Join the relay and share stories of war and freedom. Adopt one of the stories or share your own. Walking on the Freedom Trail, the scars left by World War II become visible. Affecting different generations and visible in the landscape.ProgrammeOn 10 September, the trail starts in Leopoldsburg, Belgium, where plans for Operation Market Garden were presented in 1944. The route runs through North Brabant via Belgian Limburg, Eindhoven, Uden and Grave.On 12 September, an inflow route starts in Dutch Limburg from the German military cemetery in Ysselsteyn to Vlagheide in Schijndel, where Flemish walkers will join. On 13 September, 80 years of freedom in North Brabant will be celebrated at Vlagheide with the site-specific theatre play ‘Behind the Horizon’. At all stages, there will be activities depicting local history and everyone is welcome to participate.The final stage on 20 September follows the route of John Frost's men from Oosterbeek to the John Frost Bridge in Arnhem. Caroline Frost, John Frost's daughter, will walk the final kilometres. The finish coincides with the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem and Bridge to Liberation at the ‘Bridge too Far’, with the presence of veterans of World War II and later missions. This evening can be followed live via TV and livestream.

The Netherlands

Freedoms path

Christo StefanoffChristo Stefanoff (1898-1966) was an internationally successful artist. He painted landscapes, religious works, war scenes and portraits of people, including stars such as Greta Garbo and royalty such as Queen Juliana. In 1934 he came to Poland, fell in love with the country and with the Polish Irena Pludowska. In 1938 he was naturalized as a Pole. After the German invasion in 1939 he became active in the Żegota, the Polish Council for Aid to Jews. In 1944 he was arrested, but survived two prisons and three German concentration camps.After his liberation in April 1945 from Bergen-Belsen he moved, like many displaced Poles, to the Polish enclave near Maczków. Here his talent was noticed. He taught drawing and painting and rose to become the court painter of the 1st Polish Armoured Division. On October 28, 1946, in the context of the second commemoration of the liberation of Breda, the large triptych he had painted was donated to the Municipality of Breda by the 1st Polish Armoured Division.During his years in Breda, Stefanoff was very active. He painted his most important works here, including his impressive series on the Warsaw Uprising. In 1947, he was involved in the founding of the Polish Catholic Association in Breda, of which he was also chairman.In 1952, he moved to Canada, with all the (unsold) work he had made in Breda. He died in 1966. Due to a theft shortly afterwards, his wife closed his studio and museum to the public until her own death in 2005. Her 76-year-old Polish nephew is now trying to manage the estate, but struggles with the burden. The old studio with Stefanoff's estate, with more than 150 of his original works, has therefore remained untouched to this day.The exhibitionThe exhibition was put together by Frans Wauters from Breda, who was born under a painting by Stefanoff and grew up among his works. Christo Stefanoff lived in Breda with his (grand)parents and paid for his board and lodging with his paintings. Frans has been doing research for more than 2 years and is the global expert on the life and work of Stefanoff.This exhibition shows the most important works about the Polish struggle that Stefanoff made in Breda. The exhibition also contains many original documents and photos from Stefanoff's time in Breda that were recently found by Frans Wauters in his old studio in Canada.The selected works emphasize "Peace and Freedom", values ​​that Stefanoff radiated in his life and work. These fit in well with the values ​​of the Maczek Memorial Breda. The courage of the Polish people during the Second World War, and the Polish armed forces in the liberation of Europe, are thus illuminated in a completely new way through Stefanoff's art.The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Breda (on 29 October) and the celebration of Polish Independence Day (on 11 November) both fall within the exhibition period.The exhibition is supported by a special catalogue in which Stefanoff's life and the works exhibited at this exhibition are described in detail.

Exposition “Christo Stefanoff, vergeten schilder van oorlog en vrede”

During this period, there will be all kinds of things to see, do and learn. For both young and old. Commemorations will be held and monuments unveiled. Come and watch various historical columns and reenactment (= reenacting historical events). Hop on your bike for one of the bike tours that will take you past important sites, or put on your walking shoes for a new podwalk. There will be concerts and much more.Slowly but surely, separate announcements will appear on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.meierijstadherdenkt.nl/">Meierijstad Herdenk</a>t. So keep a close eye on the website.

80 years of freedom: commemorating and celebrating

As soon as more information about the program is available, it will be posted on Meierijstad Herdenkt.

80 year Freedom: commemorate and celebrate

On the floating stage, with a large LED screen in the John Frost Bridge as a background, the artists Karsu, SEF, Jaap Reesema, Thomas Oliemans bring their enchanting performances together with Phion, orchestra of Gelderland and Overijssel. With Introdans, Jurriën Schobben shows a special choreography about the impact of war. Narrator Welmoed Sijtsma takes visitors, viewers and listeners into the personal experiences of Max Wolff during the liberation of Europe.&nbsp;Bridge to Liberation on Friday, September 20 at 8:30 PM, LIVE on the quay on TV Gelderland or Livestream.

Bridge to Liberation

Pour marquer les 80 ans de la Libération, un ciné plein air gratuit viendra ponctuer la soirée, avec la projection, à 20h, du film "Résistance" de Jonathan Jakubowicz. Rendez-vous le vendredi 20 septembre!Chaque année, en septembre – Charleroi a été libérée le 4 septembre 1944 – la Province de Hainaut/ Hainaut Mémoire et la Ville de Charleroi/ Service Jeunesse ouvrent le site aux écoles et au public. Cette journée d’ouverture, entièrement gratuite, aura lieu le vendredi 20 septembre 2024, à partir de 9h.Nouveauté cette année, pour marquer les 80 ans de la Libération, un ciné plein air gratuit viendra ponctuer la soirée, avec la projection, à 20h, du film "Résistance" de Jonathan Jakubowicz. "Durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, en 1942, Marcel Mangel s'engage, sous le nom de Marcel Marceau, dans la résistance française, sous l'influence de son frère Simon et de son cousin, Georges Loinger. En partie par le mime, il aidera de nombreux enfants orphelins, dont les parents ont été tués par les nazis". Un événement organisé en partenariat avec le Service Cinéma de la Province de Hainaut. Bande annonce du film :&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/5iTS_50I4ZM?si=LNbP3tIar8D8UhdH">https://youtu.be/5iTS_50I4ZM?si=LNbP3tIar8D8UhdH</a>Adresse: à l'angle de la rue du Tir et de la rue Jules Bordet à Marcinelle.GRATUIT

Belgium

Ciné en pein air "Résistance" au Tir de Marcinelle 

As part of the commemoration of Operation Market Garden in 1944, parachute jumps by the Round Canopy Parachuting Team The Netherlands (RCPT) will again take place in Eerde this year. The paratroopers of this team will make the jump on Tuesday 17 September. They will land in drop zone A, at the Koeveringsedijk in Eerde. It was here that the first paratroopers set foot on Dutch soil during Operation Market Garden, before taking control of and defending the four bridges in Veghel. There will be several loads of jumpers.Weather-dependentThe time of the jumps will be announced at a later date. The organisation invites everyone to come and watch these commemorative jumps. Please note that times may change at the last minute, as the jumps are weather-dependent. Visitors are asked to come on foot or by bike as much as possible.International parachutist teamThe RCPT is an international parachutist team whose members include 26 nationalities and various representations. The Dutch branch is based in Eerde. The team organises parachute jumps to commemorate those who fought for our freedom. In the style as they also jumped during D-Day and Operation Market Garden in 1944, with authentic uniforms and from C47s (Dakotas).

Commemorative jumps Operation Market Garden

Dans le cadre du 80e anniversaire du Débarquement - Animé par les D-Day Ladies. Après plusieurs mois dédiés aux commémorations du 80e anniversaire de la Libération, le Ville d'Harfleur vous convie à un temps festif lors d'un grand Bal de la Libération. A cette occasion, vous serez plongé dans l'atmosphère de l'été 1944 grâce aux D-Day Ladies qui feront swinguer le public au son des reprises des Andrews Sisters, répertoire si typique des années 40. Des véhicules d'époque seront présentés par les passionnés de l'association "Voitures rétro d'Harfleur-Beaulieu". Accès libre, restauration sur place.

France

Grand bal de la Libération

German and Italian occupation, portraits of soldiers, prisoners, the Obligatory Labour Service, youth work camps, local life, the Resistance and, finally, the D-Day landings and liberation.

Les Arcs under occupation

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!

Love in Wartime

On 1 September 1939, Poland was the first country to be attacked by Nazi Germany. After Poland was also attacked by the Soviet Union, it had to abandon the hopeless battle in October 1939. Outside occupied Poland, however, several Polish units were created and trained. In Scotland, General Sosabowski formed the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade.The Polish paratroopers were deployed during Operation Market Garden. The brigade largely landed in the Driel area, tasked with crossing the Rhine and reinforcing British troops surrounded in Oosterbeek. Under unprecedentedly difficult conditions, the Polish brigade distinguished itself by its courage and fighting spirit. It provided indispensable support to the British and made the eventual withdrawal across the Rhine possible.But after the battle, the brigade was unfairly blamed and their part was forgotten, partly due to international political relations. Only in 2006 did the deserved tribute follow. The Polish Parachute Brigade was awarded the Military William Order by Queen Beatrix and General Sosabowski, posthumously, the Bronze Lion.The outdoor exhibition tells the gripping story of the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade. It shows how the fugitive Polish soldiers were forged into an elite unit by the charismatic General Sosabowski, how the brigade distinguished itself in September 1944 and how, after unjustified reproaches, it finally came to be honoured with the highest military decoration known to the Netherlands.The exhibition will be opened by the ambassador of Poland, H.E. Mrs Kassangana, and will be on display until Sunday 27 October

Outdoor exhibition on Polish paratroopers during Operation Market Garden

Écouché, labellisée Petite Cité de Caractère, organisera son Dimanche de caractère le dimanche 15 septembre 2024 à 15 heures. 
Les participants déambuleront dans le quartier reconstruit d’Écouché. Ils découvriront les détails architecturaux et patrimoniaux de cette reconstruction, en s’appuyant sur les travaux réalisés par les élèves d’Écouché-les-Vallées et le CAUE. La visite commentée sera suivie d’une dégustation de produits locaux

Freedoms path

Exposition “Christo Stefanoff, vergeten schilder van oorlog en vrede”

80 years of freedom: commemorating and celebrating

80 year Freedom: commemorate and celebrate

Bridge to Liberation

Ciné en pein air "Résistance" au Tir de Marcinelle

Commemorative jumps Operation Market Garden

Grand bal de la Libération

Les Arcs sous l'occupation

Love in Wartime

Outdoor exhibition on Polish paratroopers during Operation Market Garden

Dimanche de Caractère sur la reconstruction

Inscrivez votre événement sur Europe Remembers

date

Pays

Type d'événement

Freedoms path

Exposition “Christo Stefanoff, vergeten schilder van oorlog en vrede”

80 years of freedom: commemorating and celebrating

80 year Freedom: commemorate and celebrate

Bridge to Liberation

Ciné en pein air "Résistance" au Tir de Marcinelle

Commemorative jumps Operation Market Garden

Grand bal de la Libération

Les Arcs sous l'occupation

Love in Wartime

Outdoor exhibition on Polish paratroopers during Operation Market Garden

Dimanche de Caractère sur la reconstruction

Inscrivez votre événement sur Europe Remembers