Today's Itinerary and Activities
Day 5: July 10
In the morning we departed Zeeland Province headed east for Nijmegen. We stopped at the Bergen-op-Zoom Cemetery on the way to visit Private Henry Bowering and Private James Bonar. We also visited the British and American airborne battlefields near Arnhem to consider Allied and German decisions and dramatic actions in September 1944 that shape the last year of the war in Europe. During our visit to the Market Garden Museum in Oosterbeek we were also able to use their extensive presentation on civilians in war to consider the impact on Dutch people and property.
In the morning we departed Zeeland Province headed east for Nijmegen. We stopped at the Bergen-op-Zoom Cemetery on the way to visit Private Henry Bowering and Private James Bonar. We also visited the British and American airborne battlefields near Arnhem to consider Allied and German decisions and dramatic actions in September 1944 that shape the last year of the war in Europe. During our visit to the Market Garden Museum in Oosterbeek we were also able to use their extensive presentation on civilians in war to consider the impact on Dutch people and property.
What do you do when you can't go home?We visited soldiers of the Polish army, would not have been allowed to return home after the war. These soldiers buried here had no one to care for them, and those who survived the war could not have been buried in their home communities as they would have been viewed as traitors. They fought with and for the Allies, who took on the care of their graves.
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Student voiceOne of our student participants liked that the Polish gravestones were crosses, felt that they were more symbolic. She also liked the darkened letters because they are easier to read. She wished that these graves had an inscription, and we talked about how these soldiers' families would not have been able to send one.
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Our task for today
Geography defines the battlefield. Why is Arnhem geographically significant? In the spring there is a huge flood plain to the south, with high ground to the North. This forms what amounts to a big moat, with access by bridges. Today we considered Operation Market Garden.
We are reminded to approach the excercise from the perspective at the time, not as a knower. In that context, it looks like November of 1918, based on our previous experience.
What will we do? There is a common interpretation of Market Garden as stupid and poor decision-making.
Where we are |
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Civic perspective |
Classroom questions |
The soldiers who fought in the Second World War grew up during the Depression, and lived through some of the worst imaginable conditions both at home and overseas. They brought home the drive to build social infrastructure at home: service clubs, social services and community centres.
Service clubs in Canada are dying. Our relationships with our communities has changed - is this worth examining? |
What makes it moral if you win but immoral if you lose?
What do you think a solider will bring home? What are the intended and unintended consequences of what soldiers bring home? What is a citizen's obligation to his or her country? |