100km/24h Escape Evasion & Remembrance March - 100km/62 miles from Germany to France! From Ludwigshafen to Lauterbourg!
In 2025 we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II (1945-2025). This is why the Historical Research Group of the Rhineland-Palatinate Germany/IG Heimatforschung Rheinland-Pfalz, decided to initiate a special memorial march for all soldiers of World War II in 2025. For soldiers of all nationalities, whether male or female, whether Allied or belonging to the Axis powers: everyone fought for their country, everyone had a family, everyone made great sacrifices. No one will be forgotten! Enemies then, friends today! This is a Remembrance march in the name of international understanding.
This 100km remembrance march will be executed as so-called "semi-tactical evasion march", with almost no water, food or gear, except your evasion/survival kit (survival ration, water filter etc.).
Many aircraft crews who parachuted out of their aircraft found themselves behind enemy lines after their plane was shot down. Those who could, tried to “fight” (and walk) their way back to their own lines. Their route was almost always long, full of adversities and hardship.
The start of the World war II Escape Evasion & Remembrance March is at the crash site of an English bomber that crashed in World War II near Ludwigshafen am Rhein. Only one crew member survived the crash by means of parachute. After the crash site was examined by the IG Heimatforschung, a memorial stone was erected there on September 23, 2023.
The finish will be in Lauterbourg, France (allied lines in 1945)
During the march there will be ten checkpoints/coordinates that will lead past Allied, German and French memorials (e.g. various Allied plane crash sites, the former Rheinwiesenlager near Ludwigshafen, the former battlefield in the Bienwald, etc.). At the memorial sites, there is time to pause and pay due respect to the victims before continuing on to the French border. The checkpoints and planned route will be made available to participants via the Komoot hiking app (link) for download and navigation on your cell phones, so that the planned route can be navigated very easily. Additional navigation aids are optional.
This 100km march must be completed within 24 hours (similar to well-known 100km marches such as the 100km Totenkopfmarsch/Dodentocht in Belgium, the Mammutmarsch in Germany, etc.). No problem for anyone without physical disabilities. The main thing is to train and prepare.
If you have two legs and the right attitude, you can do it.
Surprise yourself and your friends. And grow with your progress! If you manage the 100km within 24 hours, nothing else can stop you! Believe in yourself!
100km are hard?
Fighting in war is hard! Maybe you can imagine what the men, women and families experienced back then, but only to a certain extent. Show them the respect they deserve by taking part in this march.
Leave your comfort zone for just one day and push yourself to the limit!
Do you have what it takes to be a 100km Long Distance Evader?
Pain is temporary. Pride is forever!
Follow the link for more details: https://www.ig-heimatforschung.de/projekte-allg/100km-24-std-world-war-ii-escape-evasion-remembrance-march/
erik.wieman@gmail.com
Organizator: IG Heimatforschung Rheinland-Pfalz