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Poland in the Netherlands

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The 75th anniversary of the Operation Market Garden

31.10.2019

Starting from September 17, the Netherlands celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Operation Market Garden. A significant element of these events is commemorating the soldiers of the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade of General Sosabowski (1st SBS).

The 75th anniversary of the Operation Market Garden

Celebrations took place throughout the weekend in Arnhem, Ede and Driel. On Thursday September 19th the Ambassadors: Marcin Czepelak (PL), Pete Hoekstra (US) and Peter Wilson (UK) made a symbolic parachute jump in Groesbeek, as a tribute to the 10,000 soldiers who were dropped in this area in 1944.

On Friday, September 20th, a commemoration ceremony of the Battle of Arnhem took place in a vicinity of the famous John Frost Bridge. The Dutch side was represented by Princess Beatrix, Dutch Minister of Defense Ms Ank Bijleveld, Minister of Justice and Security Ferd Grapperhaus and Deputy President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans. Poland was represented by the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Poland Mr. Paweł Woźny, representatives of the army and a delegation from the Polish Embassy in The Hague. The celebration in Arnhem ended with a spectacular evening concert "Bridge to Liberation" with the participation of three Polish tenors "Tre Voci".

On Saturday, September 21th, impressive ceremonies were held in Ede and Driel to commemorate soldiers of the 1st SBS. Due to the jubilee character of this year's celebration, a special guest at both ceremonies was Prince Charles, the British heir to the throne.

Polish ambassador Marcin Czepelak together with the defense attache - Colonel Dariusz Poczekalwicz, laid a wreath at the monument commemorating Allied soldiers in Oosterbeek.

During the last day of celebrations, on September 22nd, 150 soldiers of "red berets" - from the 6th Airborne Brigade (6BPD) from Krakow and the Dutch 11th Aeromobile Brigade reconstructed the crossing of the Rhine near the place where soldiers of the 1st SBS in September 1944 made the crossing to the north bank of this river, trying to the save the British troops fighting at Oosterbeek. The reconstruction was witnessed by a huge Polish and Dutch audience, that also took part in the accompanying events, including the concert and the historical exhibition devoted to 1 SBS.

High rank representatives from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States as well as a few of the last veterans also participated in the celebrations.

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