Viola Scalacci, Author at LRE Foundation

LRE UK hosts first outreach event in Portsmouth: an opportunity to involve local stakeholders in the UK section of the LRE Hiking Trails network

Posted on January 19, 2023January 19, 2023 by Viola Scalacci

On Wednesday 18 January the UK branch of the LRE Foundation held its first UK outreach event in Portsmouth, southern England. This was an exciting opportunity to present the UK section of the Liberation Route Europe Hiking Trails project to local stakeholders and potential members, and to hear their feedback. It is the first of three outreach events in the UK this year, with two more taking place in Lincoln and London in the coming months.

The event was hosted by Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and organised by Ben Mayne, Director of LRE UK, and Emme Johnson, Project Officer, LRE Foundation. BBC Broadcaster and Speaker, Dave Sharpe, was MC of the event, and together they presented the LRE Foundation, its partners, work and projects in an interactive and informative session. A key focus was the LRE Hiking Trails project, and after highlighting the progress so far in the trails network being developed in the county of Hampshire, they invited stakeholders to ask questions and discuss how they can be involved.

Following this, a panel discussion between four panellists, each representing a different sector, discussed the benefits of the project, how it can support the local area, and the impact it could have. Sharing their insights and specialist knowledge with the audience, they demonstrated the multidiscipline approach of the Foundation and project, and the variety of interests and backgrounds of those involved. The panellists included:

Caroline Barrie-Smith, Head of Audience Engagement at Museum of London Archaeology & involved in CITiZAN project on coastal erosion
Dr Victoria Humphreys, Author & Battlefield Guide
Ross Fairbrother, General Manager at The D-Day Story Museum, and LRE UK member
Robert James, Senior Lecturer in Cultural and Social History, University of Portsmouth

The UK section of the LRE Hiking Trails project is still in its initial phases, however the network will cover the North, East and West of Hampshire, and is simultaneously being developed in Lincolnshire. Another outreach event will be held at the International Bomber Command Centre (an LRE UK member) in Lincoln in February, with a third taking place at the Churchill War Rooms in London in March.

“The UK has a lot to offer the Liberation Route Europe Hiking Trail project, and the new routes will enable many people to explore the stunning countryside, fascinating stories, and unique historical sites and museums.”, said Ben Mayne, LRE UK Director, “Designed as a sustainable tourism product, the network aims to help drive positive tourism across multiple counties and contribute to the local economy. We are excited to be progressing with the route and look forward to the exciting developments to come!”

LRE Foundation presents a new project with the support of the vfonds: the Liberation Route Cycling Routes

Posted on January 16, 2023February 8, 2023 by Viola Scalacci

2023 kicks off with more great news: thanks to financial support from the vfonds, the Dutch Fund for Peace, Freedom and Veteran Care, the LRE Foundation presents a new development of the Liberation Route Europe project, the Liberation Route Cycling Routes! The new cycling route planner will enable even more people across Europe to actively participate in the commemoration and remembrance of World War II, reflecting on the value of freedom, democracy, and peace, while enjoying some active time outdoors. The LRE Foundation team is at work to make the first cycling routes available by Spring 2023.

Since 2021, the LRE Foundation has been working on the Liberation Route Europe hiking trails, a sustainable tourism project linking places and stories related to the liberation of Europe at the end of WWII. The trail system consists of many different walking routes, from long hikes to one-day or half-day itineraries, all of which can be planned on www.liberationroute.com or the Liberation Route mobile app. Along the way, walkers can find many remembrance sites and museums, and read or listen to stories from the final stages of WWII. Around 200 points of interest along the route have already been marked with trail markers called ‘Vectors of Memory’, designed by American architect Daniel Libeskind

“Following in the footsteps of the Polish Liberators” Cycling Route

This year thanks to vfund the LRE Foundation will add the first cycling route to Liberation Route Europe. “Following in the footsteps of the Polish Liberators” will be a unique cycling route through the Netherlands, commemorating the Polish troops’ efforts during the country’s liberation. Indeed, although the role of Polish forces during the War is often downplayed or ignored, the First Polish Armored Division of General Maczek and the First Independent Parachute Brigade of General Sosabowski played a crucial role in the liberation of the Netherlands.

The Polish liberators symbolize the suffering inflicted by war on ordinary civilians. In 1942, the 1st Polish Armored Division was formed in Britain from the children of immigrants, labour camp refugees, escaped prisoners of war, and soldiers who managed to flee Poland after its downfall. The Polish people hoped to liberate their homeland; however, their deployment was limited to Western Europe, and many could not return to Poland after the war because of the new communist regime. In this light, the new cycling route, which will be built around stories like these, will aim to show the huge impact that war has on the lives of ordinary citizens.

Since the new route’s impending launch, the LRE Foundation is seeking cooperation with, among others, the Polish Embassy in The Hague, the Maczek Memorial, the Driel-Polen Foundation, and Brabant Remembers

Photo by Jonathan-Andrew

LRE France is the new operational branch of the LRE Foundation

Posted on January 10, 2023January 10, 2023 by Viola Scalacci

After months of work, we are happy to announce that LRE Foundation has a new operational branch: LRE France!

Following the founding of LRE Italy and LRE UK, the establishment of LRE France is an important step forward for the LRE Foundation, which aims to expand its network and connect the various WWII memorial sites in Europe through a wide range of projects, including Liberation Route Europe, the Certified Cultural Route following the advance of the Allies during WWII, and Europe Remembers, the online portal for European remembrance events and historical sites.

“I am delighted that the LRE France organization is now up and running. It will play an invaluable role in the development of our activities in France and the growth of our network.”, said Rémi Praud, LRE Foundation Managing Director.

The historian and remembrance tourism expert Isabelle Lebreton has been named director of LRE France, where she will assist the LRE Foundation in developing new projects in the country. “I am really happy to join the LRE project.”, Isabelle Lebreton sayd. “I wish to contribute to the development of meaningful remembrance projects in France. Through the “Route de la Liberation” in particular and with the help of partners that I am eager to meet.”

The major goal of LRE France is to support the dissemination of WWII memory in France by developing the “Route de la Libération,” a cultural and memorial route that connects the regions liberated from Nazi occupation between 1944 and 1945. The aim is to extend the existing Liberation Route Europe hiking path, totaling 1500 kilometers of trails and developing themed routes and historical content. The Fédération Française de Randonnées, the French hiking federation, is one of LRE France’s key partners and will help in this mission.

2023 will be an important and productive year for the new LRE branch and will kick off with the organization of numerous outreach events. The first one is scheduled for March and will take place in northern France. These occasions will be ideal for introducing LRE France’s projects and objectives in order to attract new members and partners.