Foundations join forces in their search

A number of foundations and working groups, trying to retrieve photographs and stories of soldiers, have joined forces in their search for even more information about the last days of those soldiers killed in World War II. “Because some search trails have simply been dead for years,” reports Overloon War Chronicles chairman Leo Janssen. “Through the media we want to make an appeal for this, including in England, but as foundations we will also look at how we can help each other even better.”

Especially in matching information of the soldiers buried at the various war cemeteries. “For example, one foundation has a lot of information about one regiment, while another knows more about another regiment,” Janssen knows. “Or about a soldier. The initiative for this was started by the Stichting Herdenkingsmonument Militairen – Monument of Tolerance – from Haelen. What we can do together, we will do together. Also in the field of PR. That way we can strengthen each other. The basis for a nice cooperation has been laid.”

Recently, representatives of Overloon War Chronicles Foundation, Adoptiegraven Nederweert Foundation, Adoptiegraven Venray Foundation, STIWOT World War Two Information Foundation, Erfgoed 40-45 Valkenswaard and Waalre Foundation, Jonkerbos War Cemetery Nijmegen, Oorlogsgraven Mierlo and Stichting Herdenkingsmonument Militairen in Horn in central Limburg met to discuss their plans. “Foundations/working groups from Uden, Mierlo, Milsbeek and Mook are also joining this initiative,” Janssen knows. Nine cemeteries that together have more than 5,100 graves. “Those places are on the route taken by our liberators in World War II. At the moment, everyone is mainly committed to their own foundation, while we are all convinced that we could learn a lot from each other and help each other in finding and sharing information. Many studies overlap. Everyone was also immediately open to sharing information. After all, together we are also much stronger.”

“We have many plans together that will continue to be shaped over time. In any case, we will draw attention to our search for relatives and information about the fallen soldiers in various ways. Because our desire to find photos of – and the stories behind – all these men remains. Most cemeteries are already doing this research, but we want to give a face to all these heroes. For they gave their lives for our freedom. Contacting the families, one of our top priorities, always shows that there is still an awful lot of grief, even after 80 years! These contacts are often the only way to still get the desired information.”

One of the plans is to launch an appeal via a video message also in England in the search for relatives of and information about the fallen soldiers. “Through newspapers and television stations, we want to draw attention to this. From a lot of them we have that information, but we want to give these heroes all a face. Because they gave their lives for our freedom. Soon, we will record this video message at all participating fields of honour.”

For more information: email samenwerkingwo2@ziggo.nl