Located in the rolling hills near the Dutch-German border, the Canadian War Cemetery at Groesbeek stands as a profound symbol of transatlantic sacrifice and solidarity. This serene war cemetery, marked by the uniform headstones of 2,618 fallen servicemen and the names of 1,101 missing in action on its memorial wall, is not only a site of national remembrance. It is also a powerful testament to the enduring bonds between Canada and the Netherlands. Groesbeek speaks to the crossing of oceans—both literal and symbolic—by those who left behind familiar shores to fight for the liberation of Europe. The cemetery embodies the convergence of personal grief and shared historical memory, linking local communities in the Netherlands with families across the Atlantic.

We conceived the book Faces of Liberation, and its Dutch counterpart Gezichten van de Bevrijding, to honor the young men who gave their lives for our freedom.[1] The book aims to offer a cultural and historical context to the Allied war effort that brought these young men across the ocean to Europe in a moment of transatlantic solidarity in the fight against the totalitarian and genocidal regimes of fascism and National Socialism. But ultimately, the book also seeks to serve as a testament to the important connections that have been built around this memory site.

In short, the Groesbeek cemetery is more than a burial ground; it is a lieu de mémoire—a site of living memory or memory space, as the French historian Pierre Nora so aptly described. It is a place where private grief and public commemoration intersect, where the individual stories of loss and sacrifice are woven into the collective memory of nations.

The meaning of liberation

What are the three essential dimensions of this unique site of memory? First, as with any war cemetery, Groesbeek reminds us of the ultimate sacrifices made to bring an end to one of history’s most horrific conflicts. It calls us to contemplate the deeper meanings of war and liberation, dedicating the graves and the memorial to the higher purpose for which these soldiers fought and died. Perhaps the most enduring example of a cemetery dedication is President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address of 1863, delivered at the height of the American Civil War. In that brief yet profound speech, Lincoln consecrated the fallen not merely as victims of conflict, but as defenders of a greater cause: the survival of democracy itself. He articulated this ideal in the now-iconic formulation of government “of the people, by the people, for the people,” affirming that their sacrifice had given the nation “a new birth of freedom.”

In invoking this legacy, we are reminded that the men who lie buried at Groesbeek likewise gave their lives not for territorial gain or national prestige, but for the enduring principles of democratic self-rule, human dignity, and collective liberty. Their graves, like those at Gettysburg, challenge each generation to recommit to the values for which they fell.

These purposes are inevitably framed in large, seemingly abstract concepts, such as the ideals of freedom and the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. These values were threatened—indeed, negated—by the totalitarian regime of Nazi Germany, which cast a shadow over much of continental Europe during the Second World War. This book serves as a timely reminder that these values, which we now often take for granted, must continually be defended. This is especially true in our present time, marked by renewed geopolitical tensions and challenges to the liberal international order.

The Canadian role in the liberation of Europe

Second, this cemetery stands as a testament to the Canadian contribution to the liberation of Europe. Canada entered the war as an Allied nation on September 10, 1939, just days after Britain, and rose to the challenge with remarkable commitment. Thousands of young Canadians volunteered to leave behind their homes and loved ones, crossing the Atlantic to confront the horrors of war.

The chapter by John Goheen and Mark Zuehlke vividly recounts how Canadian forces contributed to the liberation of Europe—from the storming of Juno Beach on D-Day, through the fierce and costly battles in the Scheldt estuary, and on to the final push across the Rhine into Germany in early 1945. These were not only military campaigns but acts of solidarity across oceans—expressions of Canada’s commitment to the defense of shared values.

It is important to recall that the northern Netherlands, beyond the great rivers, was liberated primarily by Canadian and British forces. During the campaign to liberate Europe, approximately 14,000 Canadian servicemen gave their lives, with nearly half of them perishing on Dutch soil. At one point, 90 percent of all Canadian armed forces in Europe were concentrated in the Netherlands.

Many of these heroes were members of Indigenous communities in Canada, as the chapter by our colleague Mathilde Roza reminds us. Canada’s role in the liberation of the Netherlands forged a lasting bond between our nations—a bond commemorated in three Canadian war cemeteries. The Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery honors those who died in the south, notably in the Battle of the Scheldt. The Holten Canadian War Cemetery is the resting place for those who fell during the final stages of the war in northern Germany. And Groesbeek, the largest of these cemeteries, holds the graves of those who perished during the campaign to cross the Rhine, particularly in the Battle of the Rhineland. These resting places bear witness to the deep transatlantic ties formed during the war—ties that have been sustained ever since.

A transatlantic place of personal encounters

Third, and perhaps most uniquely, Groesbeek has become a transatlantic meeting place—a place of encounter and enduring friendship. As Rense Havinga, curator of the Freedom Museum, illustrates in his chapter, local volunteers began adopting graves shortly after the war, reaching out to the families and communities of the fallen in Canada. Over the years, countless Canadians who have come to visit the graves of their relatives have been welcomed by local families, many of whom have maintained these connections for generations. In this way, Groesbeek became a site not only of remembrance but also of reconciliation and human connection. What began as a spontaneous act of gratitude has grown into a lasting relationship—one that binds local memory to international history.

Building on this tradition, the Faces to Graves Foundation undertook the remarkable project of telling the life stories of each of the young men buried at Groesbeek or commemorated on its memorial. Their aim: to give every soldier a face. Over time, the foundation’s volunteers have gathered over one thousand life stories, many enriched with moving photographs from family collections. At present, over 1,200 of these stories are available on its digital monument, a testament to the dedication of volunteers from both the Netherlands and Canada.[2] These efforts have also engaged younger generations, with many stories being researched and written by high school students on both sides of the Atlantic. The 117 life stories included in Faces of Liberation are the result of these transatlantic efforts.

A story behind every headstone

Groesbeek has thus become a hub of deeply personal and historical ties—a place where memory, gratitude, and hope converge. The RUDESA Spring Academy, a collaborative initiative between Radboud University and the University of Duisburg-Essen, integrates the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek into its Transatlantic Studies master’s program by engaging students in interdisciplinary fieldwork that combines historical research, cultural memory studies, and transnational perspectives. Through projects like “Faces of Liberation,” students investigate and present the personal narratives of Canadian soldiers interred at the cemetery, fostering a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between local remembrance practices and broader transatlantic relations.[3]

This approach not only enriches academic discourse but also bridges communities by highlighting the enduring significance of shared histories in shaping contemporary cultural and political identities. Thus, Faces of Liberation is therefore more than a commemorative volume. It is an invitation to reflect on the past with clarity, to engage with memory as a living force, and to reaffirm the bonds—moral, political, and personal—that unite us across time and space, as teachers, students, and citizens. It reminds us that behind every headstone is a story, behind every name a face, and behind every sacrifice, a shared hope for a better world.

The challenges of the present

In conclusion, Faces of Liberation is both a tribute and a call to remembrance. It reminds us of the sacrifices made for a free Europe, of Canada’s vital role in that liberation, and of the ongoing commitment of volunteers, communities, and families to keep this memory alive.

As we look to the past through the lens of Faces of Liberation, we are inevitably drawn to the challenges of the present. The Canadian War Cemetery at Groesbeek is a mirror held up to our own time. The men buried there crossed the Atlantic to confront tyranny, not for conquest, but to defend a world in which liberty, democracy, and the sovereignty of nations could prevail. That legacy must not be confined to commemoration alone; it calls us to action.

In today’s world, where democratic values are once again under strain and authoritarian regimes seek to undermine the international order, the memory of Canada’s sacrifice in the liberation of Europe takes on renewed urgency. Groesbeek reminds us that peace, freedom, and self-determination were won at great cost—and that they must be safeguarded with equal resolve. The transatlantic partnership, forged in the crucible of war and sustained in peace, remains vital.

To remember the Canadian role in Europe’s liberation, then is to reaffirm our present responsibilities. Groesbeek urges us to defend what was once so dearly won. It compels us to recognize that the values enshrined in those headstones—freedom, democracy, and solidarity—are not self-sustaining. They require vigilance, investment, and a willingness to stand together in the face of common threats. The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery has become a place where memory inspires resolve, and where the sacrifices of the past guide the choices of the future. It is a place where we can find, understand and honor the cost of freedom.

[1] Frank Mehring and Jaap Verheul, eds., Faces of Liberation: The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery (Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2025); Frank Mehring and Jaap Verheul, eds., Gezichten van de bevrijding: de Canadese Oorlogsbegraafplaats Groesbeek (Zutphen: Walburg pers, 2025). The authors who contributed these volumes are: Alice van Bekkum, Dean Burry, John Goheen, Rense Havinga, Frank Mehring, Saskia Peters, Mathilde Roza, Jaap Verheul, and Mark Zuehlke.

[2] “Faces to Graves,” accessed May 21, 2025, https://www.facestograves.nl/index?lang=EN.

[3] “Faces of Liberation: Students Bring Biographies of Fallen Allied Soldiers to Life | Radboud University,” March 10, 2025, https://www.ru.nl/en/research/research-news/faces-of-liberation-students-bring-biographies-of-fallen-allied-soldiers-to-life.