This initiative honors the more than 2,600 Canadian soldiers who gave their lives for Europe’s freedom. In collaboration with the Vrijheidsmuseum and the Faces to Graves Foundation, students researched and uncovered the personal stories behind the names on the gravestones at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.
Researching the cost of freedom
The students engaged in field trips, explored archives, studied diaries and letters, and with the support of Faces to Graves reconstructed the lives of fallen soldiers. "Through this research, we gained a much better understanding of who these soldiers were and the sacrifices they made," said one of the students.
International presentation at the Canadian embassy
A key moment in the project was the presentation at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin. During a poster exhibition, six life stories were highlighted, supported by Radboud faculty members Frank Mehring and Peter van der Heiden, along with their German partners Florian Freitag and Barbara Buchenau. The international audience responded very positively."The combination of historical research and personal narratives makes this presentation particularly impactful," said Frank Mehring. "It helps us better understand and keep history relevant on a local, national and international leve"
Exhibition and book launch in Groesbeek and Wassenaar
On May 2, the exhibition will also be featured at the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek, alongside the launch of the book Faces of Liberation, edited by Frank Mehring and Jaap Verheul. Later, the exhibition will travel to Wassenaar, where the Canadian Embassy in The Hague will host it as part of a ceremony on freedom and security in Europe. On May 7th, the students will present their posters at this event as well.
Building a bridge between academia and society
This project has been made possible with the support of EUREGIO Rhein-Waal, Radboud University’s International Office, and the University of Duisburg-Essen. In addition to its academic contribution, it also connects the university with society. "It highlights the importance of freedom and democracy, not just in a historical context but also in today’s world and provides our students with a sense of positive agency," said Mehring.
