Looking for: Canadian WWII witnesses

Wageningen, The Netherlands. In the anniversary year in Wageningen the end of the Second World War of the Netherlands will be commemorated and the present liberation. 65 years ago the capitulation was signed by the German general Blaskowitz in the presence of the Canadian general Foulkes. The occassion took place in Hotel De Wereld in Wageningen in the presence of H.R.H. Prince Bernhard. This year the council of Wageningen invites specially the Canadian veterans to come to the Netherlands to be present at the commemoration in celebration.

In the week of April 29th until May 10th about 1,000 Canadians, amongst them 400 veterans, once again will come to the Netherlands. On May 5th they will be welcomed with great honour in the “City of Liberation”. A lot of former combatants will reach such a age, that travelling in the future will be difficult. Most of them will probably participate for the last time at the anniversary celebration in Wageningen, The Netherlands. To store the experience and eyewitness accounts for the future the Liberation Committee Wageningen has started a project. The core of the project is to assemble personal stories and publish this for the youth on the internet.

From Canada 2500 students will come and will participate in the Canadian Victory tour 2010. During this journey of education the young generation will follow the foot steps of their deceased (killed in action) countrymen. On May 5h the young generation will also visit the liberation ceremony in Wageningen. There they will be brought in contact with the Canadian veterans. Together with the Dutch students of several training schools of journalism they will secure the eyewitness stories from the Second World War for the future generation.

The results of the interviews will be secured in picture and sound and appear on DVD. Also the interviews will be published on a special website. The DVD will be an important historical document and be presented to museums and schools.

Beside that the Liberation Committee Wageningen is looking for stories, photos, documents, letters and papers from the time that can tell us more from the history during 1940-1945 in the Netherlands, and in particularly from the surroundings of Wageningen (Oosterbeek, Renkum, Ede, Rhenen, etc.). Originals are archived in museums in Wageningen and surroundings. Those who cannot abandon their personal documents can also send us a photo, scan or copy.

Veterans and war victims who will come to the Netherlands between April 29th and May 10th and/or on May 5th to Wageningen and will give their cooperation to this special project, kindly will be requested to contact the Liberation Committee Wageningen.

For most of the veterans, war victims and civilians who are not able to come to the Netherlands a possibility will be offered to tell their story over the website. But also reactions through a letter or another medium will be appreciated.

Liberation Committee 1945 Wageningen
P.O. Box 1, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Website: www.4en5meiwageningen.nl

Please complete the following form to submit your story:

Are you still in possesion of (personal) documents such as photos, letters, diaries, papers etc. or objects out of that period? You can send them to the Liberation Committee Wageningen. The originals will be filled in museums in Wageningen and surroundings. Those who cannot abandon their personal documents, may also send a photo, scan or copy.

Thank you very much for your cooperation!!

Liberation Committee 1945 Wageningen
P.O. Box 1, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Website: www.4en5meiwageningen.nl