The 75th Anniversary Commemoration Initiative: Help Liberation Route Europe Keep the Memory of World War II Alive - WTM London
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The 75th Anniversary Commemoration Initiative:
Help Liberation Route Europe Keep the
Memory of World War II Alive
Dear Friend,
Seventy-three years ago, while most of the European continent was occupied and suffering
from totalitarianism, a whole generation of Americans were preparing themselves for an
unprecedented ordeal. From D-Day in June 1944 until the fall of Berlin in May 1945, they
would not rest before bringing back peace and freedom to Europe.
In 2008, the Liberation Route Europe initiative was launched in the Netherlands, with the
aim to pay a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for our peace and freedom, and
to keep their memory alive. It has since expanded to eight countries across Europe. It is
of the utmost importance that we do not forget them and that we pass on their stories.
At the heart of our efforts is a remembrance trail that connects the regions through
which Allied forces swept in 1944 and 1945. An important part of our work is that we tell
American stories in historical locations across the European landscape, and therefore
make this key part of history visible and accessible for European people but also for
people all over the world.
Our task is also to raise awareness and support in the United States and to reach out to an
American audience. As we strive every day to preserve the heritage of your nation overseas,
it is very important to involve you as much as possible in our efforts. This is even more
relevant as we approach the important remembrance years of 2019 and 2020, which mark
75 years since the end of World War II.
And so we are asking you to join our campaign preparing for that 75th anniversary
commemoration. With your partnership, we can expand the route and tell the stories of
even more men, women and children who experienced the final years of World War II.
Please join us on this journey, as we honor, remember and bear witness, together.
Victoria van Krieken
Director, Liberation Route Europe Foundation
1
Liberation Route Europe is a unique
transnational memorial.
It creates a way to experience history, to preserve heritage
and to remember, honor and share stories of the people who
fought to reinstate peace in Europe.
Connecting hundreds of heritage sites across Europe,
it examines the complex heritage of World War II from
multiple historical perspectives and promotes peace and
reconciliation. Liberation Route Europe keeps the memory of
World War II alive, because freedom can never be taken for
granted.
Liberation Route Europe’s uniqueness lies in the fact that it
makes history tangible. This holds particular poignancy for
the United States. Americans’ sacrifice took place overseas,
and so it is important for Liberation Route Europe and its
partner organizations to ensure that although these soldiers
died on foreign soil, they are not forgotten, and that their
stories continue to play a vital part in the collective narrative.
With partners throughout Europe and in the United States
and Canada, Liberation Route Europe is uniquely positioned to
initiate worldwide awareness marking the 75th anniversary
of the end of World War II.
2
WORLD WAR II BY THE
NUMBERS
• More than 60 million people died over a 6 year period
• 16 million Americans served in World War II
• Of over 400,000 American military deaths, ¾
occurred in the European theater of war
• More people died during World War II than any
other war/atrocity on record
• According to the US Department of Veterans
Affairs, there were 620,000 World War II Veterans
still alive in 2016. 372 pass away each day.
Liberation Route Europe: We Remember
• Work with over 150 partner organizations
• Active in 8 countries: United Kingdom, France,
Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, Poland,
Italy
“
• Partnerships in the US and Canada
I am a supporter of the Liberation
• Promote over 300 remembrance and heritage sites
Route Europe because it brings
in Europe
memory to life. It does not consign
• Over 250,000 visitors to Liberation Route Europe’s history to a museum, but it makes it
traveling exhibition since its launch in 2014
dynamic, it makes it something you
oExhibitions such as this allow Americans can touch, hear and see […] There is
now to access and learn more intimately the no better way to learn history than to
history of the Greatest Generation, gaining
live through it. The Liberation Route
familiarity and respect for what happened in
Europe 75 years ago.
Europe does exactly that.”
Martin Schulz, Former President of
the European Parliament
3
PAYING TRIBUTE
“
The 75th Anniversary Commemoration Initiative is a
I think the Liberation Route Europe is commitment to scale up Liberation Route Europe’s efforts
and presence in the United States and Europe in order to
a great way to honor us for what we
raise awareness and ensure that the stories of those who
did. The gratefulness of the people lived, fought and died during World War II are remembered
along the route touches me every and continue to be told.
single time; I have made friends for
life. Thanks to the Liberation Route As we lose more of our treasured living veterans everyday, it
Europe people will be aware about becomes more important than ever to honor their sacrifice.
As we mark 75 years since the end of World War II, we
the past.”
have the perfect opportunity to celebrate this significant
Kenneth Mayhew, 99, World War II milestone. We can renew our collective commitment to
their legacy and sacrifice for peace. Together, we remember.
Veteran, UK
Beginning in 2017 and continuing through 2020, the 75th
Anniversary Commemoration Initiative will be carried out
through three core projects:
1. Long-distance hiking trail
2. International awareness campaign
3. Expansion of the Liberation Route Europe
4
1. LIBERATION ROUTE
EUROPE HIKING TRAIL
The Liberation Route Europe hiking trail is a unique chance to
literally follow the footsteps of those who fought to liberate Eu-
rope in 1944-1945.
This long-distance trail will connect World War II remembrance
sites from London to Berlin via the landing beaches of Normandy,
Paris, Belgium and the Netherlands. Branch routes will be add-
ed to explore regional histories, for example from the Belgian
Ardennes and the Hürtgenwald to the river Rhine. In total, the
entire trail will be over 2,000 miles long.
It is a modern day pilgrimage in celebration of peace, freedom,
reconciliation, and in remembrance of the sacrifice and perse-
verance that brought them about. It is a unique chance to pay a
tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
The hikers will be invited to travel the Liberation Route Europe
while collecting stamps in order to receive a completion certif-
icate upon arrival in Berlin. The trail can be done at one time or
over several years.
Many tools will be provided to hikers to facilitate their trip: guide
books, a dedicated website and a mobile application, guided tours
and so on. This will guarantee a safe hike, interesting historical
content about the places visited, the history as well as personal
stories, but also all the necessary travel information like accom-
modations, restaurants, events, commemorations, etc.
The objective is to officially launch this trail during the 75th anni-
versary of the end of World War II in 2019-2020.
5
To achieve this objective, funds are needed to
execute the following activities:
• Build and organize the necessary network of stakeholders to involve:
hiking associations, tourism boards, local and regional authorities,
historians, travel trade operators and so on
• Define the trail’s exact route by combining hiking infrastructure and
relevant WWII sites
• Research and make an inventory of the historical sites to visit along
the trail
• Research and make an inventory of the tourist facilities (points of
interest and accommodations) along the trail
• Create a historical/tourist database in 4 languages (English, French,
Dutch and German)
• Create the necessary online tools: a website and a mobile application
in 4 languages
• Create guide books for the whole trail in 4 languages
• Create a stamp and completion system (off and online)
• Develop and implement a communication and marketing campaign
• Create relevant offers and packages with travel trade partners
• Organize official launch event
6
Budget Needed
Project team $255,000
Advisory committee (hiking organizations and historians) $135,000
Trail routes $420,000
Website and app in 4 languages $185,000
Communication and promotion $295,000
Travel guides in 4 languages $420,000
Stamp and completion system (off and online) $20,000
TOTAL COST $1,730,000
7
2. INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
To Honor, Remember and Reflect
2019 and 2020 are important years to work towards for the Liberation Route Europe. Numerous commemorations and
related events will take place in the different countries involved to remember 75 years since the end of World War II.
Our ambition is to coordinate and organize an international communication and information campaign of the
commemorations and events which will take place in 2019-2020.
We strongly believe that the 75th anniversary should have, first of all, an international dimension, as the liberation
encompasses more that national histories but rather universal values which are at the basis of the European construction
and international cooperation. Therefore, these commemorations should have a strong international focus.
The campaign will have three core elements:
3. This remembrance campaign
1. These commemorations mark
will aim to inspire a broad
an important turning point in the international audience to
commemoration of World War II,
2. We aim to address the visit the numerous places of
as we are passing from memory
message of peace, freedom and remembrance and museums
to history. Therefore, while this is
reconciliation specifically to in Europe. To experience and
still possible, our message should
younger generations. Therefore, relive history and the impressive
be to remember and honor those
the link between the past, and moving personal stories
who sacrificed their lives and to
present and the future should be across our remembrance trail
understand the cause. The freedom
a core aspect of the campaign. is essential for the awareness
that we enjoy today should not be
and cannot be compared with
considered as eternally granted but reading about the events in
rather defended and protected. ’44-’45 in a history book.
8
To achieve this objective, funds are needed
to execute the following activities:
• Development of the campaign concept (content, core
messages, visuals etc.)
o Content development campaign
o Research use of historical content and sources
o Development of visuals
o Development of umbrella logo
o Development of the complete communication plan
• Create online and offline calendar of commemorations
• Develop a theme website
• Launch event of the international remembrance campaign
• Development education program for youngsters (with use of
online tools)
• Social media campaign specifically addressed to youngsters
• Spreading the message: offline and online communication
activities: TV, radio, internet, advertising
9Budget Needed
Development of the campaign concept $140,000
Create online and offline calendar of commemorations $25,000
Developing a theme website $50,000
Launching event international remembrance campaign $35,000
Social media campaign specifically addressed to youngsters $105,000
Spreading the message (offline and online communication
activities: TV, radio, internet, advertising) $1,600,000
TOTAL COST: $1,955,000*
*To promote the remembrance sites in the travel trade sector, the budget will be co-funded by several
European contributions from national tourist boards, commercial partners etc.
103. EXPANSION OF THE LIBERATION ROUTE EUROPE Adding historical content, personal stories and remembrance sites to visit The Liberation Route Europe is a unique way to connect the history, personal stories and remembrance sites in eight European countries. Our work to create this database of historical content is realized by historians from all these countries with the goal to have a multi-perspective approach. This means that we want to give nuanced and diverse explanations to our visitors about the same events from different perspectives, from different nationalities or from different type of actors (civilians, soldiers, members of the resistance, collaborators etc.). This database includes storylines, personal stories and points of interest (museums, cemeteries, memorials, fortifications etc.). The content should be the highest quality level, which is why we implement a thorough methodology, including peer reviews, to make sure that we provide excellent historical content. This content is currently translated in 5 languages (English, French, Dutch, German and Polish) and we aim to add a 6th language (Italian). Each one-year phase of content development entails up to 200 new items, involving a team of 6 to 8 historians, as well as editors and translators. When content is ready, the online team puts them at the disposal of the public via our website and mobile application so they can concretely be used prior or during visits on sites. 11
Budget Needed
Content development 2018 $211,000
Content development 2019 $211,000
Content development 2020 $211,000
Translation in Italian $27,000
TOTAL COST: $660,000
12“
There is no single truth when it comes to history.
It’s therefore very important to try to bring
together different perspectives. That’s what
Liberation Route Europe does concerning World
War II. It creates an overlap of all the stories.
That in itself merits a huge compliment.”
Sönke Neitzel, Professor of War Studies,
University of Potsdam, Germany
13GET INVOLVED
Join the 75th Anniversary Commemoration Initiative and help Liberation Route Europe keep
the memory of World War II alive.
Our friends and partners in Europe have already been involved in this mission for many
years. We invite you to join these shared efforts to honor our shared history.
Together, we remember.
In 2016, Liberation Route Europe proudly established an American Friends Fund through the
King Baudouin Foundation United States (KBFUS).
KFBUS is a public charity under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the IRC, enabling donors to
claim the maximum tax benefits allowed by US tax law for their contributions.
Gifts by credit card can be made online by visiting www.liberationroute.com/donate-usa
Gifts by check can be made out to KBFUS with “Liberation Route Europe Foundation” in
the memo section. Please send checks to KBFUS, 10 Rockefeller Plaza, 16th Floor, New York,
NY 10020
For donations by wire transfer or other types of gifts, please contact KBFUS by phone
212.713.7660 or email info@kbfus.org
Your support makes a difference.
Liberation Route Europe greatly appreciates your involvement. Our team would be happy to
find the best way to design a specific recognition program to thank you for your generosity.
For more information, please contact Rémi Praud, Deputy Director at
r.praud@liberationroute.com
14Learn more at www.liberationroute.com
Download the Liberation Route Europe app
Connect on social media @liberationroute
invests in
This project is
co-funded by
the European
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