Viola Scalacci

The LRE Foundation is pleased to announce a new and important step in strengthening its presence in Finland: the City of Kuhmo has officially joined our international network. After welcoming the Muisti Centre of War and Peace, followed by the Municipality of Miehikkälä together with the Salpa Line Museum, Kuhmo now becomes the third Finnish member of the Foundation. Its addition marks a significant step toward bringing Finland’s lesser-known but deeply meaningful Second World War history into the broader European narrative of remembrance. 

Finland’s wartime history is distinct within Europe. During the Second World War, the country fought two separate conflicts against the Soviet Union: the Winter War (1939–1940) and the Continuation War (1941–1944). Finland’s geographical position on the Soviet border, as well as its military strategies and political decisions, played a substantial role in shaping events on the Eastern and Northern Front. 

Kuhmo: A Landmark of the Winter War 

Located near Finland’s eastern border, Kuhmo is one of the country’s most historically significant Winter War locations. Here, the fighting continued throughout the entire conflict, mirroring the Winter War itself in miniature: defensive battles, guerrilla attacks, fierce counterattacks, and devastating motti battles. 

Today, Kuhmo preserves an extraordinary series of historical locations, memorials, and restored structures that help visitors understand the lived experience of soldiers and civilians during the conflict. From the battle sites of Kilpelänkangas, Saunajärvi, and Jyrkänkoski to the Kuhmo Winter War Museum, visitors can gain an in-depth understanding of the operations fought in the region. 

A New Chapter of Cooperation 

By becoming a member of the LRE Foundation, the City of Kuhmo joins a growing global network dedicated to preserving memory, promoting transnational cooperation, and making Europe’s WWII heritage accessible to a wider audience. Kuhmo’s landscapes, stories, and historical sites enrich the European map of remembrance, offering visitors a powerful perspective on resilience, strategy, and the lived experience of war in the Northern front. 

We look forward to working with Kuhmo and our Finnish partners to develop new routes, educational projects, and activities that highlight Finland’s important place in Europe’s wartime history and collective memory. 

“City of Kuhmo is pleased to join the LREF community in honour of the 86th anniversary of the outbreak of the Winter War (30 November 1939). Kuhmo has a rich history and numerous sites related to the Winter War, which can now be prominently showcased to international actors interested in Second World War history through the LRE network.” – Mr. Pekka Horttanainen, Business Manager, City of Kuhmo. 

The LRE Foundation is pleased to welcome Dr. Jana Wohlmuth Markupová and Dr. Sarah Gensburger as new members of its Historical Advisory Board. With their expertise, both scholars will bring valuable perspectives to the Foundation’s mission of preserving and promoting the memory of the Second World War across generations and borders. 

Dr. Jana Wohlmuth Markupová 

Dr. Jana Wohlmuth Markupová is an Assistant Professor of Oral History and Contemporary History at the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University in Prague, where she has played a key role in academic activities for almost a decade.  She currently serves as Chairperson of the Czech Oral History Association, Member of the Editorial Board of Biography Studies, and Member of the Academic Senate of the Faculty of Humanities. 

Dr. Wohlmuth Markupová is the author and co-author of numerous academic publications, and her scholarship often bridges personal memory and collective experience, highlighting the value of individual stories in understanding broader historical processes.  

For Dr. Wohlmuth Markupová, studying contemporary history – defined as the history since 1945 – does not mean moving away from the Second World War, but rather recognising how deeply it continues to shape the world we live in. As she explains, 

“It only emphasises the importance of reminding us of its impact on the world we live in, which we may tend to forget, as the last witnesses of these events leave, or rather have already left. I am happy that the LRE Foundation attempts to do just that, and I am excited to participate in these efforts as a member of the Historical Advisory Board.” 

Dr. Sarah Gensburger 

Dr. Sarah Gensburger is a Full Professor of Political Science, Sociology and History at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Sciences Po Paris. Between 2021 and 2024, she served as President of the Memory Studies Association, the largest international scholarly network dedicated to memory research. 

Bringing together political science and history, Dr. Gensburger’s research critically examines public policies of remembrance and their effects on society. As a historian, she is widely recognized for her work on the micro-history of the Holocaust in Paris, using space and geography to study social dynamics during times of crisis. 

She is the author of fifteen books, including her latest publication, Appartements témoins. La spoliation des locataires juifs à Paris, 1940–1946 (La Découverte, 2025), co-written with Isabelle Backouche and Eric Le Bourhis. The book, which investigates the dispossession of Jewish tenants in wartime Paris, has been awarded the Albertine Translation Grant 2025. 

Speaking about her involvement with the LRE Foundation, Dr. Gensburger notes:  

“We need to take stock of the European memory policies and their impact. In this regard, the LRE Foundation seems a perfect place to do so in the best possible way.” 

About the Historical Advisory Board 

The Historical Advisory Board of the LRE Foundation advises on the definition of the historical scope of the Foundation’s projects and supervises content and research development. By welcoming Dr. Wohlmuth Markupová and Dr. Gensburger, the Board strengthens its commitment to ensuring that the Foundation’s work remains rooted in rigorous scholarship and a diversity of historical perspectives. 

In recent weeks, the LRE Foundation team has been actively engaging with key players in the tourism and travel industry, taking part in several major networking events to strengthen partnerships and raise awareness about the Liberation Route Europe trails and destinations. Through these events, we continue to promote the special combination of history, remembrance, and outdoor exploration that defines our project. 

Connecting at the CycleSummit 2025 

From 4 to 7 October, our Project Manager Emme Johnson attended the CycleSummit 2025 at the historic Council of Constance, right by the beautiful Lake Constance, where Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland meet.  

This annual event brings together more than 200 cycling tour operators from across Europe and beyond. It offers an inspiring setting for networking, exchanging ideas, and exploring new collaborations, perfectly located along the 270 km Lake Constance Cycle Path. 

Emme spent these days introducing tour operators to the Liberation Route Europe network of hiking and cycling trails, highlighting its potential to enrich cycling itineraries with stories of remembrance right where they happened. 

The Global European Marketplace (GEM) 2025 

The LRE Foundation is also taking part in ETOA’s Global European Marketplace 2025, one of the most influential annual events in the travel industry. 

With more than 800 travel industry professionals participating, GEM serves as a key platform for networking, business exchange, and collaboration. Our Project Manager Emme Johnson and Project and Communication Manager Gert-Jan Jacobs are representing the Foundation at both the GEM Workshop on 31 October at the Intercontinental London – The O2, and the GEM Conference on 3 November at The Mermaid Theatre. Their participation helps position the Liberation Route Europe trails within a broader network of European tourism partners and industry leaders. 

Adventure Europe 2025 

Finally, the Foundation will join Adventure Europe 2025, an online B2B event organised by ETOA – European Tourism Association and The Adventure Connection. This marketplace connects European and North American tour operators with suppliers offering authentic, off-the-beaten-track experiences, including outdoor activities, accommodation, and travel services. 

Through these events, the LRE Foundation continues to broaden its network and foster meaningful collaborations. Each partnership helps raise the profile of the Liberation Route Europe network within the international tourism landscape, ensuring that the stories of liberation remain part of the journeys people take across Europe today.  

Looking ahead, we are excited to organise the LREXPO during the LRE Forum 2026 in Arnhem and Nijmegen, an occasion for all LRE Foundation Members and Partners to connect with representatives from the travel trade industry, including European and North American tour operators. 
For more information about the LRE Forum, click here. 

The LRE Foundation is delighted to announce that the LRE Forum 2026 will take place from 9 to 12 March across two historic cities — Arnhem and Nijmegen — in the Province of Gelderland. This 10th edition will give participants the chance to experience both cities, each deeply connected to Europe’s liberation history and to the ongoing work of remembrance and education.

The event is made possible thanks to the close collaboration with the municipalities of Arnhem and Nijmegen and the Province of Gelderland, who have confirmed their commitment and enthusiasm to welcome the event to their locations. This partnership reflects our shared mission to promote remembrance, education, and the preservation of Europe’s WWII heritage. 

A Diverse and Inspiring Programme 

The LRE Forum 2026 will offer a rich and engaging programme designed to foster dialogue, connection, and reflection within the fields of WWII heritage, remembrance tourism, and history education. 

The Forum in Nijmegen will open with a City Walk, offering participants the opportunity to discover the history and heritage of the Netherlands’ oldest city. Nijmegen will also host the Welcome Cocktail for members of the LREF network and, for the first time, the Youth Forum — a two-day programme inviting young participants to reflect on WWII history, remembrance, and how lessons from the past can guide us in addressing today’s global challenges. 

In Arnhem, participants will take part in the LRE Members Seminar, the Conference, the Gala Dinner, and the EXPO – key events that will bring together professionals, partners, and remembrance organisations from across Europe. These gatherings will provide a platform for sharing ideas, building partnerships, and discussing the future of remembrance and heritage tourism. 

A Milestone Edition in the Heart of Gelderland 

This 10th edition holds particular significance. Not only does it celebrate a decade of the LRE Forum, but it also brings the event for the first time to the Gelderland region, the birthplace of the Liberation Route Europe — the flagship project that laid the foundation for what is today the LRE Foundation. 

Since its creation, the LRE Foundation has evolved into an international remembrance organisation, active in historical research, educational initiatives, and cross-border projects promoting the preservation and interpretation of Europe’s 20th-century history. Hosting the Forum in Arnhem and Nijmegen represents both a return to our roots and an opportunity to highlight the region’s central role in the stories of liberation and post-war reconstruction. 

Save the date 

We invite all members, partners, and stakeholders to mark their calendars for 9–12 March 2026 and start planning their journey to Gelderland, easily accessible by train or via Amsterdam and Eindhoven airports. 

Registration will open in November, and we will also share a list of affiliated hotels in Arnhem offering special rates for Forum participants. 

We look forward to welcoming you to Arnhem and Nijmegen in March 2026 for a memorable and inspiring 10th edition of the LRE Forum.