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Today I drove from Joe's bridge to Valkenswaard. A short drive really. The fact that it took the Brits so long to reach Valkenswaard is testimony to the severity of the fighting and the fact that the way to Valkenswaard from here is in fact a real corridor, a funnel even.
The start is in Groote Barrier

The bridge

The 'zinc factory'

View from the 'zinc factory' to Joe's bridge

I wanted to take a picture of the objective near De Kolonie, but I didn't dare. A couple of days ago 28 children from exactly this town lost their lives in a horrific bus accident in Switzerland. Their school happens to be right there and it was a gathering place of mourning parents today. It was very crowded with people and I found it very disrespectful to start photographing there. A real tragedy. A little further it was a lot quieter. The Kolonie objective looks about like this today.

The dutch border, really close to the Kolonie objective.

The road near the border....I don't know how it looked 68 years ago, but this is a real 'corridor'.

A little further....the treeline on the left would be a good place to take the road under fire.

German perspective, treeline. The road is about 100 metres to the left. This place reminds me of the scene in a bridge too far where the dug-in Germans see the artillery wall of fire coming right at them, but remain in position. 'Abwarten'

Valkenswaard cemetery on the west side of the corridor. There are about 220 graves here. My eldest son (10 years) remarked: it is sad that they had to die so young.....a valid observation.

Cemetery again...the corridor is on the right.

A little north of the cemetery....Neerpelt-Valkenswaard again.

Near Valkenswaard, the road opens up....

Valkenswaard.... Too bad I didn't have more time today. I heard there are some traces of the battles in the woods next to the corridor. Will go there again soon and see what I can find.

Thanks for the guided tour. I should do Antietam for you [;)]

yes Ramses, thanks for the tour. And I agree, a couple of those shots actually reminded me of scenes from A Bridge Too Far (one of my favorite WWII movies by the way).

Thanks
rick

Very cool, thank you for the pics! After playing the Joe's bridge scenario I googled and found some other shots of the area. I wish I could visit Europe...

ORIGINAL: Rick


yes Ramses, thanks for the tour. And I agree, a couple of those shots actually reminded me of scenes from A Bridge Too Far (one of my favorite WWII movies by the way).

Thanks
rick

Great photos..

Tut tut, bridge to far the best movie?? Cross of Iron I'm afraid, followed by Thin red Line (even though the Pacific doesn't interest me the cinematography is amazing)

Great Pics Ramses, thanks for that.Look forward to more.[:)]

ORIGINAL: Rick


yes Ramses, thanks for the tour. And I agree, a couple of those shots actually reminded me of scenes from A Bridge Too Far (one of my favorite WWII movies by the way).

Thanks
rick

One of mine too.

ORIGINAL: wodin

Great photos..

Tut tut, bridge to far the best movie?? Cross of Iron I'm afraid, followed by Thin red Line (even though the Pacific doesn't interest me the cinematography is amazing)

He did say "favourite" not "best".[:)]

Thanks for the kind replies guys. Next up will be Hell's Highway from Eindhoven to Grave. This does take some planning though because the battlefield is much vaster.