Viola Scalacci

The third youth event part of the EU-fundend “ Persecution Through Their Eyes” project was organised throught the month of October in Lublin by “Grodzka Gate – NN Theatre” Centre and integrated in a wider programme of activities designed to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the devastating “Reinhardt” operation. This is the third youth event of the series, following the ones in Camp Vught National Memorial and Sant’Anna di Stazzema National Park of Peace.  

Operation Reinhardt resulted in a mass murder of Jews, the liquidation of ghetto and the execution of 40,000 prisoners in the Majdanek camp and its branches. The 80th anniversary of its conclusion served as an occasion for reflection on the subject of persecution during World War II. 

Over 100 students took part in educational activities that integrated the historical theme of WWII persecution with contemporary experiences of war, particularly in Ukraine. Several workshops were held that drew upon the biographies created for the “Persecution Through Their Eyes” project exhibition, which recounted a wide array of stories and experiences related to persecution during WWII concerning people from four different countries. Additionally, participants attended the theatrical performance “Borders of War”, which was created by young artists and told the stories of those experiencing war in Ukraine.  

The youth event concluded on October 30th at the Catholic University of Lublin. The halls of the university hosted students, teachers, representatives from the Lublin town, cultural institutions, and historians. The official launch of the exhibition was preceded by a panel discussion titled “The Experience of War,” organized in collaboration with the Department of History and Historiography of Central and Eastern Europe.  

On this occasion, students were able to listen to a unique recording featuring Rose Lipszyc, one of the exhibition’s protagonists. At the age of 94, Ms. Lipszyc shared her own wartime experiences, emphasizing the enduring importance of freedom and democracy after years of suffering and conflict.  

Overall, the youth event and educational activities provided an excellent opportunity to go further into a multi-perspective understanding of history and past and present conflicts. 

Joanna Roman, Project Manager at the LRE Foundation, highlighted the significance of events like the one in Lublin. She said, “Events such as the one organised in Lublin allow us to see the particular need for similar educational activities, which meet with great commitment from young participants and help to see the individual stories and perspectives of directly suffered the atrocities of WWII”. 

The “Persecution Through Their Eyes” project does not end here; another youth event is planned for November 7 at the Buchenwald Memorial in Germany. 

On Wednesday, 11 October 2023 a selected array of representatives of the LRE member organisations came together to hold the first Member’s Council Meeting. In total thirteen members joined online, representing organisations from eight countries. 

The Member’s Council is an advisory body of the LRE Foundation recently established by the International Supervisory Board. It aims to give the Foundation’s members a representation in the organisation’s decision-making process. The Council enables the representatives to give feedback on current LREF programs, contribute to LREF strategies and conceptualize common projects. It is composed of at least one representative per country in which the LRE Foundation has one member organisation. If the country has more than one member organisation, at least two representatives will be welcomed.  

In the meeting, all the present representatives were given the opportunity to introduce themselves and get to know each other. In several rounds of discussion, the members shared their opinions and ideas on the composition of the Council, the possibility of a rotation system of mandates as well as deciding on the format and structure of future meetings. 

What became once again clear is that the experiences and perspectives of the represented organisations and countries on the Second World War and Liberation are very multifaceted, which should be reflected in the bodies functioning. To contribute to the diversity of the Council, the Members intend to form several Working Groups, organised based on their expertise, priorities, and current projects in such fields.  

By common agreement, it was decided to hold the next Members Council meeting during the LRE Forum in Aachen from 26 to 29 February next year to discuss further steps.

“We are thrilled to finally kick off the Member’s Council.“, says Rémi Praud, Managing Director of the LRE Foundation. “This is a great opportunity for us to get a more in-depth collaboration with our member organisations and countries. We are looking forward to receiving some feedback on our recent programs and initiating some new joint projects. Furthermore, the regular meetings will also strengthen our network, as we will have the opportunity to see each other more often and exchange information.” 

We are excited to announce the expansion of our network as we welcome the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église in France as the newest member of LRE Foundation and LRE France.

Situated just a few kilometres from Utah Beach, the Airborne Museum holds the distinction of being Europe’s largest museum dedicated to the American paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions who took part in the Normandy Landings in 1944, during the Second World War. 

These paratroopers, who were the first Allied soldiers to land on the night of June 5-6, played a crucial role in the success of the Battle of Normandy. After liberating Sainte-Mère-Église, they fought Nazi soldiers across the Cotentin region, eventually establishing a substantial bridgehead that would allow France to be liberated from German control. 

The Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église, located directly across from the bell tower where paratrooper John Steele became famous for being hung during the D-Day landings, aims to provide an accurate account of the events leading up to D-Day, from preparations in England to the conquest of freedom. 

“I’m delighted to join this network, which is working across Europe to raise awareness of the history of the Second World War and create links between people.”, said Magali Mallet, Director of the Airborne Museum Sainte-Mère-Église. 

The Museum is committed to modernizing its spaces to provide creative tours that are accessible to all while still maintaining its educational purpose. Visitors to the museum will be able to interact with screens and holograms, as well as hear music and sound effects to obtain a deeper understanding of the major events that shaped the twentieth century. 

Announcing the new addition to the network, Isabelle Lebreton, Director of LRE France, said “It is a great pleasure to welcome the Airborne Museum to our network. This museum is a key player in the understanding and transmission of the memory of the Second World, and it is undergoing major renovations to make it as innovative and accessible to as many people as possible. I am delighted to see it joining our international network today, where it has its rightful place.” 

LRE Italy, one of the Foundation’s national branches, has launched a new initiative in collaboration with some national tour operators: the Liberation Route Trips!

Set to commence in the autumn of 2023, the Liberation Route Trips aim to shine a light on the significant sites that played pivotal roles in Italy’s liberation, resistance movements, and the broader backdrop of World War II. Additionally, the journeys will help spread awareness of the Liberation Route Europe walking routes which are located all around Italy. 

The LRE Italy’s Scientific Committee designed the first season of these travels and includes three different multi-day tours in various Italian cities and regions. The first trip, from 5-8 October, will take participants to Emilia Romagna and focus on Resistance Movements between the Po River and the Gothic Line. The second will be hosted in Rome from November 2-5, following the Liberation Route Europe themed route “Rome: Open City”, while the third will be held in Milan from November 17-19, following the “Milan, Capital of Resistance” themed route.

A guide and a historian will accompany the groups. This dual presence aims to meticulously reconstruct past events while providing a comprehensive and enjoyable cultural experience. 

The Liberation Route Trips will provide an immersive investigation into Italy’s historical legacy, as well as an opportunity to learn about, commemorate, and deepen the Italian experience of liberation and resistance. 

“I am very pleased with this first round of trips, which I believe are critical to our Association.”, says Carlo Puddu, LRE Italy Managing Director. “Visiting the locations of the historical events described on the Liberation Route Europe website allows tourists and visitors to witness them firsthand. I hope this is the start of a long line of such initiatives.” 

Our network is expanding once more with the addition of Caen la Mer and the Communauté de Communes Interrégionale Aumale-Blangy sur Bresle, joining the LRE Foundation and our French national Branch, LRE France. 

Caen la Mer 

Situated in the heart of Normandy, Caen la Mer was deeply marked by the Second World War. The Battle of Caen in June 1944 played a crucial role for the Allies in advancing towards the Seine and Paris. The aerial bombardments carried out in the aftermath of the D-Day landings had a long-term impact on the town, destroying more than 30% of it. 

Today, Caen la Mer stands as a testament to WWII history, with a number of sites, museums, and memorials dedicated to that period. Among these are the Caen Memorial, which provides a comprehensive account of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy, as well as military cemeteries honouring the soldiers who gave their lives to liberate Caen. 

“Because of the history that has played out on its territory, it makes sense for the urban community of Caen la Mer to join the LRE foundation network.”, says Romain Bail, mayor of Ouistreham and vice-president in charge of tourism in Caen la Mer. “We were delighted and honoured to host the LRE forum in Caen in 2022.” 

Communauté de Communes Interrégionale Aumale-Blangy sur Bresle 

The Communauté de Communes Interrégionale Aumale-Blangy sur Bresle is an assembly of communes situated in the Normandy and Hauts-de-France regions, spanning the Seine-Maritime and Somme departments. On June 13, 1944, a tragic event occurred in this area: a twin detonation from the V1, a new German weapon aimed at changing the course of the war. As a result, the Allies launched a rapid reprisal, resulting in thousands of bombs destroying the region, compounding the already substantial damage caused by the dropping V1s. 

Today, the region is home to nineteen V1 flying bomb launch sites, including those at Guerville-Poteau de Montauban and Campneuseville-Beaulieu, and offers insight into the lesser-known V1 offensive of 1943-1944, a poignant chapter of the Second World War that had a profound impact on civilian populations. 

“It is with great pleasure and pride that the Communauté de Communes Interrégionale Aumale-Blangy sur Bresle joins the LRE Foundation and thus contributes further to the duty of remembrance“, states Christian Roussel, President of the Communauté de Communes. 

“We are delighted to welcome Caen la Mer and Communauté de Communes Interrégionale Aumale – Blangy-sur-Bresle as new members of the LRE France and LRE Foundation networks.“, says Isabelle Lebreton, Director of LRE France. “The effects of the Second World War are still clearly visible in both of those territories, and we will continue to spread awareness of it and its history together. We are looking forward to developing Liberation Route Europe trails there.”