July 2024 – LRE Foundation

The Liberation Route Europe Website is Now Even More User-Friendly

Posted on July 23, 2024July 23, 2024 by Viola Scalacci

The Liberation Route Europe website has recently implemented a series of small but significant updates to enhance its functionality and user experience. The new features range from an improved map system to new filters and geo-localization options that make it easier for visitors to find the best themed routes or points of interest to explore. These updates go beyond mere aesthetics to significantly improve the site’s usability.

Liberation Route Europe is a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe that connects people, places, and events to mark Europe’s liberation from occupation during World War II. Both the Liberation Route Europe website and its companion app have long been valuable resources for discovering WWII historical sites, stories, and hiking and cycling routes across Europe. With 100,000 monthly visitors, enhancing the user-friendliness of the Liberation Route Europe website was a key priority.

One of the most noticeable updates for regular visitors is the revamped map system. Users now have the option to view points of interest, such as museums and historical sites, or to explore the themed routes developed in collaboration with various partners. These curated routes provide a thematic journey through significant WWII sites, offering a richer understanding of historical events and their impacts.

Additionally, the website’s fresh design includes a new filter system, allowing visitors to find routes and content that align with their interests easily. The introduction of a new geo-localization feature also adds a layer of personalization. By enabling geolocation, users can receive customized content based on their current location, making their exploration of historical sites, stories, and themed routes along the Liberation Route even more immersive and tailored to their needs.

Visit liberationroute.com to explore these new features and enhance your journey through Europe’s WWII history.

Apply for our Active Remembrance Youth Program!

Posted on July 9, 2024July 9, 2024 by Viola Scalacci

The Active Remembrance Youth Program is an EU-funded initiative designed to engage and inspire young Europeans from diverse backgrounds to explore and commemorate World War II along the Liberation Route Europe. This program provides an interactive experience that goes beyond traditional classroom learning, actively involving participants in history.

Through a series of youth exchanges, participants will visit significant WWII sites across Europe, allowing them to engage with history firsthand. These visits include museums, memorials, and historical landmarks, offering a tangible connection to the past. Participants will travel across multiple European countries, engaging with diverse cultures and historical perspectives. These trips foster cross-cultural understanding and collaboration among young people from different backgrounds.

Furthermore, throughout the program, young people will engage in interactive workshops, they will conduct interviews, curate historical content, and create podcasts and videos. These projects will contribute to an online exhibition, showcasing the participants’ work and reaching a wide audience. This hands-on approach not only enhances digital literacy but also empowers young Europeans to tell the stories of their families and countries from new perspectives.

The upcoming trips, planned for October 2024 and January 2025, include explorations of the Battle of the Scheldt, spanning Belgium and the Netherlands, and the Battle of the Bulge. These trips offer participants a unique opportunity to learn about these significant battles right where they happened, providing an in-depth understanding of their historical impact.

The program is open to EU citizens aged 18-25.

To learn more about the Active Remembrance Youth Program and how to apply, visit our dedicated website.

Join us in this unique opportunity to preserve history through active engagement and interactive learning!

Europe Remembers: Covering the 80th Anniversary of D-Day

Posted on July 1, 2024July 1, 2024 by Viola Scalacci

Europe Remembers is an initiative by the LRE Foundation that forms a large-scale awareness campaign commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. From June 5th to 7th, our Europe Remembers team travelled to Normandy to celebrate the historic 80th anniversary of D-Day. During this time, we participated in multiple commemorative events, visited historical sites, and conducted interviews with veterans and participants.

The Europe Remembers crew began their coverage on June 5th by attending the Pegasus Bridge Ceremony. This key commemoration paid homage to the British soldiers who carried out the first mission of the landings. The Europe Remembers team also visited and covered other significant places, including the German Cemetery in La Cambe, the British Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, and Pointe du Hoc. Additionally, they attended the Thanksgiving Service in the majestic Bayeux Cathedral organised by the town and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. During that day, the crew also interviewed veterans such as Mervyn Kersh who shared their invaluable experiences with us.

In the evening, the Europe Remembers participated in a ceremony at the Canadian Cemetery, where a unique installation of candles was placed on each grave to honour the Commonwealth soldiers who fought and died on D-Day.

On June 6th, Europe Remembers attended the British Ceremony in Ranville, the first village to be liberated by the Allied forces during the Battle of Normandy. The presence of veterans, school children and dignitaries underscored the importance of remembering and honouring these historic moments. Later that day, the team visited Arromanches, known for the artificial Mulberry Harbor used during the landings. The town was full of visitors who came together to commemorate and celebrate the anniversary.

In addition to the official ceremonies, the team visited several key museums, including the Juno Beach Centre, the D-Day Museum in Arromanches, the Utah Beach Museum and the Airborne Museum of Sainte-Mère-Eglise.

“The Europe Remembers trip to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day was an interesting occasion for remembrance and education”, says Rémi Praud, Managing Director of the LRE Foundation. “By participating in ceremonies, visiting historic sites, and engaging with veterans, the Europe Remembers team has created engaging content that we hope will get more and more people involved in the 80 years commemorations.”

As we reflect on our trip to Normandy, we look forward to next fall when we will join our partners in The Netherlands—Brabant, Zeeland, and Gelderland—to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Scheldt.

Visit our Europe Remembers website to watch some of the videos created in Normandy and learn more about our efforts to raise awareness about the Second World War!