Liberation route Breda

This route in and around Breda shows the victory march of the Poles. In 1944, under the leadership of General Maczek, they liberated the city. Thanks to Maczek's insight, a large part of the city was spared.

( 3 hour 30 minutes) 42.0 km

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This route in and around Breda shows the victory march of the Poles. In 1944, under the leadership of General Maczek, they liberated the city. Thanks to Maczek's insight, a large part of the city was spared. Even so, for the residents and those who live nearby, there's enough suffering to commemorate. From the drama in the woods, because the war lasted a few weeks too long for some, to the door-to-door fighting. On 5th September 1944, 'Dolle Dinsdag' ('Mad Tuesday') happened, as the end of the Second World War was (mistakenly) announced. The wheels of the resistance started turning. In silence of course, but how long can you keep that up?

The Liberation Route Brabant tells the story of the liber…

This route in and around Breda shows the victory march of the Poles. In 1944, under the leadership of General Maczek, they liberated the city. Thanks to Maczek's insight, a large part of the city was spared. Even so, for the residents and those who live nearby, there's enough suffering to commemorate. From the drama in the woods, because the war lasted a few weeks too long for some, to the door-to-door fighting. On 5th September 1944, 'Dolle Dinsdag' ('Mad Tuesday') happened, as the end of the Second World War was (mistakenly) announced. The wheels of the resistance started turning. In silence of course, but how long can you keep that up?

The Liberation Route Brabant tells the story of the liberation, but also shows what the Second World War was like for ordinary people who lived in Brabant at the time. Eight cycling routes, spread across North Brabant, lead you past the Brabant Remembers stories, the Liberation Route Europe audio columns, monuments and museums. Together they make the impact of the war on North Brabant clear, even all these years later.

Sights on this route

18

Starting point:

Waypoint bike 18
Rijsbergen
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12
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88
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Rijsbergen
De Geallieerden komen eraan... Of toch niet? Familie Neefs in 1934

Dit monument is gebouwd op de fundering van het huis van boswachter Neefs. Deze boswachter is de vader van de familie Neefs, waar het verhaal ‘De geallieerden komen eraan... of toch niet?’ over gaat.

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Raamschoorseweg
Breda
Monument Vloeiweide Rijsbergen
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Stanislaw Maczek wordt vanwege zijn militaire ervaring in 1938 commandant van de 10e Gemotoriseerde Cavalerie Brigade van Polen.

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breda
Maczeks eer Stanislaw Maczek (rechts) tijdens zijn opmars door Frankrijk in 1944

Dat ook Poolse strijders zich hebben ingezet voor het bevrijden van grote delen van ons land is lange tijd onderbelicht gebleven. Maar een nieuw eerbetoon aan de Poolse heldhaftigheid brengt daar verandering in.

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Ettensebaan 17a
4812 XA Breda
Maczek Memorial Breda
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p 18 mei 1944 stapt sergeant-vlieger Frans Brogtrop in een Grumman F6F Hellcat. Tijdens een nachtelijke oefening in formatievliegen gaat het goed mis.

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Breda
Mayday mayday on a day in May Mayday mayday on a day in May

Als op 10 mei 1940 de Duitsers binnenvallen vanuit het oosten, komen ook de Franse troepen in actie.

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breda
De vlucht De vlucht
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Dit kunstwerk is gemaakt door de Poolse beeldhouwer Tomasz Tomaszewski en draagt de naam ‘Pamięc’, oftewel ‘Herinnering’. Het kunstwerk verbeeldt het achtergebleven spoor van een Poolse tank.

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Hertog Hendriklaan
Breda
Kunstwerk Pamięc
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breda
Poolse Maria Kapel
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De Poolse bevrijders van Breda schonken in 1945 een Duitse Panther-tank aan de stad. Tot 2004 bleef de tank in originele staat. Sinds de restauratie in 2004 is de tank een prachtig monument. Zo is de tank opnieuw in de originele camouflagekleuren gespoten

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Wilhelminapark
4818 SN Breda
Panther tank

In 1954, tijdens het tienjarige jubileum van de slag om Breda, werd De Adelaar onthuld.

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Wilhelminapark
4818 SN Breda
Het Pools monument
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De herdenkingsplaquette vind je aan de Duivelsburg ter hoogte van de Marckhoek. De plaquette is geplaatst ter herdenking van de mensen die op 13 oktober 1944 omkwamen bij een mislukte precisiebombardement van de geallieerden. 

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duivelsbruglaan
breda
Herdenkingsplaquette
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27
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18

End point:

Waypoint bike 18
Rijsbergen
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Story of the route

18

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  • Monument Vloeiweide Rijsbergen
    This monument has been built on the foundations of the forester Neefs’ house. This forester was the father of the Neefs family which featured in ‘The allies are coming... or maybe not?’ story. The monument commemorates the sacrifices that the Neefs family and the fighters made such a short time before the liberation of the South of the Netherlands.  3. <Levensveranderend verhaal> Maczek’s honour  In the red block you can read an excerpt of the gripping story of General Maczek. View the whole story in the Brabant Remembers Living History App. 

  • Pamięc Artwork
    This piece of art was made by the Polish sculptor Tomasz Tomaszewski and bears the title Pamięc (Remembrance). The work depicts the tracks made by a Polish tank. The stone artwork has been installed in such a way that visitors can walk over it.

  • Polish Maria Chapel
    The Polish Chapel is a gift from Breda to the Polish community in gratitude for the liberation. The building was inaugurated on 31 October in the Marian year of 1954. The chapel contains an image of the Polish Madonna, based on an icon of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa. Materials used are mosaic tiles inlaid with precious stones, gold leaf and a sandstone frame. The beds are filled with flowers in the colours of the Polish flag: red and white.

  • Armoured tank
    The Polish liberators of Breda donated a German armoured tank to the city in 1945. The tank remained in its original condition until 2004. Since its restoration in 2004 the tank has been a wonderful monument. The tank has been given its original camouflage colours and broken parts have been replaced.

  • The Polish monument 
    De Adelaar (The Eagle) was unveiled in 1954, during the tenth anniversary of the Battle of Breda. Located in the Wilhelminapark, on the Generaal Maczekstraat, it stands on the spot where troops from the 1st Polish Armoured Division were engaged in heavy fighting with Germans hiding in the park. The monument depicts the Polish eagle defeating the German occupier in a fierce fight. The inscription pays gratitude to the Polish liberators.

  • Remembrance plaque
    You will find the remembrance plaque on the Duivelsbrug bridge close to the Marckhoek. The plaque commemorates the people who were killed on 13 October 1944 by an unsuccessful precision bombing raid by the Allies. Days before the liberation of Breda the Allies decided to destroy the headquarters of the German 67th Army Corps. This was a complete failure. The bombs, intended for the German headquarters in Villa Marckendael at Duivelsbruglaan 54, fell on number 50; the Bad Wörishofen Health Centre. Patients with physical ailments were treated according to the Kneipp method in this centre that was set up by Doctor Soer. 27 patients and medical staff were killed, among them the doctor in charge.

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End point:

Waypoint bike 18
Rijsbergen
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