Airborne March
| Airborne March | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | Airborne Wandeltocht |
| Observed by | Netherlands |
| Date | First Saturday in September |
| 2014 date | September 6 |
| 2015 date | September 5 |
| 2016 date | September 3 |
| 2017 date | September 2 |
| Frequency | annual |
The Airborne March is an annual Dutch commemorative event of remembrance that began in 1947 and takes place on the first Saturday in September at Oosterbeek near Arnhem in the Netherlands. Just over 34.800 people took part in the 68th edition of the march in 2014.
The march is one of several events attended by veterans, living relatives, soldiers and British army cadets plus RAF and air cadets from the United Kingdom together with Dutch military, police and civilians to commemorate the 1.750 British and Polish soldiers and airmen who lost their lives at the Battle of Arnhem during the Second World War and who are buried at the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek. The march is also meant to remind one and all, especially the post-war generations, of the sacrifices man was ready to make for the restoration of democracy.
It is organised every year by the Politie Sport Association "Renkum", at the sports park Hartenstein in Oosterbeek, just beyond the Airborne Museum, the former Hartenstein Hotel, which was used as Divisional H.Q. by Major General Roy Urquhart CB, DSO at the time of the battle. The revenues of the Airborne March are used to enable veterans and next of kin with poor means, to come over to The Netherlands and attend the annual Airborne-commemorations in and around Arnhem.
The routes lead past the most important wartime locations in the Oosterbeek area:
- the former Hartenstein Hotel, which was the Divisional H.Q. at the time of the battle and is now the Airborne Museum
- the Airborne Cemetery, where over 1700 British and polish soldiers are buried
- the dropzones on the Ginkel Heath near Ede
- the vast woods of the "Bilderberg" where troops fought a hard battle
- the drop and landing zones of Wolfheze, Renkum, Heelsum and Ginkel Heath near Ede.
- the Old Church where troops gathered during the retreat
Pictures
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Start of the 2009 Airborne March
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Offroad track
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Checkpoint
References
- "Dutch battle remembered". This is Hampshire (Newsquest Media Group). 2006-08-06. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- "Oosterbeek in teken Airborne Wandeltocht" (in Dutch). Algemeen Dagblad. 2007-09-01. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- "Wandellegioen Airborne op pad" (in Dutch). Foknieuws. 2007-09-01. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- "Cadets on the march". York Press (Newsquest Media Group). 2007-07-30. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- "Airborne Wandeltocht probleemloos verlopen" (in Dutch). de Verdieping Trouw. 2006-09-02. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- "Wandelaars herdenken Slag om Arnhem" (in Dutch). NOS Journaal. 2006-09-02. Retrieved 2008-05-16.