Liberation Route Audio spot - Nightmare in Montfort
In Montfort, alongside the Liberation cycling route Roerdalen - Roermond - Maasgouw, you can listen to the story of the Nightmare in Montfort.The battle for the Ruhr Triangle erupted in mid-January 1945. After several fierce battles, German troops entrenched themselves in the village of Montfort. Days of shelling and bombing resulted. Civilians and many dozens of evacuees sit anxiously in the shelters for days. Then British Cromwell tanks drive into the village....
Audio spot - Russian slave labourers executed
In Herkenbosch, you can listen to the story of how Russian forced labourers were executed in cold blood. In October 1944, many Eastern European and Russian prisoners of war and forced labourers were deployed in the Ruhr region to dig German defences to extend the German Westwall. One morning in late September, thousands of poorly dressed forced labourers arrived at Herkenbosch station. In the weeks that follow, a drama unfolds that will remain deeply engraved in the villagers' collective memory.
Audio spot Herkenbosch - Help for escaped prisoners of war
In Herkenbosch, you can listen to the story of how escaped prisoners of war received help.
A group in Herkenbosch set up -from the arrival of the first fleeing prisoners of war from Germany in 1941- a line to channel this continuing stream of refugees away to safe territory. Risking their lives, they help the refugees get clothes, food and places to sleep. Eventually, over 250 POWs and other refugees managed to escape through this network during the war.
Monument Children of Spik and Maalbroek
The monument tells and commemorates the post-war tragedies that took place here.
Liberation Route Audio spot - Raids and betrayal
In Roermond, you can listen to the story of going into hiding and the subsequent raids and betrayals. Christmas 1944. Part of South Limburg is liberated. Roermond has become a front city. The city is largely evacuated. Residents have mostly been evacuated and the male inhabitants, those who should be able to work in Germany, have gone into hiding in cellars and other hiding places. But raids and betrayal are constantly lurking....
Commemorative fountain Women of Roermond
The Commemorative Fountain Women of Roermond as presented by the Roermond men to the women of Roermond in memory of their bravery during the Second World War.
Audio spot - the cathedral tower is blown up!
In Roermond, you can listen to the story about the blown up tower of the cathedral. During WW2, the city of Roermond suffered greatly under the German occupation and the efforts of the Allies to liberate it. At the beginning of 1945, almost all civilians are evacuated. On February the 28th, the occupiers blow up the cathedral tower in an almost deserted town. Although nearby, a Jewish girl is hiding under the floor of a bakery...
Riley's Gully
On 23 January 1945, commandos crossed the Vlootbeek and managed to create a bridgehead in this hollow road, named Riley's Gully (gully is English for gully) after their commander Peter Riley.
Liberation Route Audio spot - Unparalleled destruction
In Maasbracht, alongside the Liberation cycling route Roerdalen - Roermond - Maasgouw, you can listen to the story of the unparalleled destruction caused by bombing in the port of Maasbracht. It is the early morning of 30 September 1944. Yesterday, the German occupying forces ordered the boatmen in Maasbracht harbour to abandon their vessels as of today. It soon becomes clear why. German Sprengkommandos are going to systematically detonate all 240 ships in the harbour one by one....