Stories

War stories have to be told. Lest we forget. Read here the special stories of people who have experienced World War II, as a soldier or as a resident in occupied territory. Who were these heroes and what impact did the war have on them and on society in Venray and the surrounding area?

Are you for more experiences? Most stories are related to a sight or are part of a route. Experience the stories of the cycling route ‘On the other side’ with an augmented reality video on your smartphone while you take a break from your ride on one of the special benches or listen to the stories of Liberation Route Europe at the various audio spots (scan the QR code on the spot or visit the website of Liberation Route Europe).

Captain Timmermans

Captain Timmermans

Experience point 1 'On the other side' German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn
As a voluntary conscript, Lodewijk Johannes Timmermans is imprisoned for a short time after the capitulation in May 1940. When the occupying force calls on him to go into captivity...
lees het verhaal
George Renda en Aloysius Gonsowski

George Renda en Aloysius Gonsowski

Experience point 2 'On the other side' N270 Brabant and Limburg border
October 1944. Heavy fighting ravages Overloon. On the Kamphoefweg George Renda and Aloysius Gonsowski, two soldiers 1st class of the C Company of the 48th Armored Infantry Battalion of the...
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Karl Schipper

Karl Schipper

Experience point 3 'On the other side' between Dalland and Testrik in Merselo
Karl Schipper, born on 26 December 1921 in the former Schakenhof in East Prussia, voluntarily reports to the Wehrmacht at the end of 1939. He completes the basic training with...
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Harrie van Daal

Harrie van Daal

Experience point 4 'On the other side' War Museum Overloon
Visiting the battlefield in Ypres, Belgium, after the First World War has left Harrie van Daal, a civil servant of the former municipality of Overloon-Maashees who was born in 1908,...
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John Lincoln

John Lincoln

Experience point 5 'On the other side' Venrayseweg Overloon
The 20-year-old John Lincoln is platoon commander of the 1st battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. Being part of the British 3rd Division, he and his men hike on the Venrayseweg...
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David A. Brigden & Hans Wulff

David A. Brigden & Hans Wulff

Experience point 6 'On the other side' Ossendijk Ysselsteyn, border Merselo
On Hitler’s personal orders, the Luftwaffe attacks the allied airports in northern France, Belgium and the southern Netherlands on 1 January 1945. Taking part in this Operation Bodenplatte, Lieutenant Hans...
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The Battle of Overloon

The Battle of Overloon

Liberation Route Europe audio spot 117
One of the fiercest battles in the Netherlands during World War II takes place near Overloon. American and British armoured divisions are locked in battle with German tanks and troops....
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Refugee

Refugee

Liberation Route Europe audio spot 118
On September 27, 1944, because the Germans were expecting an Allied attack, they order the population of Overloon and the villages to the east to evacuate immediately. A stream of...
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Hattert Castle

Hattert Castle

Liberation Route Europe audio spot 119
Almost nothing remains of Hattert Castle. Between late September and mid-October 1944, an unprecedented tank battle takes place near it. First, an American armoured division engages the Germans. The weather...
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Stand firm at all cost

Stand firm at all cost

Liberation Route Europe audio spot 201
In the last week of November 1944, Geijsteren Castle was bombed severely for days on end by British troops. 60 German paratroopers were given orders to defend the castle, and...
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The Watchman over the Peel

The Watchman over the Peel

Liberation Route Europe Luisterplek 202
In early October 1944, fierce battles are raging around the villages of Overloon and Venray. The Germans are using the Venray church tower, the Watchman over the Peel, as a...
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Whether right or wrong, we are all human

Whether right or wrong, we are all human

Liberation Route Europe audio spot 203
How difficult is it for people to find reconciliation with an enemy? How many generations do you think it takes? One man, Lodewijk Johannes Timmermans, worked here at the cemetery...
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Download the unique app and experience the past

The free Venray Remembers app shows the past as you have never seen it before. Download the app, take the car or bicycle or go on foot and follow a beautiful route in De Peel. Follow the instructions in the app to project an augmented reality video at the indicated locations and become part of the story that happened there.

View the war past from a different perspective and through this unique app. A modern way to let young and old relive the past in a positive way. Let’s keep remembering!

More information

Download de Venray Remembers app

Download the unique app and experience the past

The free Venray Remembers app shows the past as you have never seen it before. Download the app, take the car or bicycle or go on foot and follow a beautiful route in De Peel. Follow the instructions in the app to project an augmented reality video at the indicated locations and become part of the story that happened there.

View the war past from a different perspective and through this unique app. A modern way to let young and old relive the past in a positive way. Let’s keep remembering!

More information

Download de Venray Remembers app