The Final Push: Holland, 27 March-12 April 2015

[Hanno Spoelstra]

1st stage: Groesbeek

Friday March 27th 2015:
Start building the bivouac and infrastructure in Groesbeek. Arrival of vehicles/participants at the bivouac around estate “Den Heuvel” (dropzone for the 82nd Airborne Division during Operation Market Garden, September 1944!) Maybe some vehicles around the National Bevrijdingsmuseum in Groesbeek during the afternoon.

Saturday March 28th 2015:
TFP Breakfast
Continue arrival of vehicles/participants at the bivouac around the National Bevrijdingsmuseum and estate “Den Heuvel” in Groesbeek. From 12.00 hrs. lunch and then the convoy will depart for the Commemoration at Groesbeek War Cemetary.
Tour through Groesbeek, static show at Town Hall and a Liberty concert ft. Double2 (Andrew Sisters). Coffee and donut served by ARC truck. Participants receive a hot meal served by ARC truck in the bivouac.

Sunday March 29th 2015 (Summertime starts!):
TFP Breakfast.
End of bivouac and departing of vehicles to IJzerlo (municipality Aalten) for the next bivouac, route will take place through Kranenburg, Kleve and Rhine crossing. Wreath laying at The Reichswald War Cemetery with music and speeches. Commemoration activities on the Rhine at the bridge of Rees, with DUKW’s. If the weather is ok a flypast from warbirds of KLU
Stichting Historische Vlucht.
A hot lunch will be served. A request for further crossing of Germany has been directed to the Landrat Kreis Kleve/Borken and is in a final state. Continue through Isselburg, Anholt to Dinxperlo.
Between Rees and Isselburg (Dropzone Operation Varsity) a paradropping from a WW2 DC3 is planned. Festive entry of Dinxperlo. Commemoration and speech from the Mayor at a monument.

Route Groesbeek - IJzerlo

[Hanno Spoelstra]

2nd stage: IJzerlo

Monday March 30th 2015:
TFP Breakfast.
Resting day and the visit of schoolchildren to the bivouac. Hot meal from ARC truck and Fieldkitchen. Evening program being a Liberty Concert and parade at Bredevoort. City of Apeldoorn Pipes & Drums will perform including the local Harmony. Arriving in Bredevoort through Aalten, laying of flowers with a small delegation at the monument in Ijzerlo and the Jewish Synagoge in Aalten.

Tuesday March 31st 2015:
TFP Breakfast.
Liberation tours & commemorations / wreath laying.
Commemoration Barlo at the monument Nijhofsweg. Commemoration at monument in ’t Woold.
The Mayor will speech to invited guests including schoolchildren. Eyewitness will tell their story about the tankbattle . A stop and static show including lunch on the Market Square in Winterswijk.
Continuing with commemorations in Lichtenvoorde with speech of Mayor. Commemoration at the monument Rademakersbroek in Varsseveld. Schoolchildren will tell a story about the Bark together with Wim Lammers.

Wednesday April 1st 2015:
TFP Breakfast.
Liberation tours & commemorations. Festive entering the centre of Ulft by schoolchildren and Harmony bands. Visiting a WW2 exposition in old factory DRU. Large international commemoration in ‘s Heerenberg with music and hot lunch. The RCL will attend. An attempt will be made to have 4 Sherman tanks entering the town up front like happened in WW2.(foto monument) Another large international commemoration in Doetinchem. Commemoration at the Sherman tank (Canada Park) and monument at the Town hall. Coffee or Thee available in tent Canada Park. RCL will attend.
The city will be liberated again by crossing a Bailey / folding bridge across the Oude IJssel, in cooperation with de Dutch Army. Inviting notables and schoolchildren. With good weather plane movements above the convoy by KLu Stichting Historische Vlucht.

Thursday April 2nd 2015:
TFP Breakfast.
Bivouac end and long liberation tour to Delden following the line Zelhem, Ruurlo, Barchem, Lochem, Gelselaar, Diepenheim to Delden (nice sandy tracks). Commemoration at Ruurlo.
All tracks are allowed to cross a meadow in front of ‘Het Witte Hoes’ like in WW2 happened. Road block... Wreath laying at Somerset monument in Lochem, coffee from an ARC truck.
Changing the guard will be done by class 7 students.
A stop in Gelselaar for a commemoration with schoolchildren, a hot meal WW2 style for the participants. The village will be closed for all other traffic.
Finishing the large bivouac at Delden. Arrival of participants from Ijzerlo. Probably hot meal in ARC Canteen.

Route IJzerlo - Delden

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

1st stage: Groesbeek

Have all the WW2 maps for this area - maybe should make and effort to get there - most maps have the defence overlay too which show known German positions.

Tim

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Tim Bell

Have all the WW2 maps for this area - maybe should make and effort to get there - most maps have the defence overlay too which show known German positions.

Tim,

I have the updated routes through Germany for which the organisers have all the necessary permits. Will send them to you.

Would be great to see you here again!

Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Tim Bell

Have all the WW2 maps for this area - maybe should make and effort to get there - most maps have the defence overlay too which show known German positions.

Tim,

The updated route for the Groesbeek to IJzerlo stage was uploaded to the website; see updated post #5 above.

HTH,
Hanno

[Stefan Leegwater]

Hi hanno.

We'll be there around the eastern weekend from friday till monday with the "FAT combination".
Do you bring your truck?

Meet you there!

Stefan

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Stefan,

Yes, I will be there with the F15A over the Easter weekend, too!

Regards,
Hanno

[Stefan Leegwater]

That's great Hanno.

We look forward to this nice event.

See you there!

Stefan

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Saturday March 28th 2015:
TFP Breakfast
Continue arrival of vehicles/participants at the bivouac around the National Bevrijdingsmuseum and estate “Den Heuvel” in Groesbeek. From 12.00 hrs. lunch and then the convoy will depart for the Commemoration at Groesbeek War Cemetary.
Tour through Groesbeek, static show at Town Hall and a Liberty concert ft. Double2 (Andrew Sisters). Coffee and donut served by ARC truck. Participants receive a hot meal served by ARC truck in the bivouac.

Yesterday the first day and convoy of The Final Push! I was not there personally, but I have attached some pictures of one of the participants.

I won't be joining the fun till next week, in the meantime I will updtae this thread if and when information becomes available.
Here's a link to a local broadcasting station with a 2 min. video: http://www.omroepgelderland.nl/web/n...m#.VRfoj_mUf-Z

Hanno

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[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Saturday April 4th 2015:
TFP Breakfast.
“Delden back to Then” (April 1945) starts. Liberation tour Delden – Zenderen – Hertme – Borne – Delden Centrum – Delden Twickel. Festive entry through Azelo, commemoration at the monument Vloedbelt, wrath laying in Hertme and lunch. Large march-past through Borne, including Poppy dropping by WW2 Recon planes (only by good weather).Festivities and speech by Mayor.
Visit to the bivouac open for public. Shows of Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten / Dames en Heren van Toen / Prinses Irene Brigade(?) / Canadian re-enacters. A steam train shuttles between Hengelo and Delden (maybe Goor also)back and forth. Grand party night at ‘t Hoogspel with Big band music (De Zendmasters). Dress contest for Ladies and Gentlemen in uniform and civil WW2 clothing.

Alex reported the number of Commonwealth vehicles taking part is limited, mainly because in Holland they are outnumbered by American-built vehicles.

But I can tell you the organizers made all the participants well ware of the historical setting in which this tour is taking place. A 63(!) coulor printed page road book has been put together, with historical background and bits 'n bobs on all the places being visited.

Many of the towns being visited have done their best to commemorate their liberation 70 years on. Delden for example has adopted a "back to then" theme, putting the tour into a historical setting as much as possible.

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[Hanno Spoelstra]

As I didn't have the time to fix my F15A, so the plan changed to me driving the Royal Netherlands Army Chevrolet CGT Field Artillery Tractor. It will not be pulling the limber plus 25-pdr gun, as it is a live gun and there are serious restrictions on weapons during this commemoration.

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To be continued!

[Alex van de Wetering]

Attached are some of the pictures I took in Groesbeek, yesterday. The first two were taken at the Camp site....the always impressive Sexton, restored by an MLU member and the very rare Dodge WC60.

The other pictures were taken in the centre of Groesbeek....a nice selection of vehicles, with some US heavies.

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

The amount of Commonwealth vehicles was somewhat disappointing, but I have good hope next weekend will be different! It's Easter, which means a lot of people have a few days off. I know for a fact that at least three forum members will be bringing some Commonwealth vehicles to the event next weekend.

[Stefan Leegwater]

Hey Hanno!

Then that will make two CGT's !!

Till next weekend.

Mvg

Stefan

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Sunday March 29th 2015 (Summertime starts!):
End of bivouac and departing of vehicles to IJzerlo (municipality Aalten) for the next bivouac, route will take place through Kranenburg, Kleve and Rhine crossing. Wreath laying at The Reichswald War Cemetery with music and speeches. Commemoration activities on the Rhine at the bridge of Rees, with DUKW’s.

Just received these pictures: on the road to Kleve.
It looks like the weather was somewhat the same as 70 years go.....

H.

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[wim sikkelbein]

This afternoon in Doetinchem, the crossing of the oude ijssel river.

[Gordon Yeo]

Thank you to everyone who have posted pictures of these tours. It is very interesting for us to see. A great tribute to the troops of Hollands Liberation.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Just got this huge list of videos on YouTube - have not even seen them all myself yet.

28 MAART
Groesbeek kamp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPN4IS964KA
Onthulling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFHw7Z51JWM
Zingende dames 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfE2d8QwncI
Zingende dames 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMx3Iu6GZdw

28 MAART
Groesbeek, deel 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc5YY_-i88M
Deel 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KOkSyAk32s
Deel 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCDmMcB6nZY

28 MAART
Vertrek Groesbeek 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIg3Eg0ZDn8

29 MAART
Groesbeek start https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS--0hv1k6o

29 MAART
Kleve https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McUPH20yXZk

29 MAART
Reichswald https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIW6xw03-dg

29 MAART
Rijnbrug Rees, deel 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQINVBxOyNk
Deel 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HafewSWHUUg
Deel 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmMA7OWbzw4
Deel 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eODdfcHvZGA

29 MAART
Dinxperlo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF_XYwKj0a8
Dinxperlo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBmd7XlaG6w
Dinxperlo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtnXbkUOTpk

29 MAART
Aalten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uif5h8lWnzw
Aalten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTVfiJCOc1k

29 MAART
IJzerlo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkyxI3JZsds

31 MAART
’t Woold, Winterswijk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbgW_YOoWlk

31 MAART
Winterswijk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8tdw-I_uB8

31 MAART ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjemGaCjE5U

1 APRIL
College Wesenthorst https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CRFU17MpiQ

1 APRIL
Gelderland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-D11XaSWcU

1 APRIL
Ulft https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvUhW8zMEfs
Ulft https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n_HJ0fiW58

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Today, at the Ganzenmarkt (market square) of Oldenzaal. The Royal Netherlands' Army CGT is my truck for the event.

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City of Oldenzaal is swamped by 150 vehicles, thousands of people were lining the streets when we drove in.

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[Robert Bergeron]

Hanno,

Fantastic pictures and video posts. Absolutely fantastic.

What a sight !

Robert