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Then and Now pictures: IJMUIDEN Holland
I had a few days off work last week (after some very busy times) and decided to take some than and now pictures close to home.
Even though the area where we live hasn't seen any big ground battles, the area was the scene of a lot of activity in the air. Being close to Schiphol airport and IJmuiden docks and steel factory means these locations were targeted by bombers regularly. Below is a picture taken in May 1945, with the locals awaiting the Canadian Liberators. Location is "Rijksweg", Santpoort, just outside Haarlem. (the period picture was scanned from a book, but it's Original source is the Velsen city archives)
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IJmuiden is, and was, famous for it's steel factory "Hoogovens", later Corus, now Tata Steel) and dock facilities. Basically it's the entrance to Amsterdam, through the "Noordzee kanaal". IJmuiden was heavily fortified with Hundreds of Bunkers, radar, but also two large "Schnellboot" bunkers.....basically huge shelters for Schnellboote (One still exists today).
In early 1945 a unit of Seehund Midget subs was stationed in IJmuiden. In the beginning they operated in packs, but soon they moved to individual attacks on Allied ships. From what I have heard they were also used to bring supplies to encircled German forces in Belgium and Northern France. In May 1945 IJmuiden was liberated and the fortifications and captured midget subs attracted attention of several Allied commanders (even Chinese!). I Always wondered where the pic below, with General Foulkes was taken, but finding the location was actually pretty easy....location: "Steigerweg" IJmuiden. The smoke stack in the background was later taken down, but it used to be part of the power plant, a building which is used by the local Theater today. Alex All period pics are from the Canadian Archives, although I had to scan some from books as I couldn't find them online.
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After the Battle Press
Hi Alex
Interesting pictures, this would be an interesting way of teaching history to make it more relevant to young people, using historical pictures then modern photos from the same perspective. Years ago (1997) a friend brought back from the UK a copy of After the Battle Press D-Day Then and Now Volume-2 which is a wonderful collection of then and now photos. At the time I search for Volume-1 here in the States for a copy with no luck. Even tried to order it thorough US distributor without luck same outfit also handled Vanderveen's Wheels and Track Magazine and they seem to have problems at that time of keeping track of subscription or orders. Well anyway after reading your 1st post this morning I went online and found Volume-1 and ordered it. The picture of the Subs with the CMP parked beside them would be a good addition to the "In the background" thread. Cheers Phil
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Phil Waterman `41 C60L Pattern 12 `42 C60S Radio Pattern 13 `45 HUP http://canadianmilitarypattern.com/ New e-mail Philip@canadianmilitarypattern.com |
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Thank you so much for those photos, Alex.
There are some discussions going on just now on some other military history forums on the question "Is the interest in the History of WWII declining?". I gather that some forums have seen a decline in new membership, a loss of older members and fewer posts in the last years. The general consensus seems to be that the younger generations, more or less 40 years of age and less, have little interest in this period of history and in the US at least, little teaching of that era in the schools. Photos like yours can be shown to children or grandchildren, at least in areas like the Netherlands, and you can say, "This really happened and it happened right here". In the case of Americans, at least for areas where battles took place, we are sort of limited to Hawaii but on the other hand photos of battle areas in Europe and Asia where we mostly fought, one could say, "This really happened and your grandfather was right there where the photo was taken". I am doing a very small similar project for my kids and grandkids. I was born in China in 1940 in the Peking American Hospital and we lived in the Russian Legation Apartment #5. I have photos of the apartment from my Dad's archives and photos of the hospital today from the internet. I am now corresponding with both the hospital and the now Russian Confederation Embassy to see if I can get photos of the hospital in 1940 and the Legation Apartment today. A sort of micro, very personal, Then and Now for my family. I hope you can post more such photos here, they have a lot of value to the preservation of the history of the time. Bill
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Dog Robber Sends |
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Terry Warner - 74-????? M151A2 - 70-08876 M38A1 - 53-71233 M100CDN trailer Beware! The Green Disease walks among us! |
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Thank you
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Thank you for posting this new thread. I don't think history should ever be forgotten and as previously stated people over 40 don't appear to know much about WW2. The younger generation appear to know nothing of the Korean and Vietnam war either and those conflicts were not so long ago. The Now and Then Photos are all part of our past and present and show how we have all progressed after bad times. The IJmuiden docks and are not that far from the village of Hillegom where I was born during the WW2 and not far from the dunes in Zandvoort where the German Forces had all their fortified coastal bunkers. Some VI rockets were also fired from the dunes. It is difficult for British, Canadian or Americans people to know what it was like to live under occupation by a foreign power and the hardships suffered by the civilian population. After the war a book was written about our village under 5 years of occupation up to the time we were liberated by the Canadian Forces. Being a small child at the end of the war do not remember very much, but I remember much more post war damage caused right up to when my family immigrated to Australia. Returning back to Holland for the first time in 1975 I noted that nothing appeared familiar due to the growth and building in the area. So Alex Thank you for the Thread. We should never forget our past and look at the future with hope. You will note in the attached Photo "2" in the centre of the photo a young woman in a nurse outfit carrying a child with a hat. Well that is me... Cheers Tony
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Anthony (Tony) VAN RHODA. Strathalbyn. South Australia |
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Phil, Bill, Terry, Tony,
Thanks for your kind comments. I have Always been very driven to find the exact location of period pictures and taking the then and now shots, obviously inspired by After the Battle magazine. For me it brings history so much closer, which is basically what Phil wrote....these sort of pictures could make educating people so much more interesting. Tony....you were born in Hillegom? You do know that's where Hanno lives? And right around the corner from where I live (Hoofddorp). Fascinating. You must remember the brick factory(?). Indeed V1's were launched from Vogelenzang, close to Hillegom. Would you believe that they actually found a V1 in a field today!?....in the Eastern part of Holland though. I will try to add some more then and now shots soon. Alex
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Chevrolet C8 cab 11 FFW BSA Folding Bicycle Last edited by Alex van de Wetering; 02-02-14 at 00:27. |
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Yes mate I was born in Hillegom, in my grandmothers house, Meerdorpstraat 13. The house and those surrounding my grandmothers house were all knocked down some years ago, but I guess that's progress. It is a small world, my other grandfather on my fathers side worked at the Hoogovens Steel Factory. I know where Hooftdorp is and have driven there many times on visits to visit family in Holland. I only have an aunt left now, the one holding me in the photo. interesting that Hanno lives in Hillegom, it sure is a small world. I don't recall the brick factory, I was 7 years old when we immigrated. Keep the thread going Alex, we learn so much from our past which has been a passion of mine for years. I have a cousin in Spaarndam who does a lot of research for me. Cheers Tony
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Anthony (Tony) VAN RHODA. Strathalbyn. South Australia |
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Excellent research plus pictures, Alex!
Must do the same in my backyard, and make some then & now pictures of where Tony was born. H.
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Regards, Hanno -------------------------- |
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Here are three more then and now shots. I took the "today" pictures 45 minutes ago. Location is about 100 meters from my house! Marktplein/Kruisweg Hoofddorp Period pictures were taken 7 may 1945. source: www.beeldbank.noord-hollandsarchief.nl Alex
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Chevrolet C8 cab 11 FFW BSA Folding Bicycle Last edited by Alex van de Wetering; 02-02-14 at 17:42. |
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Here is another picture taken at Santpoort-Noord. We need to make a Then & Now picture soon! 4.2.1.10510.jpg "First Canadian soldiers entering Santpoort-Noord on 8 May 1945" Source: http://data.collectienederland.nl/ - there are more pics to be found there, make sure to check.
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Regards, Hanno -------------------------- |
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This is a fascinating thread to me, especially since I just returned from a trip in Europe walking in my relatives shoes that served in both ww1 and ww2. I found the Dutch people very friendly, and bumped into a local near the Arnhem bridge one day; I explained that my great uncle was an aide to General Foulkes and went through both Italy and Holland with him. His name is Jan Prins and he kindly offered to spend a day with me later in my trip and show me some less know ww2 sites that still exist around Arnhem. He provided lunch and gave me a great tour!
I found a map of Holland in my great uncles papers after he died that showed where 1 corps had gone through Holland with dates so I made a point of following the same route; which is why I was in Arnhem. The best part by far for me was the hotel de Hewald in Wageningen, the famous capitulation room. My great uncle talked about being in the room on May 5th when Blaskowitz surrendered to Foulkes on his death bed, and it was eerie to go into the bar and stand exactly where he was on May 5, 1945. The staff at the hotel were great when they found out why I was there and our lunch was discounted and our drinks were free; it was awesome to have a beer at the bar and toast uncle Mac! Anyway, a recent experience I had over there and I found the locals very friendly and knowledgeable about the Canadians that liberated them. |
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I know the feeling of walking in one's relatives shoes, and it is fantastic if local people can add to the sensation. Hanno
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Regards, Hanno -------------------------- |
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Hanno; yes it was a great trip and again your countrymen were extremely friendly. The only disappointing thing I had in that area was I came across a Canadian 1 corps metal roadside sign that came from near the bridge in a private collection; it was amazing to think that for sure my great uncle had driven by this sign. I tried to purchase it to add to put with his unform, helmet medals and paperwork I have but the owner would just not part with it.
Really amazing part of history in that area. |
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