WWII80

WWII 80 Commemoration

This year U.S. armed forces members stationed in Europe, and from U.S.-based units with historical links to WWII events, recognize and honor the men and women of the "Greatest Generation" by performing music, marching in parades and honoring the actions and sacrifices of allied nations during the commemorative period of 80 years since World War II.

The continued commitment to honor the historic significance of WWII and the sacrifices made, connects the strength of alliance and dedicated resolve during WWII to NATO strength and unity today.

The following page will give an update on the support of U.S. Forces to the commemoration of the events throughout the commemorative period of 80 years since World War II.

To see more photos, videos and stories of commemorations during the 80th anniversary of WWII go here: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/WWII80inEurope

Currently in WWII 80 - Market Garden

Approximately 120 Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Division, alongside approximately 300 troops from the Netherlands, U.S., U.K., Canada, and Poland will honor the service and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation by participating in more than 60 ceremonies and events in the Dutch provinces of Limburg, Brabant, and Gelderland.

Events are also supported by Soldiers from the XVIII Airborne Corps. Two senior representatives of the historic 30th Infantry Division, Brig. Gen. Charles W. Morrison and Col. Paul Hollenack are scheduled to support the commemorative events.

Read the 80th anniversary of Market Garden Press Release
See all images, videos and news of supported events during the 80th commemoration of Market Garden: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/MarketGardenWWII
Read the Media Advisory of the 101st Airborne Division's support for 80th anniversary of Market Garden
Read the Factsheet about the 82nd Airborne Division's involvement in Operation Market Garden:

Recently in WWII 80: Liberation of Mons

Liberation of Belgium

USAG Benelux Soldiers visited several communities during the first days of September to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Belgium’s liberation during World War II. In the cities and towns of Mons, Cendron, Rumes, Saint-Remy and Monceau-Imbrechies, garrison leaders and color guard members joined Belgian Allies in honoring the service and sacrifices of U.S. soldiers, Belgian forces and members of the Belgian Resistance to free Belgium from Nazi occupation.

Read the full story

Liberation of Mons - Tanks in Town 2024

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division participated in the Tanks in Town commemoration event in Mons, Belgium, Sept. 1, 2024. The weekend-long event culminated in a military parade through the surrounding communities and the streets of Mons. This is one of many outreach events that V Corps Soldiers participated in across Europe this year. Events like this help connect the U.S. military with local communities and inspire trust and confidence in the capabilities and skills of the Soldiers of V Corps.

Commemoration Timeline

August in WWII 80
- Aug. 15 : Operation Dragoon Landings
- Aug. 30 : Liberation of Reims
September in WWII 80
- Sep. 3: Liberation of Mons, Belgium - USAREUR-AF support to Tanks in Town commemoration
- Sep. 8: Liberation of Saint Vit, Fance 21st Theatre Sustainment Command support with a color guard.
- Sep. 8: Liberation of Corny-Sur-Moselle, Fance - 21st Theatre Sustainment Command will provide a color guard for ceremony.
- Sep. 12: Liberation of Mesch, Netherlands - USAREUR-AF support to the National start of liberation commemorations of the Netherlands ceremony
- Sep. 12 : USAREUR-AF support to the National Liberation Ceremony for Operation Market Garden commemoration at Margraten, Netherlands
- Sep. 13 : USAREUR-AF support to the Provincial kick-off to commemoration of 80 years of the liberation of the Netherlands in Meierij-stad, Netherlands
- Sep. 13 : Local residents, school children supported by 82nd Airborne Div. commemorating 80 years of liberation at Beek, Netherlands
- Sep. 13-14: Liberation of Luneville, France: 21st Theatre Sustainment Command will provide a color guard during ceremony in Corny-Sur-Moselle, France.
- Sep. 14: 101st Airborne Div. supporting the Old Hickory ceremony and the Ticker-tape parade at Maastricht, Netherlands
- Sep. 15: Liberation of Nancy, France - 2d Theater Signal Brigade will provide a troop formation in support of the Liberation of Nancy, France.
- Sep. 15: Liberation of Niederschaefolshiem, France - 21st Theatre Sustainment Command will provide a color guard for ceremony.
- Sep. 15: 101st Airborne Div. supporting commemorative events in Meierij-stad, Son (renaming bridge) and Sint-Oedenrode
- Sep. 16: Commemorative parachute jump at original dropzone supported by 101st Airborne Div. parachuting team
- Sep. 17: Official Commemoration of Market-Garden in Groesbeek, Netherlands with a speaker provided by the 82nd Airborne Brig.
- Sep. 17: Air Assault Demo in Eerde, Netherlands with a speaker from the 101st Airborne Div.
- Sep. 17: Liberation of Eerde - Ceremoney supported by 101st Airborne Div. speaker
- Sep. 17: Commemoration Ceremony in Son, Netherlands with a speaker from the 101st Airborne Div.
- Sep. 17: Commemoration Ceremony in Beek, Netherlands with a speaker from the 82nd Airborne Brig.
- Sep. 18: Unveiling Vector of Memory in Nijmegen, Netherlands with a USEMB speaker
- Sep. 18: Commemoration Barbaro / Gavin Monument in Mook, Netherlands supported by the 82nd Airborne Brig. laying a wreath
- Sep. 18: Joint reenactment Klondikes and LTF in Meierij-stad, Netherlands supported by the 101st Airborne Div.
- Sep. 18: Commemoration / unveiling new plaque in Goch, Netherlands supported by a 82nd Airborne Brig. speaker
- Sep. 19: Commemoration in Nijmegen, Ntherlands supported by the 82nd Airborne Brig. laying a wreath
- Sep. 19: Commemoration in Eindhoven, Netherlands supported by the 101st Airborne Div.
- Sep. 19: Ceremony at CPT Julian Cook plaque in Nijmegen, Netherlands supported by a speaker/chaplain of the 82nd Airborne Brig.
- Sep. 19: Sunset March and "Veteran of the Day" in Nijmegen, Netherlands supported by 101st Airborne Div.
- Sep. 20: River Crossing in Nijmegen, Netherlands supported by USAREUR-AF troops
- Sep. 21: U.S. Embassy and USAREUR-AF support to commemoration marches, ceremonies, reception and concert in Nijmegen, Waalcrossing, Oosterhout.
- Sep. 22: 101st Airborne Div. Band and Speaker supporting Unveiling Monument and Liberty Concert in Meierij-stad, Netherlands. 82nd Airborne Div. Chaplain supporting Church service at Oosterhout, Netherlands.
- Sep. 22: Liberation of Ettelbruck, Luxenbourg - USARER-AF band to participate in the 80th anniversary of the Liberation
October in WWII 80
- Oct. 2 - The 45th Infantry Division (Seventh Army) liberated Grandvillers, France.
- Oct. 7 - The 3rd Infantry Division (Seventh Army) liberated Vagnet, France.
- Oct. 19 - Liberation of Bruyères, France
- Oct. 21 - Aachen, Germany captured by U.S. 1st and 30th Infantry Divisions (First US Army).

Market Garden Videos

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B-roll Operation Market Garden 80th Anniversary: Commemoration Jump

AFN Vicenza
Oct. 1, 2024 | 3:25

U.S. Army Soldiers alongside NATO allies and partner nations conduct airborne operations as a part of the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden in Ede, the Netherlands, Sept. 21, 2024. Operation Market Garden and World War II remains an enduring historic reminder of how Allies with a common purpose and vision forge proven partnerships and reinforce bonds that remain to this day. (U.S. Department of Defense Broll by Staff Sgt. Tyler Ewing)

Coming up in WWII 80: Rhineland Campaign Sep.15, 1944 - March 24. 1945

Rhineland Campaign

The Rhineland Campaign consisted of multiple large-scale military operations during the last months of WWII in Europe. The two main objectives of these combined British, American and Canadian operations were to clear the area west of the Rhine and to accomplish the crossing of the Rhine river itself.

Related:
Read about the Rhineland Campaign history
More about the Rhineland Campaign

Operation Market Garden

The operation was an airborne attack launched in conjunction with a ground attack by the British Second Army. The two attacks were known collectively as Operation MARKET-GARDEN. The airborne attack was designed to lay a carpet of airborne troops along a narrow corridor into Holland from Eindhoven northward to Arnhem. Airborne troops were to secure bridges across a number of canals as well as across three major water barriers. The objective was to get Allied troops across the Rhine. Three main advantages expected: cutting the land exit of Germans remaining in western Holland; outflanking the enemy's frontier defenses; and positioning British ground forces for drive into Germany along the North German plain. The operation was a daring strategic maneuver that failed.

Related:
Read more about Operation Market - Garden
Photos, Videos and Stories of the commenmorations
Watch the Mini Documentary about Market Garden (done for the 70 year commemoration)

Battle of Aachen

The city of Aachen had been incorporated into the Siegfried Line, the main defensive network on Germany's western border. Allies had hoped to capture it quickly and advance into the industrialized Ruhr Basin.
It was one of the largest urban battles fought by U.S. forces in World War II, and is considered one of the toughest urban encounters in the entire war. As a result, Aachen became the first city on internationally recognized German soil to be captured by the Allies.

Related:
Read about the Battle of Aachen

Battle of Huertgen Forest

The Battle of Hürtgen Forest was a series of battles fought between American and German forces on the Western Front in the Hürtgen Forest, an area about 5 km east of the Belgian–German border. It was the longest battle on German ground during World War II and is the second longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought.

Related:
Read abpout the battles in the Huertigen Forest
More about the Huertigen Forest Battles

Battle of Arracourt

The Battle of Arracourt was a series of offensive and defensive actions lasting from Sept. 14 ‐ 29, 1944. Within this larger action, the Arracourt Tank Battle, “one of the bitterest tank battles of the entire war,” took place Sept. 19 ‐ 22. During the Arracourt Tank Battle, 37thTank Battalion was successful because it maximized its adherence to what we now call the characteristics of the defens.

Related:
Read about the Battle of Arracourt
Read about the Arracourt Tank Battle (P.222)

Battle of Metz

The Battle of Metz was fought from late September 1944 through mid-December between the U.S. Third Army commanded by Lieutenant General George Patton and the German Army commanded by General Otto von Knobelsdorff. Strong German resistance resulted in heavy casualties for both sides. The last of the forts defending Metz surrendered on 13 December.

Related:
Read about the Battle of Metz (P. 417)

Liberation of Strasbourg

The 2d French Armored Division, reached Strasbourg on 23 November. Within hours, the city was cleared with the Allied forces pushing north and south opposite the Rhine. By 27 November, after repulsing a German counterattack, the Seventh Army had secured a widening and dangerous salient into the German defensive line.

Operation Grenade

Operation Grenade was the crossing of the Roer river between Roermond and Düren by the U.S. Ninth Army, which marked the beginning of the Allied invasion of Germany. On 23 February 1945, the 84th Division crossed the Roer River in assault boats on a one battalion front. The 84th quickly advanced inland after the successful crossing. The crossing of the Roer River is an example of methodical and deliberate planning process needed for success in a large and complicated operation.

Related:
Read about Operation Grenade
Read about the Roer River Offensive

Battle of Remagen

U.S. forces captured the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine intact. They were able to hold it against German opposition and build additional temporary crossings. The presence of a bridgehead across the Rhine advanced by three weeks the Western Allies' planned crossing of the Rhine into the German interior.

Related:
Read about the Battle of Remagen

Rhineland Campaign

Operation Market Garden

Battle of Aachen

Battle of Huertgen Forest

Battle of Arracourt

Battle of Metz

Liberation of Strasbourg

Operation Grenade

Battle of Remagen

WWII events of the 80 years commemoration period that have already passed this year.

Southern France Campaign - Operation Dragoon

Operation Dragoon 80th Anniversary Commemorations

Operation Dragoon 80th anniversary ceremonies to honor the sacrifice of the service members, who fought to liberate France from German forces in the European theater of World War II

Related:
Read about the 80th Anniversary of Operation Dragoon at Rhone American Cemetery
More about Operation Dragoon Commemorations this year

Operation Dragoon

The Allied invasion of southern France in late summer of 1944, an operation first named ANVIL and later DRAGOON, marked the beginning of one of the most successful campaigns of World War II.
The cross-Channel attack on Normandy took place on 15 August 1944. The success and the capture of the great southern French ports of Toulon and Marseilles, together with the subsequent drive north up the Rhone River valley to Lyon and Dijon, were ultimately to provide critical support to Normandy-based armies finally moving east toward the German border.

Related:
Read about the Southern France Campaign History
Read about Operation Dragoon

Battleground: The Invasion of Southern France

July 26, 2011 | 24:28

The story of Operation Dragoon in World War II. This episode features Roosevelt, Churchill, Chiang Kai-shek and Stalin.

Operation Dragoon

Aug. 23, 2017 | 0:59

Representatives from Naval Forces Europe and Africa attended several remembrance ceremonies in Théoule-sur-Mer, France in honor of the 73rd anniversary of Operation Dragoon.

AFN Europe News - Operation Dragoon 78

Aug. 17, 2022 | 1:00

220815-N-LD903-1001 CAVALAIRE-SUR-MER, France (August 15, 2022) Philippe Leonelli, mayor of Cavalaire-sur-Mer, France, held a commemoration ceremony in honor of the 78th anniversary of Operation Dragoon, August 15, 2022. Operation Dragoon is known as the allied landing in southern France that eventually led to it's liberation.

Operation Dragoon 75th Anniversary Rhone American Cemetery Memorial

Nov. 29, 2019 | 1:21

Rhone American Ceremony held a memorial in honor of the 75th anniversary of Operation Dragoon August 16, 2019 in Draguignan, France.

Operation Dragoon 80th Anniversary Commemorations

Operation Dragoon

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24:28

Battleground: The Invasion of Southern France

Operation Dragoon

AFN Europe News - Operation Dragoon 78

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1:21

Operation Dragoon 75th Anniversary Rhone American Cemetery Memorial

Normandy Campaign June 6 - July 24, 1944

Operation Overlord - D-Day

June 6, 1944 the U.S. military participated in the largest multinational amphibious landing and operational military airdrop in history. By the end of the D-Day invasion, more than 9,000 allied troops were dead or wounded.
Each year hundreds of U.S. armed forces members stationed in Europe, and from U.S.-based units with historical links to D-Day, join service members and civilians from all over Europe to recognize and honor the actions and sacrifices of the allied nations during the commemorative period of 1-9 June in the region of Normandy, France.
The continued commitment to honor the historic significance of D-Day and the sacrifices made, connects the strength of alliance and dedicated resolve during WWII to NATO strength and unity today.

Related:
Read about the Normandy Campaign
Visit the U.S. Army D-Day page
Visit the D-Day page for more information

Operation Overlord - D-Day

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B-roll Operation Market Garden 80th Anniversary: Commemoration Jump