Today Holland remembers - with deep gratitude

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 09:57

Today Holland remembers - with deep gratitude - that the Battle of Arnhem (part of Operation Market Garden; "A Bridge too far") started on Sunday September 17, 1944, and lasted until Tuesday, September 26, 1944. There are many websites, maintained by older and young Dutch people, dedicated to the British and Polish heroes, who landed near Arnhem (Renkum/Oosterbeek) and had the terrible bad luck to meet a German SS division. For Holland it meant another bad winter (the worst of the Second World War) and tens of thousands of Dutchmen died from hunger, especially in the western part of Holland. My parents planted tulip bulbs - for me to eat and survive. The Brits/Poles failed - but they tried. It must be remembered.



http://www.google.com/search?q=slag%20om%20arnhem&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

begonia


Joined: 19/05/2009
Posts: 229

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 10:53

Thank you DC. The brave Dutch people went through hell in the war. Let's hope nothing like that happens again.

Stubs


Joined: 01/07/2008
Posts: 641

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 11:38

Hans



That was very noble for you to post this in memory of those who perished and show your respects.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 12:49

Hans.When I was station in Germany in early 60,s we used to go out all the time in Holland,places Like Geleen,Sittard,Maastricht etc.and when the older people found out we were in the RAF they used to tell us all about there experiences during the war and how greatful they were to the RAF for the supply drops they made.Great times I had there and great people as well,so thankyou for remembering our fallen heroes ...

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 12:57

I just realised: to complete my post nr. 1 I must mention the Americans/Canadians also, who did their very best to reach Arnhem in time, but failed also, mainly due to unexpected fierce German resistance. But they liberated quite a lot of Dutch towns and villages (1944) and are fondly remembered also.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 13:01

RE msg 5: (...) and are fondly remembered also. (...).

=> Sorry, I should have written: fondly and respectfully

phylray



Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 13:51

Good that you also remembered the Polish heroes, as our government treated them so poorly

after the war. They were not allowed to take part in the V.E. marches as Stalin didn't want it!

Shameful, but if we knew then what we know now.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 16:47

Well done Hans we should never forget xx

rocking


Joined: 05/11/2008
Posts: 421

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 18:08

Great to see the above comments. Those brave men died to give us our freedom. I am pleased to see the Queen is to honour Wootton Bassett as 'Royal Wootton Bassett' - let us hope this happens. CNN did a wonderful programme last Sunday on this wonderful town. Very moving programme. I know a doctor in UK where the injured come into and the figures for casualties is horrifying especially those with loss of limps. If anybody has time go to site HELP FOR HEROES see what is being done for them. Needless to say not by our Government in UK.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 21:38

RE msg 9, rocking: To make it easy: http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 12:49

RE msg 7, Phylray: (...) Good that you also remembered the Polish heroes, as our government treated them so poorly after the war. (...)

=> It may interest you to know that the airborne Polish Brigade (participants in Operation Market Garden, Battle of Arnhem, "A bridge too far"), which after the war was often blamed for the defeat, was awarded the highest Dutch military honour by the Dutch queen Beatrix: "de Militaire Willemsorde" - unfortunately and shamefully 62 years too late.

The official military history of what happened in and around Arnhem now acknowledges that the Polish Brigade made it possible for the remaining British para's to escape from the battle zone, across the Rhine.

There will be an official "Remembrance Day" tomorrow, with honoured British and Polish survivors present in Arnhem.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 12:59

And just was it had lots to say about war and not sending young men to be slaughtered when it was posted about



British Armed Forces Day 27 June 2009



I shall make no comment other than to raise the topic.

phylray



Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 13:03

Thanks for that information Hans and I will pass it on to my sister who has been doing a bit

of research (mainly on WW1 in which our father, grandfather and uncle were fighting)

Our eldest cousin married a Polish lady doctor, and my nephew has married a fine Polish

girl too, (up in Inverness)

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 13:27

RE msg 12, fire_starter: (...) And just was it had lots to say about war and not sending young men to be slaughtered when it was posted about (...)

=> That was me - in case you didn't know or had forgotten. I'm still opposed to war anywhere and still opposed to sending young military men/women to foreign countries, especially when it doesn't have the consent of the UN, is outside the context of a World War or to prevent genocide. It's 2009 and I cannot change history. So what is your point?

P.S. I will not reply again to anything you write in this thread - I feel your intentions don't belong here.

boglefan



Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 511

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 23:27

deep respect, so many, so young and too much suffering. will we ever learn!