| What is our role on this event: |
|---|
| – tactical coordination of the German camp – contact point for all German groups – liaison point between the organisation and all German groups – coordination of special activities between Germans and Allies |
Gulaschbatterie 23 will do the Feldküche
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Thursday
As of 16:30pm: opening for re enactors. Camp can be installed
19:30pm: Evening activity: Either première of a restored film from the canadian archives / Live podcast recording local storie of the second world war
Friday
09:30am -16:00pm: Education day (primary school as well as high school classes are invited and get a guided tour over several displays.
10:00am-19:30pm: Other re-enactors arrive and set up camp (attention for school drop of and pick up times)
19:00pm-23:00pm: Social gathering with a quiz (open for all teams) – theme WWII but not for nerds…
Saturday
08:00am: Breakfast from the field kitchen
10:00am: official opening camp: Different interactive displays, vehicles, rides, mess bar for the public
–> During the day we organise guided tours that are called “experience walks”.. the visitors are taken on a tour through the convent and the camp (German Kommandantur, RAF Display, Medical Post in the church (both sides) Resistance display, air raid shelter… The tour ends with the liberation of the convent. (small mock battle)
17:30pm: Close camp
18:00pm: Dinner
19:30pm – 00:00pm: Liberation ball: All re-enactors are invited in formal dress. Civilians in civilian attire attend the ball as well. (max 350 people). A real live big band and singer perform hits from the 40’s
Sunday
08:00am: Breakfast
09:00am: Departure Liberation ride (vehicle tour through the various municipalities)
09:00am: Remembrance in town centre
10:00am: opening camp
11:00am: Remembrance Church Horendonk – Graves RAF service members
13:00pm: Remembrance Liberation Monument (Hemelrijk)
15:30pm: Return Column Vehicles at campsite
16:00pm: End of Camp
Historical Background
Essen was part of the Battle of the Scheldt theatre. As Market Garden fell on its ass by the end of September, the allies realized that they needed Antwerp as a vital port for the supply of their divisions. Antwerp was liberated September 4th but the advance came to an end when Market Garden was launched. This gave the Germans North of the city the chance to reinforce their lines. This was done with remnants of the Schwere Panzer Abteilung 559 and the 1st Parachute army (under which the green devils of Carentan from Friedrich Von der Heydte.
The Canadian 1st corps got the assignment to clear the Scheldt estuary on both sides. Up to October 20 the Canadiens struggled through the landscape West of Essen to Walcheren. On October 20 they then brought in the 4th armoured division from Zeeuws Vlaanderen and re-assigned Clarke Force (Task force from 49th West riding division -Polar Bears). To move from Brasschaat to Essen (Dutch belgian Border and Roosendaal/Bergen op zoom. Protecting the right Flank of the 2nd Canadian infantry.
Early to mid October StuG brigades arrived in and around Essen. One of the Brigades (240-280) had its HQ in the convent where we are). There are multiple documented stories of crews that were buried there after fighting in and around Woensdrecht/Hoogerheide and Huibergen (3 miles west of Essen).
On October 21st Operation Suitcase started with an advance on Essen. Essen which was reached and liberated (town centre) on October 22nd by multiple canadian units. From 22th to 27th of October there was a cat and mouse game on the border between StuGs and elements of Kampfgruppe Chill. After the 27th. The Germans withdrew.
The Walcheren Isthmus was cleared from the Germans (after also an amphibious attack on Vlissingen and Westkapelle) on November 8th. The first liberty ships with supplies docked in the Antwerp harbour on November 28th.
There is a big area to use:
