Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 01

Transcription

1 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 01 Haus der Wannsee-Konf erenz Am Grossen Wannsee 56-58, D Berlin House of the Wannsee Conference Haus der Wannsee- Konferenz is open daily, 10am- 6pm. Closed on Good Friday, 1 May, Ascension Day, 3 October,24-26 December, 31 December and 1 January. Admission is free except when some special exhibitions/events take place. Haus der Wannsee- Konferenz is located just on the south western outskirts of Berlin, Germany. The nearest S- Bahn station is Wannsee (lines S1, S7), from which you take bus 114 to the site s dedicated stop. Or, from Station Zoologischer Garten, take the Regional Express train to Wannsee station then bus 114. Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz was the site of the infamous Wannsee Conference in which the Naz is planned how to carry out the Final Solution, the plan to murder the Jewish population of Eastern Europe. On 20 January 1942, fifteen senior members of the Naz i government and of the SS met at Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz. Chaired by the head of the Reich Security Main Office Reinhard Heydrich,, this group of men determined the course of the genocide of the Jewish people in Europe which would come to be known as the Holocaust. Instigated by leader of the Naz is, Adolf Hitler, the Holocaust would see over six million Jews murdered as well as members of other minorities, homosexuals, handicapped people and anyone else considered by the Naz is to be racially inferior. Today, Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz provides a moving memorial to the Holocaust as well as an in-depth history of the rise of the Naz i party, the growth of anti- Semitism and the atrocities committed against the Jews.

2 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 01 Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen Concent rat ion Camp, St rasse der Nationen 22, Oranienburg KZ Sachsenhausen +49 (0) Mar 15 to Oct 14: daily 8:30-18:00 Oct 15 to Mar 14: daily 8:30-16:30. Entry to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp is free. Sachsenhausen is near Oranienburg around 35km from Berlin in traffic z one C. Private/group tours are available. The nearest station is Sachsenhausen (Nordb). The RB12 train from Berlin to this station runs only every hour followed by a 1km walk (right out of the station platform, right again along the footpath to Straße der Nationen, then turn left). Or, the more frequent S1 train runs from Berlin to Oranienburg, which is a 20 min. sign posted walk to the site. Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp (KZ- Sachsenhausen) was used by the Naz is between 1936 and Its primary function was for the imprisonment and execution - or extermination - of Jews and political dissidents, including many Dutch freedom fighters, Russian prisoners of war and even some political leaders from invaded countries. Its prime location near Berlin ensured that Sachsenhausen was an important camp and it served as a template for other concentration camps. Estimates put the number of Sachsenhausen casualties at between 30,000 and 35,000, many of whom were shot, hung or exterminated in a specially built room in its infirmary. Conditions in this concentration camp, as in others, were terrible, with many prisoners dying of starvation or disease. Those who enter Sachsenhausen can still see the chilling words Arbeit Macht Frei or Work will set you free emblaz oned on its iron gates. Much of Sachsenhausen was destroyed during and after its liberation by Soviet and Polish troops on 22 April 1945, but was rebuilt as part of the project to turn it into a memorial and museum. The reconstructed Sachsenhausen draws many visitors and guided tours are available. Overall, one can gain a detailed insight into life at Sachsenhausen and see, amongst other things, the crematory ovens, the surviving buildings, pictures, documents and scale models of the camp.

3 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 02 Reichst ag Reichst ag, Plat z der Republik, Tiergart en Berlin 11011, Germany Bundest ag +49 (0) The Reichstag s roof terrace and dome open daily, 8am- midnight (last entry 10pm). Talks and guided tours are held when Parliament is not sitting see the Bundestag site for details. English speaking talks only at noon on Tuesdays and must be booked well in advance (write to Deutscher Bundestag, Besucherdienst, Platz der Republik 1, Berlin/see contact details). Entry/all activities are free. The Reichstag is a short walk north of the Brandenburg Gate. U- Bahnhof Bundestag station is adjacent. The Reichstag Building started its life in 1894, when it served as the seat of the German Parliament, then known as the Reichstag. Designed by architect Paul Wallot during the reign of Emperor Wilhelm I, the Reichstag building contained several pioneering architectural elements, including a steel and glass copula which was the first of its kind. Wilhelm I was succeeded by Wilhelm II by the time the Reichstag was completed in 1894 and, despite this new leader s opposition to the institute of parliament, the Reichstag survived his reign and was the site where the politician Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed the institution of the German Weimar Republic in It served as such until 1933, when a fire tore through it, damaging it severely. However, it was the socio- political consequences of this latter event which would have the most lasting effects. The ruling National Socialist German Workers Party, the Naz is, blamed the fire on communist Marinus van der Lubbe and used the incident as an excuse to carry out a purge of any perceived traitors as well as banning the Communist Party altogether. The Reichstag was heavily bombed during the Second World War and emerged as a ruin, the effects of which were exacerbated by its neglect during the Cold War. Whilst parts of the original Reichstag building, including its famous copula, were destroyed, it once again took centre stage in world politics on 3 October 1990, when it was the venue of the German Reunification Ceremony. Reconstruction of the Reichstag followed and was completed in April It now houses the current German parliament, the Bundestag, and also acts as one of Germany s most popular tourist attractions. Guided tours are available, but must be booked in writing well in advance.

4 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 02 T he Berlin Flak Tower Brunnenstraße 105, Berlin Humboldt hain Flak Tower +49 (30) The Berlin Flak Tower is only open April- October. English tours take place Thursdays at 1pm and Sundays at 4pm. The cost is 9 full, 7 reduced. Tours in other languages available check the website for times. Tickets must be bought in advance from the main office of the Berlin Underground Association (Brunnenstraße 105, Berlin) and tours depart from the south entrance of the U8 Underground Railway station Gesundbrunnen. The Berlin Flak Tower is located in Humboldthain Park, Berlin. The nearest U-Bahn Station is Gesundbrunnen on line 8 (exit to Humboldthain Park). S-Bahn lines S1, S2, S25, S41 and S42 go to nearby Gesundbrunnen Station. The Berlin Flak Tower in Humboldthain Park is a seven storey bunker originally built under Hitler s orders to protect Berlin from aerial attacks during the Second World War. In fact, in 1940, Hitler planned to build six such flak towers. Three flak towers were constructed and, after the war, the only Berlin Flak Tower to survive was the Humboldthain tower. The rest were destroyed and even the surviving Berlin Flak Tower has suffered severe damage. During World War II the lower floors of the Berlin Flak Tower were also used as a bomb shelter for thousands of the city s population. Only two floors are currently open to the public and 90 minute tours are provided by the Berlin Underground Association. If you go, ensure to wear comfortable shoes and plenty of layers as it can get quite cold (even in summer). Visitors must be at least 14 years of age and under 18 s must be accompanied by an adult.

5 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 02 German Resist ance Memorial Cent re St auf f enbergst raße 13-14, D Berlin-Mit t e, Germany Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand The German Resistance Memorial Centre is open weekdays, 9am- 6pm (8pm on Thursdays), weekends and holidays, 10am- 6pm. Closed Dec and 31 Dec-1 Jan. Entry, audio tours and guided tours are free. The German Resistance Memorial Centre is located in southwest Berlin in Germany. Buses M29 (to Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand), M48 (to Kulturforum plus a 5min. walk) stop nearby. The nearest stations are U- Bahn Kurfürstenstrasse on line U1 (10 min. walk) and S-Bahn and U-Bahn station Potsdamer Platz on lines S1, S2, S25 and U2. The German Resistance Memorial Centre or Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand in Berlin in Germany is a monument and museum to those who fought against the National Socialist government led by Adolf Hitler the Naz is before and during World War II. In particular, it commemorates the attempted assassination of Hitler and subsequent attempted coup led by Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg on 20 July 1944, the so- called July 20 Plot. The July 20 Plot Together with a group of civilians and military personnel led by General Friedrich Olbricht, Stauffenberg developed a plot to assassinate Hitler. On 20 July 1944, he successfully detonated the bomb at Hitler s headquarters, known as the Wolf s Lair. At first, Stauffenberg was convinced the plan had worked and went on to try and achieve a coup in Berlin, desperately trying to convince others that the Fuhrer was dead. However Hitler had actually survived and, by the end of the day, Stauffenberg and most of his counterparts were arrested as news of this filtered through. This event was made into the 2008 film Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise. The Ce ntre The German Resistance Memorial Centre is located in the former Bendler Block in Berlin s Mitte district, once the diplomatic quarter. As the headquarters of the Army High Command under Naz i rule, this was both the site where the July 20 Plot was planned and where its members were executed by firing squad. Today, the German Resistance Memorial is located on a street formerly called Bendlerstrasse and now renamed Stauffenbergstrasse. The courtyard of the German Resistance Memorial Centre, where the executions took place, has a memorial statue. This bronz e statue depicts a man with bound hands. The German Resistance Memorial Centre Museum explores not only the July 20 Plot, but the whole issue of resistance, especially against National Socialism, but also in a wider context. Displaying thousands of documents and photographs, this exhibit offers an interesting insight into different elements and examples of resistance throughout history. However, the focus of the German Resistance Memorial Centre Museum is the history of opposition to Naz i Germany, including the events in which National Socialism flourished and the attempts made to overthrow it. There are audio guides to the site and guided tours take place weekends at 3pm.

6 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 02 Jewish Museum - Berlin Jewish Museum, Lindenstraße 9-14, Berlin Jüdisches Museum Berlin +49 (0) The Jewish Museum of Berlin is open daily, 10am-8pm (10pm Mondays). Last entry 1 hour before closing. Closed Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashana and 24 December. Entry costs 5 Euros for adults, with concessions available. Audio guides cost 2 Euros (need to leave ID as a deposit). The Jewish Museum of Berlin is located in the south of the city and can be reached via U-Bahn stations Hallesches Tor (lines U1 and U6) and Kochstraße (line U6). Buses M29, M41 and 248 stop nearby. The Jewish Museum in Berlin in Germany chronicles the history of German Jews over the course of two millennia. Housed in an incredibly modern building, the Berlin Jewish Museum displays historical objects, documents, photographs, multimedia presentations and even computer games relating to different periods of Jewish history and culture. The exhibitions at the Jewish Museum in Berlin are arranged chronologically and cover various themes such as the living conditions of German Jews over the centuries, the role of Jewish women, tradition and change and the meaning of emancipation. The Berlin Jewish Museum also looks at the issue of persecution, in particular during the Naz i era and the Holocaust, offering an insight into both the overall historical context and the lives of individual victims of the atrocities.

7 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 02 T he Holocaust Memorial - Berlin T he Holocaust Memorial, Cora-Berliner-St raße 1, Berlin Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe +49 (0) The Holocaust Memorial s maz e is open daily at all times. The Information Centre is open daily except Mondays, 10am- 7pm (to 8pm April- September). Last entry is 45 minutes before closing. The Centre is closed 1 January, December and 31 December. Entry is free. Buses 100, 200, 347, M41, M85 and TXL. S-Bahn stations Brandenburger Tor and Potsdamer Platz are nearby (lines S1, S2 and S25). Via U-Bahn, go to Potsdamer Platz or Mohrenstraße on line U2. The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, also known as the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, is an installation commemorating the genocide of the Jewish people perpetrated under Adolf Hitler and the Naz is. The Holocaust was an attempt by Hitler to exterminate the Jews and any other people who he considered racially inferior in what he called the Final Solution. The Holocaust Memorial is a monument to the six million European Jews who died in the Holocaust. Made up of a vast dark granite maz e and a subterranean information centre which has details about the victims, the Holocaust Memorial is a moving site.

8 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 03 Warsaw Ghetto Warsaw, Poland Get t o Warszawskie Contact local tourist office. Most monuments viewable at reasonable times. The map pinpoints the bunker at Mila 18. Fragments of the wall can be seen in a courtyard which can be reached off 62 Zloty Street and off 55 Sienna Street. Warsaw Ghetto (Getto Warsz awskie) was established by the Naz is to forcibly house the city s Jewish population, with up to 400,000 people confined here from October Conditions were dire and gradually became worse with the official implementation of the "Final Solution", the Naz i plan to annihilate the Jewish people. In 1943, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising took place, a dramatic rebellion which occurred when the Naz is attempted to liquidate the ghetto and one which saw it raz ed to the ground. Very little of the Warsaw Ghetto survives today. There are fragments of the original ghetto wall and several memorials including the Mila 18 monument where the uprising headquarters were located and an inscription where insurgent leader Mordechaj Anielewicz and the last of the uprising fighters perished. There is also the Warsaw Ghetto Fighters Monument and a monument at Umschlagplatz, the site from where Jews were transported to the death camps. Submitted by Dr. G A Sivan, Jerusalem

9 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 03 Umschlagplat z ulica Stawki, Warsaw, Poland - Contact local tourist office Viewable at all times. Nearest tram station is Dz ika (trams 15 and 35). The nearest Metro stop is Dw.Gdański. Umschlagplatz was the square from which Warsaw s Jewish community were sent to death camps during World War II, particularly to Treblinka. Today, a monument marks this tragic "assembly point", from where thousands of people were transported. Submitted by Dr. G A Sivan, Jerusalem

10 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 03 Dachau Concentration Camp Alt e Römerst raße 75, Dachau, Germany KZ Dachau 0049(0) Open daily except Mondays, 9am- 5pm. Entry is free. Parking costs 3. Located on the outskirts of the town of Dachau in Germany, around 20km north of Munich. From Munich Central Station, take S- Bahn train S2 towards Dachau/Petershausen to Dachau Station (25 min.) then bus 726 towards Saubachsiedlung, alighting at KZ- Gedenkstätte. Dachau Concentration Camp (KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau) was one of the first of many concentration camps set up by the Naz is to imprison and murder certain groups as part of their campaign of genocide. Founded on 22 March 1933, a mere few weeks after Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, Dachau Concentration Camp was seen as an example for the SS as to how to run other such camps throughout Europe. Overall, Dachau Concentration Camp housed over 200,000 prisoners, which included Jews, homosexuals, communists and other groups considered to be inferior or subversive by the National Socialists. These prisoners were kept in dire conditions and subjected to ongoing atrocities including forced labour and medical experimentation. In total, around 41,500 people were murdered at Dachau, many of whom were incinerated in the crematorium in Barrack X. The camp was liberated by American forces on 29 April Today, the site of Dachau Concentration Camp houses a memorial to those who suffered and perished under the Naz is. Visitors can tour the grounds and the remains of the camp and audio guides are available as are guided tours. There are several exhibitions detailing the history of the camp as well as a documentary shown at 11:30am, 2pm and 3:30pm in English and at 11am and 3pm in German.

11 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 03 T heresienst adt Concent rat ion Camp T heresienst adt Concent rat ion Camp, Pražská, Terezín, Czech R Terezin Fortress Theresienstadt is open daily 8am- 4:30pm, (to 6pm May to September). The Ghetto Museum is open from 9am. Entry costs $3.50 for adults, $2.25 for children. Theresienstadt Concentration Camp is located just on the outskirts of the town of Terez in in the Cz ech Republic, around 60km north of Prague. By car, take route E55, exit 35-Doksany. By bus, Terez in is accessible from Prague s Florenc bus station. Theresienstadt Concentration Camp in Terez in in the Cz ech Republic was a Naz i concentration camp during the Holocaust. Theresienstadt was originally a stronghold known as Terez in Fortress built in the eighteenth century to protect Prague from the possibility of invasion by Prussia. It then became a prison in the 1880 s before being taken over during the Naz i occupation of the then Cz echoslovakia in World War Two. The majority of the 140,000 to 160,000 people interned at Theresienstadt Concentration Camp were of Jewish descent and over 30,000 of the prisoners died at the camp, despite Naz i attempts to portray it as a humane institution. Many others, around 80,000 of Theresienstadt s inmates, were sent to death camps. Today, Theresienstadt Concentration Camp is open to the public and includes a museum as well as the possibility of visiting the former ghetto.

12 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 03 Maut hausen Concent rat ion Camp Erinnerungsst rasse 1, A-4310 Maut hausen KZ Maut hausen +43 (0) Open daily, 9am-5:30pm (last entry 4:45pm). Closed 1 Jan, Dec, 31 Dec. General tours without booking run 1-31 August in English and 7 July-31 Aug in German daily at 11am and 2pm (approx 2hrs, costing 1). Entry costs 2 full, 1 reduced, 4.80 Family ticket (2 adults and children). Mauthausen Concentration Camp is located in northern Austria, less than 3km north of the town of Mauthausen and 22km or so southeast of the city of Linz. Buses travel from Linz train station to nearby Mauthausen- Ufer. Mauthausen also has a railway station with services from St. Valentin. Mauthausen Concentration Camp or KZ Mauthausen was a vast Naz i concentration camp in northern Austria. First established in 1938, Mauthausen Concentration Camp was built through the slave labour of prisoners from another such camp, Dachau. Over time, it grew to encompass a number of sub- camps, such as Gusen Concentration Camp. Prisoners at Mauthausen Concentration Camp included those labelled as criminals, but were mainly comprised of anyone opposed to the Naz i regime, especially on a political or ideological basis. At a later stage, large numbers of Jews from concentration camps like Auschwitz were also transported there. Like in all such Naz i camps, prisoners at Mauthausen were subject to numerous ongoing atrocities, such as starvation, torture, overcrowding and slave labour. Inmates at Mauthausen Concentration Camp were quite literally worked to death in the camp s quarries and munitions factories, while the Naz is reaped the financial benefits of their work. Those who didn t perish as a result of hard labour were liable to die of disease, malnourishment or to be killed in gas chambers. Over 119,000 of the almost 200,000 prisoners at Mauthausen Concentration Camp had died there by the time it was liberated by American forces on 5 May Today, Mauthausen Concentration Camp is open to the public, who can see the original camp and the terrible conditions to which prisoners were subjected. There is a visitor centre and many memorials to the different national, ethnic and religious groups who suffered at Mauthausen.

13 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 04 Schoenenbourg Maginot Line f ort Rout e du Commandant Reynier, Schoenenbourg The Schoenenbourg Maginot Line fort is generally open daily Apr to early Nov (weekends only Oct). Check the website for closures. Opening times are 2pm- 4pm (Sundays 9:30am- 6pm). Entry costs 7 for adults, 5 for ages Under 6s go free. The Schoenenbourg Maginot Line fort is located around 2km north of the village of Schoenenbourg in north- eastern France s Bas- Rhin region. Schoenenbourg is around 57 miles north of Strasbourg and approx 130km west of Stuttgart in Germany. The Schoenenbourg Maginot Line fort was one of a series of forts constructed by the French to defend their border with Germany following the First World War. Named after the then defence minister, Andre Maginot, the Maginot Line forts were a series of heavily defended subterranean fortifications. The Schoenenbourg Maginot Line fort (Ouvrage Schoenenbourg) was the largest of the Maginot Line forts. Made up of a series of areas spanning over 3 kilometres, the Schoenenbourg Maginot Line fort was able to be entirely self sufficient, with everything from kitchens and water facilities to medical rooms and weaponry. In reality however, during World War Two, the Germans attacked France not from the expected route through the Maginot Line, but via Belgium, meaning that the forts were unable to defend the nation. Today, the Schoenenbourg Maginot Line fort is open to visitors, who can explore this vast underground network. A visit lasts around 2 hours.

14 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 04 Musee de la Reddition Rue Franklin Roosevelt 12, Reims Museum of the Surrender Musee de la Reddition is open daily except Tuesdays, 10am- noon, 2pm-6pm. Closed 1 Jan, 1 May, 14 Jul, 1 Nov, 11 Nov and 25 Dec. Musee de la Reddition is located in Reims, north of Place de la Republique. Reims can be reached by train from Paris (45 minutes) and by car (along the A4 toll road) in 1.5 hours. Musee de la Reddition (Museum of the Surrender) in Reims is the location where the German Third Reich officially surrendered to Allied forces in World War II. At the time, the building of Musee de la Reddition, once a school, acted as the European headquarters of US General Dwight D Eisenhower (later President Eisenhower). The surrender, which occurred in the early hours of 7 May 1945, took place in the war room of Eisenhower s headquarters, which were often known by the abbreviation of SHAEF. Today, visitors to Musee de la Reddition can see the actual table where terms of surrender were agreed, with its contents seemingly froz en in time. Even the maps which crowded the room s walls are still in place. Beyond its star attraction, Musee de la Reddition also boasts further exhibits, mostly World War II uniforms, photographs and some weapons, but the main reason to visit is to see the site where the Allies officially won the war.

15 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 05 Bat t le of Normandy Memorial Museum Boulevard Fabian Ware, BP 21215, Bayeux Musee Memorial de la Bat aille de Normandie +33 (0) The Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum is open daily except on December, 1 January and the last two weeks of January. Admission costs 6.50 for adults, 3.80 for children. The Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum is located in Bayeux, Normandy, approximately 30km northwest of Caen and 260km from Paris. By car, Bayeux is accessible via motorway A13 onto the A84 and then the N13. By train from Paris s St Laz are station, get the line towards Cherbourg and alight at Bayeux (2hrs). From Caen, Bus Verts goes to Bayeux. The Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum or Musee Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie in Bayeux tells of the story of the World War II battle which loosened Germany s grasp on Europe and paved the way for an allied victory. Taking a chronological approach, the Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum begins in the period prior to the initial assault, through to the infamous Normandy Landings on D- Day up to 29 August Displaying military objects from the time, including weaponry and uniforms, the Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum offers an overview of the battle and an insight into the events, including a 25 minute film. A visit to the Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum usually lasts around 1.5 hours.

16 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 05 Le Memorial at Caen Le Mémorial de Caen, Esplanade Général Eisenhower, Caen, Fran Le Memorial de Caen +33 (0) Le Memorial at Caen is open 9am-6pm (to 7pm 9 Feb-11 Nov). Closed 25 Dec-9 Feb. Closed Mondays 12 Nov-27 Dec. Last entry 1 hour and a quarter before closing. Entry costs approx 17 for adults, reduced (inc ages 10-18, disabled persons, students and over 60s). Under 10s go free. Other discounts available. See the official site for tour rates and day pass rates. Le Memorial at Caen is approximately a 15 minute drive from Caen Railway Station. Taxis available at the station. The train journey from Paris Saint-Laz are station to Caen takes around 2 hours and trains run every 2 hours or so. By car from Paris, take the A13 motorway and the museum is in the north of Caen just north of exit 6 of the N814. Le Memorial at Caen is a museum of history based in northern France, not too far from the locations of the beaches where the Normandy Landings took place. Le Memorial at Caen explores the events which led up to the Normandy Landings of World War II, the Landings themselves, also known as D-Day, and the aftermath. Le Memorial at Caen also offers day trips and longer guided tours around the sites of the Normandy Landings, which start at Caen Railway Station. Beyond its Second World War exhibits, Le Memorial at Caen also looks at the Cold War and beyond, exploring the concept of peace in the context of different conflicts.

17 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 06 Musee Airborne Musee Airborne, 14 rue Eisenhower, Saint e-mère- Eglise, Frankrei St-Mère-Eglise Airborne Museum +33 (0) Musee Airborne is open daily 9:30am- noon and 2pm- 6pm (April- September open 9am- 6.45pm). Closed December and January. Entry costs 7 for adults, 4 for children (6-16) and free under 6s, disabled persons, World War II veterans and military personnel and firemen in uniform. Family/group discounts available. Musee Airborne is in St-Mère-Eglise in northern France around 25 miles south east of Cherbourg. The site is also approx 50 miles north west of Caen. Musee Airborne in St- Mère- Eglise in Northern France is dedicated to the role played by the American 82nd and 101st airborne divisions during the Normandy Landings of World War Two or "D-Day". Taking place in June 1944, the Normandy Landings were a collaborative effort between British, American and Canadian troops, who launched a massive attack by air, land and sea to capture German occupied Europe in an operation known as Overlord. St-Mère-Eglise was the site where American paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions landed between 5 and 6 June 1944 and is today the home of Musee Airborne. Comprised of three main buildings, one of which is shaped like a parachute, Musee Airborne, also known as St- Mère- Eglise Airborne Museum, houses original aircraft from the Normandy landings, including a Waco Glider and the Douglas C- 47 plane Argonia together with weaponry, photographs, documentation and a film about the landings. Musee Airborne also explores the personal stories of the soldiers who took part in these operations.

18 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 06 Utah Beach Memorial Utah Beach Memorial, Route D329, Normandy, France - (703) The Utah Beach Memorial is open daily. The Utah Beach Memorial overlooks Utah Beach and is located around 4.5km northwest of the town of Sainte- Marie- du- Mont, which is off Route N13. It is approx. 85km northwest of Caen. The Utah Beach Memorial is an American monument in Normandy which commemorates the World War II D-Day Landings. On 6 June 1944, as part of the Allied invasion of German- occupied Normandy known as Operation Overlord, the US 4th Infantry Division, part of the VII Corps, landed on Utah Beach. Comprised of a granite obelisk, the Utah Beach Memorial is a monument to the achievements of this division and their successful landings.

19 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 06 Point e Du Hoc Memorial Point e Du Hoc, of f rout e D514, Normandy, France - (703) (US) Admission to Point du Hoc is free at all times. Point du Hoc is seven miles west of Vierville sur Mer along route D514. Day tours are available from a variety of operators. The Pointe Du Hoc Memorial in Normandy, France commemorates the American Second Ranger Battalion who fought there on 6 June 1944 as part of the D-Day landings in World War II. The D-Day attack was a pivotal offensive which allowed the Allies to gain a foothold in Naz i-occupied France and begin the process of liberating Western Europe. Pointe Du Hoc overlooks Omaha Beach, which was a vital landing point for Allied troops during the D- Day operation. Led by Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder, the Second Ranger Battalion was tasked with capturing German artillery at Pointe Du Hoc to ensure the safety of the troops landing on the beaches below. The Pointe Du Hoc Memorial is a large granite structure which stands at the edge of the 100-foot cliffs these Rangers had to scale to complete their dangerous mission. The Rangers succeeded in their task, but suffered significant causalities in the process. Constructed by the French and now managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission, the Pointe Du Hoc Memorial is a reminder of the heroism of the Rangers and the forced involved in the Normandy landings. The area surrounding the Pointe Du Hoc Memorial is also historically fascinating, littered by bomb craters, it is preserved in much the same state as it was immediately following D- Day.

20 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 07 Normandy American Cemet ery - Normandy American Cemet ery, Colleville-sur-Mer 14710, (703) (US) off route D514, Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is open daily, 9am- 6pm (to 5pm 15 April-15 September). Closed 25 December and 1 January. Normandy American Cemetery is located in the Northern French commune of Colleville- sur- Mer approximately 12 miles northwest of Bayeux and 170 miles west of Paris. If using a GPS system, the coordinates are N W Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is the burial site of 9,387 US military personnel who fought and died in World War Two. Most of the graves at the Normandy American Cemetery belong to participants in the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944, also known as D-Day. The Normandy Landings were a coordinated effort by the Allied forces to recapture European land taken by the Germans. Codenamed Operation Overlord, the Normandy Landings were a pivotal point in World War II, representing a significant victory for the Allies. However, this victory came at a high cost of life, a fact commemorated at Normandy American Cemetery. Normandy American Cemetery has a visitor centre, several memorials including Tablets of the Missing and orientation tables showing the battles which took place in the area. The visitor centre is itself a useful historical guide, offering an insight into the Normandy Landings and the soldiers who took part in the attack. Guides are on hand to answer questions.

21 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 07 Longues-sur-Mer Gun Bat t ery Longues Sur Mer, Normandy, France Bat t erie Allemande The Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery is open daily July-August and during weekends April- June. In Sept- Oct, it is open weekends 10:15am- 11:45am and 2:15pm- 15:45pm. Entry costs 4 for adults, 3 for children. Under 10s go free. The Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery is located in the town of Longuessur- Mer, Normandy, around 40km northwest of Caen along route N13 (north of Bayeux). The Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery, also known as Batterie Allemande, was a German defensive battery in Normandy which played a big part in the German defence efforts during the Normandy Landings on D- Day, 6 June Made up of four 150mm guns, the Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery is located between the vital allied landing beaches of Gold and Omaha. It was captured by the British 231st Division. Today, the Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery is open to the public.

22 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 07 Big Red One Assault Museum Hameau Le Bray, Rout e D514, Colleville Sur Mer, France The Big Red One Assault Museum is open daily except Tuesdays, March- May and September- November, 10am- noon and 2pm- 6pm. From June- August, open daily 9am- 7pm. Admission costs 5 for adults, 3.50 for students, free for allied WWII veterans. The Big Red One Assault Museum is located in the town of Colleville Sur Mer, Normandy, around 50km northwest of Caen along route N13 (40 min drive). From Paris to Caen, take the TER train from Gare St. Laz are to Caen (2 hrs). The Big Red One Assault Museum in Normandy is dedicated to the efforts of the US First Infantry Division, nicknamed the Big Red One, particularly their part in the D-Day Landings on 6 June The Big Red One division were part of the infamous landing at Omaha Beach where, despite the difficulties encountered, they together with the 29th division went on to secure the areas around Saint- Laurent, Vierville and Colleville. The Big Red One Assault Museum chronicles this assault, including a film about its events. An hour- long guided tour is available upon request in English and French.

23 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 07 Omaha Beach Museum Avenue de la Liberat ion, St Laurent Sur Mer, France Musee Memorial Omaha The Omaha Beach Museum is open: 15 Feb-15 Mar: 10am-12:30pm and 2:30pm-6pm 16 Mar-15 May: 9:30am-6:30pm 16 May-15 Sep: 9:30am-7pm (to 7:30pm Jul-Aug) 16 Sept-15 Nov: 9:30am-6:30pm. Last entry 1 hour before closing. Entry costs 5.80 for adults, 4.60 for students (valid ID), 3.40 for children The Omaha Beach Museum is located in the town of St Laurent Sur Mer, Normandy, around 50km northwest of Caen along route N13. The Omaha Beach Museum (Musee Memorial Omaha) tells the story of the D-Day Landings on Omaha Beach in Normandy on 6 June 1944 during World War II. Spanning an area of 10km, the Omaha Beach assault was the largest of the Normandy Landings and included, amongst others, the US 29th Division, the 1st US Division (Big Red) and the US 2nd Division. The Omaha Beach assault suffered several setbacks, including the fact that the area was unexpectedly well- defended by the Germans and that many soldiers did not land at their intended targets. Despite these setbacks, the allied troops managed to establish footholds in the German occupied territory, although they were unable to complete their ambitious mission targets. Through a series of exhibits, including dioramas, military uniforms, testimonials and photographs, the Omaha Beach Museum traces the events of the assault on Omaha Beach and Pont Du Hoc.

24 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 08 T he Juno Beach Centre Normandy Canadian Museum T he Juno Beach Cent re, Voie Des Français Libres, Courseulles Su Apr-Sept: 9:30m-7pm ; Mar-Oct: 10am-6pm ; Feb, Nov, Dec: 10am- 5pm. Last entry 45mins before closing. Closed in Jan and on 25 Dec. Guided tours of the beach take place Apr-Oct 11am and 3pm and Jun-Aug at 10am, 11am, noon, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Entry costs 6.50 full, 5 reduced. Museum plus park entry 10 full, 8 reduced. The Juno Beach Centre is located at the port of the town of Courseulles Sur Mer, Normandy, around 25km northwest of Caen. From Caen Train Station, Bus Vert (line 3) goes to the site (request that the driver stops at Courseulles at the Place du 6 juin. The journey takes 0.5-1hr. Sometimes, the bus doesn t start at Caen. In those cases, take tram A from Caen train station towards Caen Campus 2 and alight at Côte de Nacre train station, where the bus stop is. The tram takes around half an hour. The Juno Beach Centre, also known as the Normandy Canadian Museum, chronicles the Canadian contribution to the war effort during World War II. Based in the location assigned to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division in the D- Day Landings, the Juno Beach Centre focuses especially on the events which took place on 6 June 1944, whereby Canadian forces took part in the invasion of Normandy. From photographs and documents to multimedia presentations and even a tour of the D- Day landing site and bunker, the Juno Beach Centre looks not only at the Canadian efforts in World War II, but paints a portrait of modern Canada. A visit usually lasts 1.5 hours.

25 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 08 Sword Beach Sword Beach, Boulevard Marit ime, Lion-sur-Mer, France Ouist reham Contact local tourist office Sword Beach is open daily. Sword Beach is in the town of Lion-sur-Mer, Normandy, approximately 16km north of Caen. Sword Beach (Ouistreham) in Normandy, France was one of the sites of the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944, D-day. Assigned to units of the British 3rd Division, the landings at Sword Beach were the most eastern part of Operation Overlord, the allied offensive which led to the liberation of German- occupied France and subsequently Europe in World War II.

26 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 09 T he Pegasus Bridge Museum Mémorial Pegasus, Avenue du Major Howard Ranville Memorial Pegasus +33 (0) The Memorial Pegasus is open daily: April- Sept 9.30am- 6.30pm; Oct- March 10am-5pm. Closed 15 Dec-31 January. Entry costs 6 for adults, 4.50 children 8+ and students. Discounts available. The Pegasus Bridge Museum is just next to the original place of the bridge in Normandy. It is located in Ranville, just east of the town of Bénouville and around 10km north of Caen (15 min. drive) along route D515 (exit onto D514 to Bénouville). The Pegasus Bridge Museum, officially known as Memorial Pegasus, in Normandy houses the famous Pegasus Bridge, which was captured by British forces on the night of 5-6 June 1944 during World War II. The capture of Pegasus Bridge was carried out in order to protect the eastern flank of the landing operations at Sword Beach as part of the Allied invasion of German- occupied Northern Europe. It played a vital role in aiding this attack, part of Operation Overlord, more commonly known as the Normandy Landings or D- Day. Visitors to the Pegasus Bridge Museum can not only learn about the events of the capture of this important strategic point, but also about the forces which carried it out, the British 6th Airborne Division. With displays of historic items such as weapons and gliders, documents, photographs and, of course, Pegasus Bridge itself, visitors can learn about various missions carried out by this division and about the capture of the bridge on D-Day, which has been nicknamed The Longest Day after the 1961 film based on the offensive. Guided tours are available and last around an hour and a quarter.

27 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 09 Pegasus Bridge Pegasus Bridge, Rout e D514, Bénouville, France Caen Canal Bridge +33 (0) Open at all times. The site of Pegasus Bridge is located just east of the town of Bénouville and is around 10km north of Caen (15 min. drive) along route D515 (exit onto D514 to Bénouville). Pegasus Bridge, originally known as Caen Canal Bridge, in Normandy, France, was a vital strategic position during Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France. On 6 June 1944, Allied forces landed on Normandy s beaches, an event known as the Normandy Landings or D-Day. Sword Beach was to be a landing point for British forces and, just to its east, was Pegasus Bridge, a small crossing over the Caen Canal. In order to protect the soldiers who would land at Sword Beach from German attack, a unit of the British 6th Airborne Division, led by Major John Howard, was tasked with capturing Pegasus Bridge. They were also required to take the Merville gun battery in order to put it out of action. This would form part of Operation Tonga, in turn part of Operation Overlord. On 5 June 1944, under cover of darkness, Major Howard and his men landed in gliders near Pegasus Bridge and proceeded to capture it intact within the staggeringly short time of ten minutes. This action was vitally important, preventing the possibility that German forces could attack the eastern flank of the soldiers arriving at Sword Beach. The Merville gun battery and other bridges were also successfully taken by airborne forces. However, these victories came with heavy losses of around 2,000 men in all. Caen Canal Bridge was renamed as Pegasus Bridge on 26 June 1944 after the winged horse emblem on the uniforms of the airborne division. The events at Pegasus Bridge and D-Day in general also inspired the 1961 film, The Longest Day. There is currently a new bridge where Pegasus Bridge once stood, the original is now on display at the Pegasus Bridge Museum (just next to the bridge itself). There is also a plaque near the bridge setting out the events that occurred there.

28 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 09 T he Merville Gun Battery Place du 9ème Bat aillon, Merville-Franceville Musée de la Batterie de Merville The Merville Gun Battery Museum is open 15 March-15 Nov, 9:30am- 6pm (7pm June, July, Sept). Entry costs 5 (under 6s free and further discounts available). The Merville Gun Battery Museum is located just south of Merville in Normandy, approximately 20km northeast of Caen along route D515 (exit onto D514 towards Merville). The Merville Gun Battery was a German held fortification in Normandy which the Allies captured in the course of Operation Overlord in World War II. Operation Overlord was the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, in June This hinged on the ability of Allied troops to land at various beaches in Normandy, an event known as D-Day or the Normandy Landings. The Merville Gun Battery, which had four 100mm calibre guns (the Allies thought it had 150mm guns), was within firing distance of Sword Beach, which was designated as a British landing z one. This was a danger to the forces which were to land at Sword Beach and their supporting fleet. Thus, the 9th Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment led by Lieutenant- Colonel Terence Otway were tasked with capturing and disabling Merville Gun Battery before the landings were due to take place on 6 June The complex operation was subject to severe setbacks. Only 150 of the 750 troops who were supposed to arrive actually reached the site after troops were dropped in incorrect locations up to ten miles from the intended drop z one. Furthermore, very few supplies reached these troops. Yet, despite these problems, Otway and his men managed to improvise a new plan and successfully neutralised the Merville Gun Battery just hours before the Normandy Landings began. German troops managed to return to the fortification in the afternoon, but it now had only two working guns and posed a much smaller threat to troops landing at Sword Beach. In any event, it was recaptured by the Allies once again on 7 June. Today, the Merville Gun Battery is open to the public as the Musée de la Batterie de Merville, which stands as a museum, a memorial and an educational site.

29 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 10 Dunkirk War Museum Court ines du Bast ion 32, Rue des Chant iers de France, Dunkerque Memorial du Souvenir +33(0) Open daily April-September, 10am-noon and 2pm-5pm. For the rest of the year, call 00 33(0) Entry costs 3.50 for adults, free for under 12s. Located in the north of Dunkerque in northern France near the harbour. The Dunkirk War Museum or Memorial du Souvenir tells the story of the famous World War II allied evacuation of Dunkirk. The Dunkirk evacuation took place between 26 May and 4 June 1940 and was an operation - codenamed Dynamo - to rescue hundreds of thousands of British, French, Canadian, and Belgian soldiers cut off by advancing German forces. At the time, the Germans had control of Calais and there were insufficient Royal Navy vessels to carry all of the troops. Thus, in a campaign widely regarded as miraculous, heroic and bold, the evacuation of Dunkirk was carried out not just by military ships but by civilian ones. Hundreds of small boats and ships including even fishing vessels and pleasure boats were mobilised for use in the mission. While this command was given by the admiralty, many of the boats were captained by civilians. Casualties ran into the thousands as did the number of soldier taken hostage yet, despite coming under heavy bombardment, these little ships together with the warships, managed to evacuate around 338,000 troops. Located in the former headquarters of the French army, The Dunkirk War Museum explores the build up to and the events which took place as part of Operation Dynamo. There is a film about Dunkirk and it also houses numerous objects relating to this event including weaponry, artillery and other pieces found on the beaches.

30 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 11 Arnhem Bridge Nijmeegseweg, 6841 Arnhem, T he Net herlands John Frost Bridge Contact local tourist office Several tour companies offer tours to Arnhem. Arnhem Bridge is located in the city of Arnhem in the east Netherlands. Bus routes 20, 43S and 69 stop nearby. By car, Arnhem is around 115 km east of Rotterdam along Route A15 (exit onto Route A325) and just under 100 km southeast of Amsterdam along Route A1. It has train links to Utrecht and Amsterdam Schiphol. Arnhem Bridge in the Netherlands was has become a timeless symbol of the bravery of airborne soldiers and was the site of a legendary battle during the Second World War. The resulting failure to capture the bridge has led it to be known as "a bridge too far". By September 1944, the Allies had broken Hitler's Atlantic Wall with the invasion of Normandy and, after bitter fighting, the Germans had been forced back through France and Paris had been liberated. Wanting to capitalise on their momentum and determined to defeat Germany as swiftly as possible, Allied forces planned to invade northern Germany. In doing so, they planned an ambitious airborne assault to capture a number of key river crossings and open a gateway into Germany. The plan, known as Operation Market Garden, involved dropping thousands of Allied troops behind enemy lines to secure a number of key river crossings. These troops would then secure the crossing over the Rhine, including Arnhem Bridge, paving the way for a ground assault. It would be the biggest airborne assault in history. The divisions involved included the American 82nd Airborne Division under General James Gavin, the 101st American Airborne Division led by General Maxwell Taylor and the First British Airborne Division commanded by Major General Robert Urquhart. This ambitious plan would also require the British XXX Corps to relieve the airborne troops. Operation Market Garden, which took place from 17 to 25 September 1944, soon went badly wrong for the Allies. Paratroopers were dropped too far from their lines and few made it to their correct targets, communication was a major issue and the force of the German response had been underestimated. The Second Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, led by Lieutenant- Colonel John Frost, were responsible for securing Arnhem Bridge but only had a fraction of their planned numbers after the jump. They did succeed in capturing half of the bridge and fought determinedly to defend it for several days against overwhelming odds, but eventually the Germans managed to pin them down and regained control of the area. Yet, despite the fact that the battle of Arnhem Bridge and Operation Market Garden as a whole were a defeat for the Allies, the bravery and valour of Frost s troops has become the stuff of legend and even inspired the 1977 film, A Bridge Too Far. Today, Arnhem Bridge is an unassuming sight and there is little to see, although there are memorials and museums nearby. Yearly commemorations take place at Arnhem Bridge to remember the battle which took place there.

31 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 11 Dutch National Monument Dut ch Nat ional Monument, Dam Square, Amst erdam - Contact local tourist office The Dutch National Monument can be viewed for free at all times. The Dutch National Monument is located in Dam Square in Amsterdam. It can be reached via trams 4, 9, 16, 24 and 25 and buses 355, 357, 359, 361 and 363 as well as from the nearby Nieuwmarkt metro station. The Dutch National Monument is an obelisk in Dam Square in Amsterdam which commemorates those who died in World War II. Germany invaded the Netherlands on 10 May 1940, bringing the formally neutral country into the war and occupying it thereafter. It would not be fully liberated again until May By the end of the Second World War, the Netherlands had one of the highest casualty rates of all German occupied countries, with over 205,000 having died. The Dutch National Monument commemorates these casualties as well as the Dutch resistance during the occupation.

32 Cadets Trip to Europe - Day 11 Anne Frank s House Prinsengracht 267, Amst erdam, Holland Anne Frank Museum +31 (0) Anne Frank s House is open daily from 9am. From 2 Jan-14 March, it closes at 7pm, 15 March-14 Sept it closes at 10pm and 15 Sept-30 Dec and on 1 Jan it closes at 7pm. Open to 10pm Saturdays. Closes at 5pm on Christmas Day and is closed on Yom Kippur. Last entry is 30 min. prior to closing. Entry is 8.50 for adults, 4 for ages and free for children under 10. The Anne Frank House is approximately twenty minutes walk from Central Station and is in the centre of Amsterdam. Take bus routes 170, 171 or 172 or tram lines 13 and 17 from Central Station to Westermarkt station. It is advised to take public transport as parking is difficult and subject to fees. Anne Frank s house was the site where German Jewish teenager and Holocaust victim Anne Frank, her family, the van Pels family and later a man called Fritz Pfeffer went into hiding from the Naz is during World War II. Although known as Anne Frank s House, the site was originally her father s office building and all eight inhabitants lived in a secret annex in the attic hidden by a moveable bookcase. Tragically, the group s whereabouts were eventually betrayed to the Naz is and, on 4 August 1944, they were arrested and imprisoned in concentration camps. Anne Frank died in Bergen- Belsen in March 1945, but her diary was later discovered by her father and published to worldwide acclaim. Anne Frank s House is now a museum allowing visitors to see the moving bookcase, walk through the cramped secret annex and gain a true appreciation of the hardship this group endured in their fight for survival. The Anne Frank Museum has collected and exhibits many original letters, photos and objects belonging to the Frank family as well as to the van Pels and Fritz Pfeffer. Anne Frank s original diary is also on display.