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

<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.

The Netherlands

De terrorist

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

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

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

Martin tower Liberation routesThe Martinus tower in the small town of Gennep is a permanent reminder of WW2 and lets us know that peace and freedom cannot be taken for granted. It is the only tower on the Meuse River from Mook to Roermond that survived the war. When retreating behind the Meuse, the Wehrmacht blew up the church towers on the left bank of the Meuse and placed lookouts in the towers on the right bank of the Meuse. These towers were then smashed by Allied artillery. All but one: the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/787/martinus-tower">Gennep's Martinus tower</a>.The tower was on the front line from September 1944 to February 1945. Had one been in the spire in September 1944, one would have seen thousands of paratroopers and hundreds of Gliders land over neighbouring Groesbeek as part of Operation Market Garden. On 8 February, the front moved again. More than 1,000 guns shelled the neighbouring Reichswald forest and one could have watched from the tower as a roller of steel and fire swept across the great forest. Operation Veritable, the last major battle on the western front, had begun.Today, the Martinus Tower is a visitor centre with many reminders of this time. In particular, the Martinus Tower Liberation Routes, with starting and finishing points at the Martinus Tower, show the numerous traces of the tough battle in the region. The routes include the largest and second largest war museums in the Netherlands (Overloon and Groesbeek). The British Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Kriegsgräberstätte Donsbrügen, among others, are located in and near the Reichswald. The routes pass numerous monuments and ruins and 14 audio spots/listening boulders tell the special stories at these locations.The 8 Martinustoren Liberation Routes can be found on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://martinustoren.nl/en/liberation-route">Martinustoren website</a>. On the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/themed-routes/12/gennep-and-the-price-of-freedom">Liberation Route website</a>, one can find another special route: Gennep and the price of freedom.The routes go through 4 beautiful Natura 2000 landscapes: the St Jansberg, the Reichswald, the Maasduinen and the Maasheggen.Entry to the Martinustoren visitor centre is free.&nbsp;Gennep's Martinus tower<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/787/martinus-tower">https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/787/martinus-tower</a>Martin tower Liberation routes<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://martinustoren.nl/en/liberation-route">https://martinustoren.nl/en/liberation-route</a>Gennep and the price of freedom<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/themed-routes/12/gennep-and-the-price-of-freedom">https://www.liberationroute.com/themed-routes/12/gennep-and-the-price-of-freedom</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Martin tower Liberation routes

Cette exposition éco-conçue par l’équipe du musée visera à mettre en valeur les collections et témoignages du musée. Sur les 45 000 militaires canadiens qui ont perdu la vie entre 1939 et 1945, environ 18 000 appartenaient à l’aviation, représentant une part exceptionnelle et essentielle de l’effort de guerre du Canada.

À la hauteur du défi, l'Aviation Royale du Canada pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale

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.

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

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

An exhibition exploring the war years to present day. The exhibition tells a story of people who were on the small island of Sark during WW2 and endured deportation and hardship, but also people going about their lives, and making the best of a bad situation. SHowcased in the Old Island Hall, which was used during the Occupation for most, if not all, community gatherings by locals and Germans alike for social events such as drama group plays and indoor sports.It was here that the Dame gave her speech discouraging islanders from evacuating at the outset of the occupation and where islanders listened to Winston Churchill declaring the end of the war over the radio.The Exhibition is open daily between 10am and 4pm. Collect a booklet, 'Sark-An Island Occupied' at the Visitor Centre to learn more about the Island during the Occupation.

Guernsey

Sark- The War Years Exhibition

With the performance ‘We'll meet again’, singing trio The Forces Sweethearts reflects on 80 years of freedom in the Netherlands. Memories are brought to life thanks to beautiful stories and anecdotes from the time surrounding World War II. All this will be framed musically by music from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Think of the big hits by Vera Lynn, Doris Day and, of course, The Andrews Sisters. Do you remember them? ‘Bei mir bist du schon’, ‘Rum and coca cola’, ‘Those were the days’ and of course ‘We'll meet again’! Thanks to their beautiful three-part vocals, swinging dance moves and stylish outfits, The Forces Sweethearts will make this performance a feast of recognition and allow us to reflect together on this special milestone.

Theatre concert 'We'll meet again'- 80 years freedom

Moment 1: Commemorating and celebrating the liberation of the southern Netherlands12 September marks the start of the national celebration of 80 years of freedom. On this day in 1944, the liberation of the Netherlands began in Mesch in Limburg. Zeeland, Brabant and part of Gelderland soon followed. The liberation was accompanied by fierce fighting, many casualties and a winter of famine. Eventually, the whole of the Netherlands was liberated on 5 May 1945. A few months later, on 15 August of that same year, World War II came to an end in what was then the Dutch East Indies and thus the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 2024 and 2025, we will celebrate and commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands and the fact that we have been living in freedom since the end of World War II.&nbsp;Moment 2: Commemorating the HolocaustDuring World War II (1940-1945), the Nazis murdered nearly 6 million Jews. They also persecuted and murdered Roma and Sinti, Jehovah’s Witnesses, people with physical or mental disabilities, homosexuals and political opponents. In January, we reflect on these victims.&nbsp;We commemorate their persecution and murder 80 years ago. We will do so on 26 January, during the National Holocaust Remembrance Day in Amsterdam, as well as on other occasions.&nbsp;Moment 3: Commemorating and celebrating the liberation of the east and north of the NetherlandsEighty years ago, in April 1945, allied soldiers advanced towards the north and east of the Netherlands to also liberate the provinces of South Holland, North Holland, Utrecht, Overijssel, Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen. While the south of the Netherlands had already been liberated, the occupied part of the country had to endure a long, hard winter of famine. Partly with the help of the resistance, mainly Canadian soldiers managed to liberate large parts of the country.&nbsp;Moment 4: National Remembrance and Liberation Celebration on 4 and 5 MayEvey year during the National Remembrance Day on 4 May, we remember the victims of World War II and of war situations and peacekeeping operations thereafter. At 8pm, there will be a 2-minute moment of silence throughout the Netherlands. On 5 May, we celebrate the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945 and the fact that we have been living in freedom ever since.&nbsp;On that day, we also reflect on the value of freedom, democracy and human rights.&nbsp;Moment 5: Commemorating and celebrating the end of World War IIOn 15 August, we remember the end of World War II for the Kingdom of the Netherlands and commemorate all the victims of the war against Japan and the Japanese occupation of the then Dutch East Indies. These wartime experiences and the large-scale displacement that followed after liberation continue to affect our society to this day.

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

De terrorist

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

Love in Wartime

The lucky ones grow old

Martin tower Liberation routes

À la hauteur du défi, l'Aviation Royale du Canada pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale

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

Exhibition WWII stories from the Kempen in the Maria Tower Hapert

Sark- The War Years Exhibition

Theatre concert 'We'll meet again'- 80 years freedom

80 years of freedom in 5 moments

Register your event on Europe Remembers

Date

Country

Type of event

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

De terrorist

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

Love in Wartime

The lucky ones grow old

Martin tower Liberation routes

À la hauteur du défi, l'Aviation Royale du Canada pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale

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

Exhibition WWII stories from the Kempen in the Maria Tower Hapert

Sark- The War Years Exhibition

Theatre concert 'We'll meet again'- 80 years freedom

80 years of freedom in 5 moments

Register your event on Europe Remembers