Remembrance Sunday 2024 IJ |
Ubique - Everywhere
Tyneside Scottish Branch Royal Artillery Association act remembrance at Jesmond United Reformed Church the Colour of the 23rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (4th Battalion Tyneside Scottish) was laid up after the First World War.
TS RAA Jesmond URC |
TS RAA The Carriage Jesmond |
The National Monument commemorate the casualties of the Netherlands who were lost during World War Two and subsequent conflicts. It is located at Dam Square in Amsterdam.
National Monument Amsterdam |
National Monument Amsterdam |
National Monument Amsterdam |
On 10th May 1940 the Germans invaded the Netherlands, a neutral country, and without a formal declaration of war. The Dutch armed forces surrendered on 15th May following the bombing of Rotterdam the previous day. The country remained under occupation until the allies launched Operation Market Garden in September 1944 and the liberation of the Netherlands began. Liberation was finally accomplished with the surrender of German forces in the Netherlands on the eve of 5 May 1945, three days before the general capitulation of Germany.
During the conflict 205,901 Dutch men, women and children died of war-related causes, of which 107,000 were victims of the Holocaust. Another 30,000 people died in the Far East fighting the Japanese or in camps as Japanese POWs.
The National Monument was unveiled by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands on 4 May 1956
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National Monument Amsterdam Unveiling May 4th 1956 |
National Monument 1956 Dam Square Amsterdam |
Dam Square 2024 |
On 10th May 1940 Germany invaded the Netherlands and after brief fighting the Dutch armed forces surrendered on 15th May following the bombing of Rotterdam. The German occupation of the Netherlands began on 17th May.
Dam Square 1940 |
The first part of the Netherlands liberated during the Second World War was around Maastricht by troops from the US 30th Infantry Division on 12th September 1944.
Allied Forces liberation of the Netherlands continued with Operation Market Garden liberating a corridor from the Belgian Border to Nijmegen. The Canadian Army advanced along the coast pushing in to the Netherlands till only the Western areas were still occupied when the German forces capitulated on 5th May 1945.
On 7th May 1945 crowds began to gather in Dam Square in Amsterdam to celebrate the end of the war and welcome their liberators. A reconnaissance patrol from the 49th (West Riding) Division entered Dam Square encountering Germans driving through the square.
49 (WR) Division Recce pass Germans Dam Square |
The British withdrew from the square leaving it up to the Dutch Resistance to disarm the German Troops.
Dutch Resistance disarm German Troops Dam Square |
As the Dutch Resistance began disarming German troops one of whom refused and shots were fired. German soldiers in the Groote Club (Grand Club) went to the windows, balconies and on to the roof and began to fire into the celebrating crowds. The crowds fled the square or tried to take cover from the shots.
Crowds under fire in Dam Square
Scouts, red cross workers and nurses tended to the wounded.
Tending to the wounded Dam Square |
Liberated Amsterdam |
In 1947 a commemorative plaque to those killed in the Dam Square Shooting was unveiled on the facade of the Groote Club at the corner of the Dam and Kalverstraat.
Groote Club building Dam Square |
Dam Square shooting commemorative plaque |
Dam Square shooting commemorative plaque |
Hugh Dennis IJ On 10th March 2021, the TV programme the Great British Dig featured Trow Point , ...