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

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

Nombreux sont les artistes, intellectuels et combattants qui aux prémices de la Seconde Guerre mondiale quittent leur pays pour différents exils. Qu’ils soient persécutés, juifs, opposants au fascisme et au nazisme, militants, responsables politiques, intellectuels ou artistes, français ou étrangers, ils se retrouvent sur le territoire métropolitain, point de départ vers une autre destination, fuyant l’Occupation et la France de Vichy pour l’exil.De Londres à Sydney, en passant par New York, Brazzaville, Buenos Aires, Cuba ou encore Alger, les visiteurs découvriront les parcours variés et les engagements courageux de nombreuses personnalités. Parmi elles, des figures marquantes comme René Cassin, Germaine Krull, André Masson, Wifredo Lam, Maria-Elena Vieira da Silva, Henry Valensi, Fernand Léger, Jean Hélion, Anna Marly, Micheline Rosenberg, Georges Duthuit, Jean Gabin, et bien d'autres.L’exposition souligne la persistance de la liberté d’action et de création, incarnée par l’esprit des Lumières, dans les territoires ralliés. Un «&nbsp;certain esprit français&nbsp;», défendu aussi par des artistes étrangers soutenant ces valeurs, comme le sculpteur et peintre américain Alexander Calder.La scénographie plongera le visiteur à partager les destins, les émotions, les luttes et les espoirs notamment à travers la reconstitution de deux lieux emblématiques de la France aux États-Unis&nbsp;: l’atelier New-yorkais du sculpteur Ossip Zadkine – exilé dès 1941 – véritable sanctuaire de créativité et de résistance, ainsi que la célèbre librairie new-yorkaise Gotham Books, à l’atmosphère vibrante où l’esprit français s’épanouissait en pleine guerre.Cette exposition s’inscrit dans le cadre des commémorations nationales des 80 ans de la Libération.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe class="video" width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rX4hzGtB8VQ" start="0"></iframe></div>

Un exil combattant. Les artistes et la France 1939-1945 

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 Netherlands

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

‘Degenerate’ art: the trial of modern art under Nazism. ‘In particular, it examines the propaganda exhibition Entartete Kunst (Degenerate Art), held in Munich in 1937, which showed over 700 works by around a hundred artists representing the different currents of modern art, from Otto Dix to Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, from Vassily Kandinsky to Emil Nolde, from Paul Klee to Max Beckmann, in a setting designed to provoke the visitor's disgust.Entartete Kunst’ was the culmination of a series of infamous exhibitions staged in several museums from 1933 onwards (Dresden, Mannheim, Karlsruhe, etc.) to denounce the artistic avant-garde as a threat to German “purity”, against the backdrop of a methodical “purge” of German collections. More than 20,000 works, including those by Vincent Van Gogh, Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso, who had been labelled a ‘degenerate’ artist in France and Germany since the 1920s, were withdrawn, sold or destroyed. At the heart of this history, the term ‘degeneracy’, which emerged in the nineteenth century in various disciplines (natural history, medicine, anthropology, art history, etc.) until it crystallised at the heart of the National Socialist ‘world view’, served as a vector for the deployment of racist and anti-Semitic theories within the history of art.

Degenerate Art: The Trial of Modern Art under Nazism

Het museum bevond zich midden in het politieke machtscentrum van de nazi’s: alle belangrijke organisaties van het Duitse bestuur lagen letterlijk om de hoek. Directeur Wilhelm Martin had vele zorgen, waaronder de bescherming van de wereldberoemde collectie schilderijen, en hoe om te gaan met de propagandistische rol van het museum die de Duitsers voor ogen hadden.In het souterrain woonde Menno de Groot (1931) met zijn familie. Menno’s herinneringen en belevenissen tijdens de oorlog zijn voor de tentoonstelling Huis in de storm – Museum in oorlogstijd een belangrijke verhaallijn voor onze jonge museumbezoekers. Zij zien door Menno’s belevingswereld wat er zich allemaal afspeelde binnen de muren van het museum.Persoonlijke verhalenHuis in de storm – Museum in oorlogstijd neemt je aan de hand van schilderijen, objecten, foto’s, film en geluidsfragmenten terug naar het Mauritshuis in de periode 1940-45.&nbsp;Welke historische gebeurtenissen vonden in en om het museum plaats en welke impact had dit op de toenmalige bezoekers en de mensen die er werkten én woonden? Aan de hand van persoonlijke verhalen wordt aandacht besteed aan thema’s als (on)vrijheid, onderdrukking, kunstbescherming en nationaalsocialistische cultuurpolitiek.In de zomer van 1942 nam ‘de Ambtenaar van Administratie’ Mense de Groot met zijn gezin intrek in het souterrain van het Mauritshuis. Zo zorgde directeur Martin ervoor dat er altijd een betrouwbare medewerker in het museum zou wonen om toezicht te houden. Aan het eind van de oorlog bevonden zich ook onderduikers in het Mauritshuis, mannen die waren ondergedoken in verband met de&nbsp;Arbeidseinsatz. Als kind maakte Menno de Groot dit van dichtbij mee. Na de oorlog verhuisde hij samen met zijn familie naar Canada. Recentelijk zijn er filmopnamen met Menno gemaakt, waarin hij terugblikt op zijn kindertijd in het museum tijdens de oorlog. Tijdens het bezoek aan de tentoonstelling treden jonge bezoekers in de voetsporen van Menno.&nbsp;Lege lijstenHet Mauritshuis sloot zijn deuren op 25 augustus 1939 vanwege de oorlogsdreiging en heropende weer op 6 juni 1940. Alleen een klein aantal schilderijen was te zien. Directeur Martin realiseerde zich al in de jaren ’30 dat ‘zijn’ collectie in tijden van oorlog buitengewoon kwetsbaar zou zijn en deed alle denkbare moeite om die collectie veilig de oorlog door te loodsen.Het Mauritshuis beschikte over een bomvrije ‘kunstkluis’. Daar waren ’s nachts alle topstukken opgeslagen, overdag werden enkele naar boven gebracht, zoals het Meisje. Boven de ingang liet Martin een tekst aanbrengen: ’t Is droevig, dat de oorlog vergt, dat men ’s lands Kunst voor ’t oog verbergt.In de loop van de oorlog reisden de belangrijkste kunstwerken naar de verschillende ‘Rijksbergplaatsen’. Daar bleven ze tot het einde van de oorlog. In die periode boden de muren van het Mauritshuis een troosteloze aanblik: zalen met lege lijsten.

Huis in de storm

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

Discover History Like Never Before at the Channel Islands Military Museum!Step into the past and uncover the incredible stories of courage, resilience, and survival at the Channel Islands Military Museum in Jersey! Housed in a beautifully preserved German bunker from WWII, this one-of-a-kind museum offers an immersive experience that brings history to life.Explore Authentic Artifacts | Get up close and personal with rare memorabilia, from uniforms and weapons to personal diaries and photographs. Each item tells a story of life during wartime, shedding light on both soldiers and civilians.Experience the Occupation Era | Jersey was the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by German forces during WWII. Walk through the museum’s evocative displays to feel what it was like to live through this pivotal moment in history.Uncover Hidden Stories | Discover untold tales of bravery, ingenuity, and resistance. Whether you're a history buff or simply curious, the museum offers fascinating insights that will stay with you long after your visit.Step Inside a Genuine WWII Bunker | Not just a museum—this is a piece of history itself! Experience the atmosphere of an authentic German bunker, perfectly preserved to give you a glimpse into the past.Perfect for All Ages | Whether you're on a family trip, a school excursion, or an individual adventure, the Channel Islands Military Museum is an unforgettable journey for everyone.Plan Your Visit Today! 📍 Location: St. Ouen’s Bay, Jersey 🕒 Open: January to April = 10am - 1pm on Sundays | April to October = 10am - 5pm daily 🎟️ Tickets: Affordable prices for individuals, families, and groupsDon’t miss the chance to step back in time and experience history like never before. Visit the Channel Islands Military Museum—where every artifact, every story, and every wall whispers the legacy of those who lived through history.

Jersey

Channel Island Military Museum

Sport was in het concentratiekamp vaak een manier om discipline af te dwingen en om te straffen. Bij deze vorm van sport, later pseudosport genoemd, dwongen de nazi’s de gevangenen om uitputtende oefeningen te doen in combinatie met drillen en zingen.Maar sport had ook een tegenovergestelde invulling in het kamp. De gevangenen speelden sporten om te ontsnappen aan de gruwelijke realiteit en om de tijd te doden na lange dagen van dwangarbeid.Onder de gevangenen bevonden zich ook vooroorlogse sporters; Olympiërs en nationale kampioenen die records vestigden voordat ze werden gedeporteerd. Hun dromen werden abrupt afgenomen.‘Sport en sporters in KL Auschwitz’ onthult deze tragische realiteit, maar benadrukt ook de ongelooflijke kracht, creativiteit en het doorzettingsvermogen van de gedeporteerden. Brieven, foto’s en getuigenissen vertellen de indrukwekkende verhalen van sport en sporters in het Duitse nazi-concentratie- en vernietigingskamp Auschwitz.De tentoonstelling benadrukt dat sport niet alleen gaat over fysieke kracht, maar ook over innerlijke kracht en doorzettingsvermogen. De verhalen over sport en sporters in extreme omstandigheden weten te raken en te inspireren.

Belgium 

Tijdelijke tentoonstelling: ‘Sport en sporters in KL Auschwitz’

<h4>Discover some of the best preserved WW2 Fortifications in Europe!</h4>The Channel Island Occupation Society (CIOS) Jersey is a voluntary registered charity that has been preserving, restoring and opening German fortifications for around 50 years and has under its wing an impressive range of the standard types of fortifications (Regelbau) constructed locally with most constructed to strict ‘Fortress Standards’ with 2 meter thick concrete reinforced walls and roofs. Many of these structures are restored to near operation condition as well as presenting details of the original crew who manned them and the forced labour used in the construction. A visit to one of our open days will present you with a working atmosphere feel with the chance to get hands on with equipment used at the time as well as events with living history groups presenting relevant displays. How or when can I visit? We open the three largest sites in our care regularly, with details below, which are Battery Lothringen (Noirmont Point), Strongpoint Corbiere and Battery Moltke (Les Landes Common), along with other openings that be pre-advertised on CIOS social media platforms. Visit any of our sites on a guided tour with the experts at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.jerseybunkertours.com/">Jersey War Tours</a> or join us on one of our open days!RESISTANCE NEST MILLBROOK | Regelbau 631b Flanking Anti-Tank Gun Casemate for a 4.7cm Gun with coaxial Machine Gun. INFANTRY RESISTANCE NEST LA CARRIERE | Regelbau 631 Flanking Anti-Tank Gun Casemate for a 4.7cm gun with coaxial machine gun and a Regelbau Jaegerstand Coastal Defense Gun Casemate.‘KERNWERK’ BATTLE HEADQUARTERS AT L’ALEVAL | Regelbau Kanalinsel Nr. 531 Infantry Regiment Command Post.INFANTRY RESISTANCE NEST LA MARE MILL | Regelbau Wa.Prüf 543 4-Loopholed Heavy Machine Gun Turret Bunker. *Currently closed while undergoing renovation*BATTERY LOTHRINGEN | Kriegsmarine (Naval) 15cm coastal artillery battery. Regelbau M 132 Leitstand (Command Bunker) &amp; Naval Direction and Range Finding Tower MP1 plus multiple other constructions in the battery.Confirmed Sunday Opening Times 2-5pm | May 18th, June 15th, July 20th, August 17th, September 21st &amp; October 19th Admission: Adults £8, under 16s free. INFANTRY STRONGPOINT CORBIERE | Early Type Regelbau 633 5cm M19 automatic Fortress Mortar Bunker connected to a Regelbau 634 6-Loopholed Heavy Machine Gun Turret Bunker, Regelbau Jaegerstand Coastal Defence Gun Casemate “Kanone 2” for mounting a 10.5cm gun, Regelbau Kanalinsel Nr. 514 Group Personnel Shelter &amp; Regelbau Jaegerstand Coastal Defence Gun Casemate “Kanone 1” for mounting a 10.5cm gunConfirmed Sunday Opening Times 2-5pm with a minimum of 3 bunkers open | April 27th, May 11th, June 8th &amp; 29th, July 6th, August 3rd, September 7th &amp; October 5thAdmission: Adults £10, under 16s free.KRIEGSMARINE STRONGPOINT BUTTS AT LES LANDES COMMON | Naval Direction and Range Finding Tower MP3 and a Regelbau Fl 242 2cm Anti-Aircraft Gun Emplacement.BATTERY ‘MOLTKE’ AT LES LANDES COMMON | The position consists of the following interconnected structures: Regelbau M 151 Personnel Shelter for 25 Men , Regelbau M 153 Emplacement for a 15cm Turreted Naval Gun, 2 x Regelbau 512 Ammunition bunkers and a ‘temporary’ Emplacement for a 155mm Field Gun. Confirmed Sunday Opening Times 2-5pm | May 4th, June 1st, July 6th, August 3rd, September 7th &amp; October 5th Admission: Adults £8, under 16s free.

Channel Island Occupation Society: Bunker Open Days

As you journey through the winding passages, you’ll be transported to a time of resilience and survival, where the bravery of the islanders is brought to life through powerful exhibits and immersive storytelling. Stand where history was made and explore the tunnels that stretch over 1,000 meters, an eerie yet fascinating reminder of wartime struggles.<ul><li>Feel the Past Come Alive: Walk through life-sized exhibits that capture the occupation’s harsh realities and the hope that endured.</li><li>Go Beyond the Walls: Learn personal stories of hardship and heroism, from islanders and workers whose lives were changed forever.</li><li>Experience the Unimaginable: See artifacts, propaganda, and military equipment that paint a vivid picture of life under German rule.</li></ul>Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a curious traveler, or simply looking for a powerful experience, the Jersey War Tunnels will captivate your heart and mind.Dive deep into the mysteries of World War II with 'Operation Constellation' and 'Prison Break'. Can you crack codes, solve puzzles, and uncover secrets to escape in time? Gather your team and embark on an unforgettable adventure where history meets adrenaline at Jersey War Tunnels Escape Rooms.Don’t just read about history—step inside it.

Jersey War Tunnels

Découvrez les récits des hommes de la 12e Division d’Infanterie Motorisée (DIM) qui seront faits prisonniers ou périront lors d’une mission cruciale, pour permettre à des dizaines de milliers de soldats de s’échapper de la poche de Dunkerque.À travers une narration immersive, le Général Janssen et ses hommes partagent leurs souvenirs. Chaque portrait raconte une histoire de bravoure, de sacrifice et d’engagement. Venez rendre hommage à ces héros et comprendre l’impact de leur dévouement sur notre histoire.Du 4 mars jusqu’au 31 octobre 2025, les visiteurs auront l’opportunité de plonger dans l’histoire de l’Opération Dynamo, 85 ans après l’événement.Organisée en partenariat avec l’association “A l’assaut des mémoires”, cette exposition unique mettra en valeur l’histoire du Fort et de son territoire grâce aux hommes ayant combattu lors du plus grand rembarquement de l’histoire.

La Division Janssen – Des hommes sacrifiés

Six locations with personal stories.&nbsp; Each outdoor exhibition focuses on personal stories of residents of that location, told through images, text and historical sources. Visitors are taken into the dilemmas that residents faced during wartime and have the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of freedom and choices today.Opening on 10 April 2025 The official opening of Freedom of Choice will take place on 10 April 2025. All six locations will be opened that day, starting in Tiel. During this opening, speakers, relatives and those involved will put the stories of the time into perspective. After the opening, the exhibitions will remain open to the public free of charge for the next few yearsThe Freedom of Choice project is part of 80 Years of Freedom Gelderland, a broad programme of commemorations, activities and exhibitions that reflect on the liberation of the Netherlands and the lasting value of freedom. More information For more information about Choice Freedom, the exhibition locations and the programme of 80 Years of Freedom Gelderland, please visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://wo2rivierengebied.nl">wo2rivierengebied.nl</a>. This portal can be visited after the outdoor exhibitions open, from 10 April 2025.

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

Un exil combattant. Les artistes et la France 1939-1945

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

Degenerate Art: The Trial of Modern Art under Nazism

Huis in de storm

Exhibition | Flights then and now

Channel Island Military Museum

Tijdelijke tentoonstelling: ‘Sport en sporters in KL Auschwitz’

Channel Island Occupation Society: Bunker Open Days

Jersey War Tunnels

La Division Janssen – Des hommes sacrifiés

Six outdoor exhibitions showing personal stories from the Second World War

Register your event on Europe Remembers

Date

Country

Type of event

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

Un exil combattant. Les artistes et la France 1939-1945

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

Degenerate Art: The Trial of Modern Art under Nazism

Huis in de storm

Exhibition | Flights then and now

Channel Island Military Museum

Tijdelijke tentoonstelling: ‘Sport en sporters in KL Auschwitz’

Channel Island Occupation Society: Bunker Open Days

Jersey War Tunnels

La Division Janssen – Des hommes sacrifiés

Six outdoor exhibitions showing personal stories from the Second World War

Register your event on Europe Remembers