OPERATION MARKET GARDEN PROGRAM
OPERATION MARKET GARDEN
80 YEARS OF FREEDOM
Sunday, Sept. 17, 1944, tens of thousands of paratroopers land at the bridges over the rivers and canals between the Belgian border and Arnhem, while ground troops advance from Leopoldsburg. The goal of Allied Operation Market Garden: a rapid advance along this route toward Hitler Germany. This fails, with the Arnhem Rhine Bridge remaining in German hands. Nevertheless, large parts of Limburg and Brabant are liberated, as is the Rijk van Nijmegen. From here, the final offensive against the Nazi regime began after all in February 1945.
In September 2024, we in the Rijk van Nijmegen will commemorate the events of the past, make a link to the present and celebrate 80 years of freedom.
Some highlights from the program:
Sunday, September 15
Freedom Festival and Children's Flea Market in and around the Freedom Museum
in Groesbeek, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Euregio
Freedom Walk will also start here that day.
Tuesday, Sept. 17
Commemoration of Market Garden at the General Gavin monument in Groesbeek, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 19
Camp of the Liberation Task Force at Klein Amerika in Groesbeek, with vehicles and equipment mainly from the British army from the Market Garden period. Open to visitors all day, with a parachute drop in the morning.
Friday, Sept. 20
Camp of the Pontoon Group '40-'45 on the island of Veur-Lent near Nijmegen, open to visitors from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. At 12:00 noon, the Pontoon Group will cross the Waal River with 26 boats and 200 reenactors. At 1:30 p.m., official commemoration of the 48 American soldiers who fell during this action on September 20, 1944.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Camp of Pontoongroup '40-'45, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. At 2:57 p.m., another crossing of the Waal River, at the same time as the original operation.
Peace parade, Peace by Peace, from the city center to the Vasim site in Nijmegen. Starts at 1:00 p.m. From 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Peace by Peace festival at the Vasim site. This will continue on Sunday, September 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Special edition of the Sunset March, for the general public, across the De Oversteek city bridge. Starts at 7:36 p.m. at the Vasim site.
