.July to August: 10am-6pm dailySeptember to June: 10am-6pm every day except TuesdayClosed on 25 December and 1 January

Operation Dragoon 1944, the Provence Landing in Photographs

« Jurez de ne déposer les armes que lorsque nos couleurs, nos belles couleurs, flotteront à nouveau sur la cathédrale de Strasbourg ». Prononcé par le colonel Philippe Leclerc après la prise de Koufra, en Libye, le 2 mars 1941, ce serment apparaît comme la genèse de l’épopée de la 2e Division Blindée qui conduisit, depuis l’Afrique Équatoriale, à la libération de Strasbourg le 23 novembre 1944.&nbsp;À l’occasion des 80 ans de la Libération de la France, le Musée Historique raconte le Serment de Koufra et expose les objets-témoins de cette histoire. Le 23 novembre 1944 marqua la fin de quatre longues années d’annexion de fait. Aux premières heures de la matinée, cinq colonnes aux itinéraires différents s’élancèrent vers Strasbourg. À partir de 10 heures, les premiers soldats français pénétrèrent dans la ville mais échouèrent à prendre le pont de Kehl face à une forte résistance allemande. Malgré des scènes de joie, les combats persistèrent jusqu’au 25 novembre 1944.&nbsp;Aujourd’hui, à l’heure où le continent européen est de nouveau le théâtre d’un conflit armé, il apparaît plus que jamais crucial de transmettre ce pan de notre histoire du XXe siècle qui vit des hommes et des femmes se lever pour lutter contre l’oppression nazie durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale et libérer la France. En perpétuer la mémoire ne peut que nous aider à mieux comprendre notre présent et à réaffirmer les valeurs fondatrices de notre République.&nbsp;Une riche programmation culturelle et éducative accompagne cet accrochage labellisé 80e anniversaire de la Libération de la France. Plus d’informations sur <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.musees.strasbourg.eu">www.musees.strasbourg.eu</a>Gratuité du musée, lectures musicales, diffusions sonores et visites «&nbsp;coups de projecteur&nbsp;» lors du week-end des 23 et 24 novembre à l’occasion des cérémonies nationales du 80e anniversaire de la Libération de Strasbourg.

Strasbourg libérée, 23 novembre 1944, présentation exceptionnelle de pièces emblématiques de la Libération de Strasbourg au Musée Historique

Drawn from the Memorial's collections, the American archives, documents from the Établissement de Communication et de Production Audiovisuelle de la Défense (ECPAD) and the archives of people living in the Valley, the exhibition reveals these events of November 1944 through previously unpublished photographs taken at the time. From Saales to Lutzelhouse, via Barembach and Saint Blaise, discover the advance of the troops, the faces of these liberating soldiers, the popular gatherings celebrating deliverance, but also the destruction and the discovery of the camps. This exhibition is translated in English and in German.Free Entrance.The project has been awarded the ‘Mission Libération’ label by the French government.

Love in Wartime

De terrorist

Exposition : "Ils ont vu le débarquement à Juno Beach et la libération de Carpiquet" / Festival la semaine acadienne

Libération, Reconstruction, Réconciliation (1944-1961)

The lucky ones grow old

The persecution of the Jews in photographs. Netherlands 1940-1945 - Liberation Museum Zeeland

Exhibition | Flights then and now

Le 127 Giornate di Riolo

Exhibition WWII stories from the Kempen in the Maria Tower Hapert

Operation Dragoon 1944, the Provence Landing in Photographs

Strasbourg libérée, 23 novembre 1944, présentation exceptionnelle de pièces emblématiques de la Libération de Strasbourg au Musée Historique

Dans les yeux de la Libération (In the eyes of the Liberation)

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Date

Country

Type of event

Love in Wartime

De terrorist

Exposition : "Ils ont vu le débarquement à Juno Beach et la libération de Carpiquet" / Festival la semaine acadienne

Libération, Reconstruction, Réconciliation (1944-1961)

The lucky ones grow old

The persecution of the Jews in photographs. Netherlands 1940-1945 - Liberation Museum Zeeland

Exhibition | Flights then and now

Le 127 Giornate di Riolo

Exhibition WWII stories from the Kempen in the Maria Tower Hapert

Operation Dragoon 1944, the Provence Landing in Photographs

Strasbourg libérée, 23 novembre 1944, présentation exceptionnelle de pièces emblématiques de la Libération de Strasbourg au Musée Historique

Dans les yeux de la Libération (In the eyes of the Liberation)

Register your event on Europe Remembers