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A Dutch Town Honors U.S. Soldiers’ Wartime Bravery at Germany’s Edge A Dutch Town Honors U.S. Soldiers’ Wartime Bravery at Germany’s Edge
(about 17 hours later)
NIJMEGEN, the Netherlands — When Henny Meijer was 2 years old, his hometown was liberated by American soldiers. Hearing the commotion on the street, his 8-year-old brother ran to greet them with a neighbor — a woman who was handing the Americans orange flowers — when a soldier threw himself on the boy. NIJMEGEN, the Netherlands — When Henny Meijer was 2 years old, his hometown was liberated by American soldiers. Hearing the commotion on the street, his 8-year-old brother ran to greet them with a neighbor — a woman who was handing the Americans orange flowers — when a soldier threw himself on the boy.
Only after the soldier got up did Mr. Meijer’s brother see why. The woman with flowers was dead, hit by shrapnel from an artillery shell. “You have to realize what a nasty time it was,” Mr. Meijer, now 72, recalled in an interview. “It was a world without any justice.”Only after the soldier got up did Mr. Meijer’s brother see why. The woman with flowers was dead, hit by shrapnel from an artillery shell. “You have to realize what a nasty time it was,” Mr. Meijer, now 72, recalled in an interview. “It was a world without any justice.”
His brother is no longer alive, but Mr. Meijer has devoted much of his own life to preserving the memory of that time, so that future generations will never repeat it. The role the Americans played holds a special place not only for him, but for the town itself, and it, too, has sought to commemorate their part in an equally special way.His brother is no longer alive, but Mr. Meijer has devoted much of his own life to preserving the memory of that time, so that future generations will never repeat it. The role the Americans played holds a special place not only for him, but for the town itself, and it, too, has sought to commemorate their part in an equally special way.
Last year, Nijmegen completed a showpiece bridge connecting the old and new parts of the rapidly growing community, which today numbers about 170,000, straddling the Waal River, near the German border.Last year, Nijmegen completed a showpiece bridge connecting the old and new parts of the rapidly growing community, which today numbers about 170,000, straddling the Waal River, near the German border.
The elegant four-lane brick and steel structure, which was built at a cost of 141 million euros and designed to last at least a century, is named De Oversteek, Dutch for “the crossing,” in memory of the bold daylight crossing of the river by the Americans that day — Sept. 20, 1944 — 70 years ago when Mr. Meijer’s brother ran out to greet them.The elegant four-lane brick and steel structure, which was built at a cost of 141 million euros and designed to last at least a century, is named De Oversteek, Dutch for “the crossing,” in memory of the bold daylight crossing of the river by the Americans that day — Sept. 20, 1944 — 70 years ago when Mr. Meijer’s brother ran out to greet them.
The river crossing was a crucial flanking maneuver that ultimately gave the Americans the upper hand in the battle for Nijmegen. Of the 700 soldiers who took part, 104 never made it over the river, and 48 gave their lives in what is now the shadow of a newly constructed bridge.The river crossing was a crucial flanking maneuver that ultimately gave the Americans the upper hand in the battle for Nijmegen. Of the 700 soldiers who took part, 104 never made it over the river, and 48 gave their lives in what is now the shadow of a newly constructed bridge.
During his private research, Mr. Meijer found that 12 American soldiers, including five who took part in the river crossing, had received the Netherlands’ highest honor for bravery for liberating Nijmegen — a remarkably high number, he said, given the town’s small size.During his private research, Mr. Meijer found that 12 American soldiers, including five who took part in the river crossing, had received the Netherlands’ highest honor for bravery for liberating Nijmegen — a remarkably high number, he said, given the town’s small size.
“When we commemorate the crossing later this month,” said Hubert Bruls, Nijmegen’s mayor, “it is not just about war, but remembering what the 70 years afterward brought us.”“When we commemorate the crossing later this month,” said Hubert Bruls, Nijmegen’s mayor, “it is not just about war, but remembering what the 70 years afterward brought us.”
The crossing will be commemorated with a re-enactment by current members of the 82nd Airborne Division, using foldable boats and paddles or rifle butts — not engines — to get across the mighty arm of the Rhine. At least one original member of the 82nd Airborne, Maj. T. Moffatt Burriss, 94, who was portrayed by Robert Redford in the 1977 film “A Bridge Too Far,” is scheduled to take part in the day’s events. The crossing will be commemorated with a re-enactment by current members of the 82nd Airborne Division, using foldable boats and paddles or rifle butts — not engines — to get across the mighty arm of the Rhine. At least one original member of the 82nd Airborne, Maj. T. Moffatt Burriss, 94, is scheduled to take part in the day’s events.
On the other 364 evenings of the year, the 48 fallen soldiers are honored by 48 street lamps spanning the bridge that light up in slow succession at dusk, roughly at the speed it would take a pedestrian to cross the bridge, said the bridge’s designer, Chris Poulissen.On the other 364 evenings of the year, the 48 fallen soldiers are honored by 48 street lamps spanning the bridge that light up in slow succession at dusk, roughly at the speed it would take a pedestrian to cross the bridge, said the bridge’s designer, Chris Poulissen.
“Every day at sunset, we will remember the Americans that were killed for the liberation of our country,” said Paul Depla, a former city alderman instrumental in securing funding for the bridge and ensuring its sophisticated design.“Every day at sunset, we will remember the Americans that were killed for the liberation of our country,” said Paul Depla, a former city alderman instrumental in securing funding for the bridge and ensuring its sophisticated design.
The daring mission that is commemorated nightly was a tiny part of Operation Market Garden, in which about 30,000 Allied soldiers tried — but failed — to secure a number of bridges behind enemy lines in the Netherlands on a road leading into Germany. At the time, it was the largest airdrop operation on the books. Nijmegen was a little town on the road toward Arnhem, the mission’s ultimate destination.The daring mission that is commemorated nightly was a tiny part of Operation Market Garden, in which about 30,000 Allied soldiers tried — but failed — to secure a number of bridges behind enemy lines in the Netherlands on a road leading into Germany. At the time, it was the largest airdrop operation on the books. Nijmegen was a little town on the road toward Arnhem, the mission’s ultimate destination.
With a span of more than 1,900 feet and nearly a mile long, the bridge in Nijmegen is both one of the largest single-span river bridges in Europe and one of the biggest memorials to liberation on the Continent.With a span of more than 1,900 feet and nearly a mile long, the bridge in Nijmegen is both one of the largest single-span river bridges in Europe and one of the biggest memorials to liberation on the Continent.
“Whether you like it or not, the bridge will always be an icon of the city,” said Mr. Depla, who is now mayor of Heerlen, about 85 miles south of Nijmegen. “People will remember the city of Nijmegen because of the bridge.”“Whether you like it or not, the bridge will always be an icon of the city,” said Mr. Depla, who is now mayor of Heerlen, about 85 miles south of Nijmegen. “People will remember the city of Nijmegen because of the bridge.”
The operation that saved Nijmegen is remembered here in other ways as well. A monument was built at the northern end of the crossing in 1984, and a primary school has since adopted the memorial and changed its own name to “the crossing” as well.The operation that saved Nijmegen is remembered here in other ways as well. A monument was built at the northern end of the crossing in 1984, and a primary school has since adopted the memorial and changed its own name to “the crossing” as well.
Last year, Dorine Steenbergen, a local journalist, went to the United States to find the families of the 48 fallen soldiers. The resulting book, “The Crossing: A Dutch Tribute to 48 American War Heroes,” is on display at local bookstores.Last year, Dorine Steenbergen, a local journalist, went to the United States to find the families of the 48 fallen soldiers. The resulting book, “The Crossing: A Dutch Tribute to 48 American War Heroes,” is on display at local bookstores.
Despite the prominence of the bridge, memory is an elusive thing, and history recedes, even for a tiny town so intimately tied to the grand events that shaped modern Europe. While the bridge was meant as a memorial, it was also built to ease the growth of Nijmegen, and its connection to Germany bears witness to its utility as well as to the ever-entwined fates of the once-warring countries.Despite the prominence of the bridge, memory is an elusive thing, and history recedes, even for a tiny town so intimately tied to the grand events that shaped modern Europe. While the bridge was meant as a memorial, it was also built to ease the growth of Nijmegen, and its connection to Germany bears witness to its utility as well as to the ever-entwined fates of the once-warring countries.
A number of residents asked about De Oversteek bridge said they were unaware of the bridge’s memorial function, or of the subtle light display that has been happening nightly since the bridge opened late last year.A number of residents asked about De Oversteek bridge said they were unaware of the bridge’s memorial function, or of the subtle light display that has been happening nightly since the bridge opened late last year.
“I’ve only driven the bridge by car,” said Joey Ijsveld, 23, an event manager. Though Mr. Ijsveld knew about the original monument from a school project, he said his understanding of what exactly happened in and around his town was limited.“I’ve only driven the bridge by car,” said Joey Ijsveld, 23, an event manager. Though Mr. Ijsveld knew about the original monument from a school project, he said his understanding of what exactly happened in and around his town was limited.
Still, Peter de Haan, the head of an effort to build a World War II museum celebrating the country’s liberation, said, “There is a real and growing interest in the Second World War.”Still, Peter de Haan, the head of an effort to build a World War II museum celebrating the country’s liberation, said, “There is a real and growing interest in the Second World War.”
Like other local historians, Mr. de Haan noticed a clear growth in museum visits and international tourists to the region. He attributes the rise to Hollywood’s continued focus on the genre, and to the fact that those who experienced the war are no longer around to answer questions.Like other local historians, Mr. de Haan noticed a clear growth in museum visits and international tourists to the region. He attributes the rise to Hollywood’s continued focus on the genre, and to the fact that those who experienced the war are no longer around to answer questions.
“We are currently in a transition period between memory and history,” he said.“We are currently in a transition period between memory and history,” he said.
The war museum is to be built in a semi-abandoned factory at the southern base of the bridge. “The DNA of the spot is so World War II — that is a huge advantage,” Mr. de Haan said.The war museum is to be built in a semi-abandoned factory at the southern base of the bridge. “The DNA of the spot is so World War II — that is a huge advantage,” Mr. de Haan said.
Mr. de Haan said that the modern, experience-based historical museum, set to open in 2017, would attract upward of 225,000 visitors a year by the crossing’s 75th anniversary.Mr. de Haan said that the modern, experience-based historical museum, set to open in 2017, would attract upward of 225,000 visitors a year by the crossing’s 75th anniversary.
Mr. Meijer, who survived the occupation as a young boy, said it was most important to explain to young people what Nijmegen was like during the war. “We have to remember sacrifices of allied soldiers who came into a country that was occupied and was too weak to liberate itself,” he said.Mr. Meijer, who survived the occupation as a young boy, said it was most important to explain to young people what Nijmegen was like during the war. “We have to remember sacrifices of allied soldiers who came into a country that was occupied and was too weak to liberate itself,” he said.