The Airborne March is the annual

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

commemorative event in remembrance of the

Battle of Arnhem The Battle of Arnhem was a battle of the Second World War at the vanguard of the Allied Operation Market Garden. It was fought in and around the Dutch city of Arnhem, the town of Oosterbeek, the villages Wolfheze and Driel and the vicinity fro ...

in September 1944, that began in 1947 and always takes place on the first Saturday in September at

Oosterbeek Oosterbeek is a village in the eastern part of Netherlands. It is located in the municipality of Renkum in the province of Gelderland, about west of Arnhem. The oldest part of Oosterbeek is the Benedendorp (Lower Village), on the northern bank o ...

near

Arnhem Arnhem ( or ; german: Arnheim; South Guelderish: ''Èrnem'') is a city and municipality situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands about 55 km south east of Utrecht. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland, located on both banks of ...

in The Netherlands. Just over 34,800 people took part in the 68th edition of the march in 2014. The march is one of several events attended by veterans, living relatives, soldiers and British army cadets plus RAF and air cadets from the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

together with Dutch military, police and civilians to commemorate the 1,750 British and Polish soldiers and airmen who died at the

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and who are buried at the

Airborne Cemetery The Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, more commonly known as the Airborne Cemetery, is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Oosterbeek, near Arnhem, the Netherlands. It was established in 1945 and is home to 1764 graves from the Secon ...

. The march is also meant to remind one and all, especially the post-war generations, of the sacrifices man was ready to make for the restoration of democracy. In 1947 the Police Sports Association 'Renkum' Organised the 'Airbornewalk' for the first time, to honour those who fought for our freedom enduring the September days in 1944, in and around Oosterbeek and Arnhem. Over 2,000 participated in this first march, so it was a success from the beginning. Later the event was named 'Airborne March', with the permission of Major-General

Roy Urquhart Major General Robert Elliot "Roy" Urquhart, (28 November 1901 – 13 December 1988) was a British Army officer who saw service during the Second World War and Malayan Emergency. He became prominent for his role as General Officer Commanding th ...

, CB, DSO, commander of the 1st Airborne Division, whereby the Pegasus emblem could be used by the organization. From the beginning the net revenues of the Airborne March are used to enable veterans and next of kin with poor means, to come over to The Netherlands and attend the annual Airborne-commemorations in and around Arnhem. As of 2011 other charities are supported, provided that they are in accordance with the ideology of the Airborne March and comply with the policy's rules and regulations. The Airborne March has 4 distances: 10, 15, 25 and 40 km. The longest distance is for individuals only. The routes lead you through the woods of the Veluwezoom and the municipality of Renkum and the great views over the river Rhine. Over 17 nationalities participate in this march every year; individuals as well as groups. The groups normally choose the longer distances. It is organised every year at the sports park Hartenstein in

, just beyond the Airborne Museum, the former Hartenstein Hotel, which was used as Divisional H.Q. by Major General

CB, DSO at the time of the battle. The routes lead past the most important wartime locations in the

area: *the former Hartenstein Hotel, which was the Divisional H.Q. at the time of the battle and is now the Airborne Museum *the

, where over 1,700 British and Polish soldiers are buried *the dropzones on the Ginkel Heath near Ede *the vast woods of the "Bilderberg" where troops fought a hard battle *the drop and landing zones of

Wolfheze Wolfheze is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Renkum, 10 km northwest of the city of Arnhem.''ANWB Topografische Atlas Nederland'', Topografische Dienst and ANWB, 2005. History Stone Age-Midd ...

Renkum Renkum () is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands. The municipality had a population of in and has a land area of . Renkum is situated along the river Rhine. The municipality Renkum is part of the ''Stadsregio'' (English: City reg ...

, Heelsum and Ginkel Heath near Ede. *the Old Church where troops gathered during the retreat At least 10,000 British Army, Air Force and Navy Cadets have attended in the last 25 years and have experienced battlefield tours and many other educational events during their stay. In 2016 the march celebrated its 70th Jubilee Edition and 36.191 participants from more than 20 countries joined. This was a new record. In 2020 the march was cancelled for the first time in its existence, due to COVID-19 measures. In 2021 the march was cancelled again for the same reason as in 2020.

Pictures

File:Airborne March 2009 (Start).JPG, Start of the 2009 Airborne March File:Airborne March 2009 (1).JPG, Offroad track File:Airborne March 2009 (Checkpoint).JPG, Checkpoint File:Medal Airborne Wandeltocht.jpg, Medal with the Pegasus sign

References

* * * * * *{{cite news, url=http://www.nos.nl/nosjournaal/artikelen/2006/9/2/020806_airborne.html , archive-url=https://archive.today/20150507005259/http://www.nos.nl/nosjournaal/artikelen/2006/9/2/020806_airborne.html , url-status=dead , archive-date=2015-05-07 , title=Wandelaars herdenken Slag om Arnhem , date=2006-09-02 , publisher=NOS Journaal , language=Dutch , accessdate=2008-05-16

External links

Airborne March website

Airborne Museum website

Airborne Commemoration Foundation

Airborne Cemetery website
Veterans days September events Military of the Netherlands Holidays and observances by scheduling (nth weekday of the month) Sports competitions in Gelderland Sport in Renkum