The 75th Anniversary Commemoration Initiative: Help Liberation Route Europe Keep the Memory of World War II Alive

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 Promote over 300 remembrance and heritage sites in Europe Over 250,000 visitors to Liberation Route Europe s traveling exhibition since its launch in 2014 o Exhibitions such as this allow Americans now to access and learn more intimately the history of the Greatest Generation, gaining familiarity and respect for what happened in Europe 75 years ago. I am a supporter of the Liberation Route Europe because it brings memory to life. It does not consign history to a museum, but it makes it dynamic, it makes it something you can touch, hear and see [ ] There is no better way to learn history than to live through it. The Liberation Route Europe does exactly that. Martin Schulz, Former President of the European Parliament 3

PAYING TRIBUTE I think the Liberation Route Europe is a great way to honor us for what we did. The gratefulness of the people along the route touches me every single time; I have made friends for life. Thanks to the Liberation Route Europe people will be aware about the past. Kenneth Mayhew, 99, World War II Veteran, UK The 75th Anniversary Commemoration Initiative is a commitment to scale up Liberation Route Europe s efforts and presence in the United States and Europe in order to raise awareness and ensure that the stories of those who lived, fought and died during World War II are remembered and continue to be told. As we lose more of our treasured living veterans everyday, it becomes more important than ever to honor their sacrifice. As we mark 75 years since the end of World War II, we have the perfect opportunity to celebrate this significant milestone. We can renew our collective commitment to their legacy and sacrifice for peace. Together, we remember. 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 Europe 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 added 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 perseverance 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 certificate 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 accommodations, restaurants, events, commemorations, etc. The objective is to officially launch this trail during the 75th anniversary 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: 1. These commemorations mark an important turning point in the commemoration of World War II, as we are passing from memory to history. Therefore, while this is still possible, our message should be to remember and honor those who sacrificed their lives and to understand the cause. The freedom that we enjoy today should not be considered as eternally granted but rather defended and protected. 2. We aim to address the message of peace, freedom and reconciliation specifically to younger generations. Therefore, the link between the past, present and the future should be a core aspect of the campaign. 3. This remembrance campaign will aim to inspire a broad international audience to visit the numerous places of remembrance and museums in Europe. To experience and relive history and the impressive and moving personal stories across our remembrance trail is essential for the awareness and cannot be compared with reading about the events in 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 9

Budget 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. 10

3. 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 TOTAL COST: $27,000 $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 13

GET 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 14

Learn more at www.liberationroute.com Download the Liberation Route Europe app Connect on social media @liberationroute Powered by invests in This project is co-funded by the European Union