In Gennep, Limburg there are several sights that commemorate the Second World War. In these walks, which are part of the Liberation Route Europe, we highlight some of the monuments you pass during the hike.
The Martinus tower:
The Martinus Tower is a striking reminder of the devastation that hit Gennep and all of northern Limburg at the end of the war. The tower offers a good view of the battlefields of Operation Market Garden (September 1944) and Operation Veritable (February 1945), also known as the Battle of the Reichswald. Near the entrance to the Martinus Tower is the Liberation Route Audio Spot: Sinterklaas on MariaOord. Download here for the free Liberation Route Europe app.
The Ellen Hoffmann Square:
The Ellen Hoffmannplein is a 600-square-metre mosaic square in the centre of Gennep, named after Ellen Hoffmann, a Jewish Gennep citizen who perished during World War II.
Highlander Bridge:
The Audio Spot at the Highlander bridge is a place where visitors can listen to stories about the bridge and the fighting that took place there during World War II.
War memorial "And they were gone":
The Holocaust memorial "And they were gone" is a memorial to the 22 Jewish people of Genneper. Designed by Gennep artist Mirso Bajramovic, the monument was inspired by film footage unique to the Netherlands. Several plaques with the names of the fallen Gennep citizens, the murdered Jewish fellow citizens and the fallen British liberators are attached to the wall of the Vrijheidsplein (Freedom Square).
War memorial "The Good Samaritan":
The bronze war memorial the Good Samaritan depicts a male figure on the back of a horse with a wounded warrior. The artist Jac Maris created the statue in 1953. He did not want to depict the suffering of the victims, as the relatives would then be constantly reminded of their suffering. Maris sees the Good Samaritan as a tribute to the sacrifice of the victims. Only the images in the pedestal recall what happened.