Airborne March
Encyclopedia
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. Over 30,000 people took part in the march in 2006.
The march is one of several events attended by veterans, living relatives, soldiers and army cadets plus RAF and air cadets from the United Kingdom
together with Dutch military and civilians to commemorate the 1700 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:
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
commemorative event of remembrance that began in 1947 and takes place on the first Saturday in September at Oosterbeek
Oosterbeek
Oosterbeek is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Renkum, about 5 km west of Arnhem.The oldest part of the village of Oosterbeek is the Benedendorp , on the northern bank of the river Rhine...
near Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
in the Netherlands. Over 30,000 people took part in the march in 2006.
The march is one of several events attended by veterans, living relatives, soldiers and army cadets plus RAF and air cadets from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
together with Dutch military and civilians to commemorate the 1700 British and Polish soldiers and airmen who lost their lives at the Battle of Arnhem
Battle of Arnhem
The Battle of Arnhem was a famous Second World War military engagement fought in and around the Dutch towns of Arnhem, Oosterbeek, Wolfheze, Driel and the surrounding countryside from 17–26 September 1944....
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
Oosterbeek
Oosterbeek is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Renkum, about 5 km west of Arnhem.The oldest part of the village of Oosterbeek is the Benedendorp , on the northern bank of the river Rhine...
, just beyond the Airborne Museum, the former Hartenstein Hotel, which was used as Divisional H.Q. by Major General Roy Urquhart
Roy Urquhart
Major General Robert "Roy" Elliott Urquhart, CB, DSO was a British military officer. He became prominent for his role commanding the British 1st Airborne Division during Operation Market Garden.-Early career:...
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
Oosterbeek
Oosterbeek is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Renkum, about 5 km west of Arnhem.The oldest part of the village of Oosterbeek is the Benedendorp , on the northern bank of the river Rhine...
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 EdeEde, Netherlands' is a municipality and a town in the center of the Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland.- Population centres :Community :* Bennekom: 14.749* De Klomp: 508* Deelen: 50* Ede : 67.812* Ederveen: 3.167* Harskamp: 3.464...
- the vast woods of the "Bilderberg" where troops fought a hard battle
- the drop and landing zones of WolfhezeWolfhezeWolfheze is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Renkum, 10 km northwest of the city of Arnhem.-History:Wolfheze has had a train station on the railway line between Utrecht and Arnhem since 1845...
, RenkumRenkumRenkum is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.The municipality has 31.801 inhabitants and has a land area of 47,12 km². Renkum is situated along the river Rhine The municipality Renkum is part of the Stadsregio Arnhem-Nijmegen.The surrounding of the municipality are mainly...
and Heelsum - the Old Church where troops gathered during the retreat