Welcome to Leopoldsburg, the garrison town that’s been practicing for this moment for 80 years! To celebrate the liberation of Belgium, they cranked up the nostalgia machine, bringing back British WWII vehicles, re-enactors, and enough history to make even the most stoic historian weep into their old maps.
A Nearly Stalled Liberation and Monty’s Big Gamble
Eighty years ago, Leopoldsburg found itself in the thick of things, thanks to the stalemate at the Kempen canals. German forces were playing hard to get, and Field Marshal Montgomery, never one for subtlety, decided to launch his bold offensive straight from our town. “Blitzkrieg,” they said, but let’s be honest, with Monty in charge, it was more of a “British plow forward with cups of tea at the ready.” Spoiler alert: the plan didn’t quite go as intended—Arnhem didn’t happen as fast as hoped. But Leopoldsburg? We were definitely a strategic hotspot.
Fast forward to 2024, and what better way to remember the chaos than by recreating it? This year, Leopoldsburg hosted 320 British WWII vehicles (yes, that many), along with 800 re-enactors. Picture it: tanks, reconnaissance vehicles, artillery, and trucks rumbling down our streets, looking like they’ve just been airlifted from the 1940s.
What makes this so special, you ask? Well, when was the last time you saw a convoy of vehicles older than your granddad’s stories roll into town? This is history roaring to life—and likely causing minor traffic delays. But hey, it’s a small price to pay for getting a taste of the action.
Once Leopoldsburg has had its fill of British banter and historical reenactments, the convoy headed up to Arnhem in the Netherlands. Here’s hoping the vehicles make it—rumor has it some might have needed a tow truck back in ’44, and with modern fuel prices, we might need to pass around a hat for donations. (Fueling a tank isn’t as affordable as it used to be!)
Lommel: Resting in Peace, But Full of Stories
Not to be outdone by our vehicular parade, nearby Lommel’s military cemetery adds a poignant note to the celebrations. The largest in Europe, this resting place holds the stories of those who fought in the 18-Day Campaign, the Battle of the Bulge, and the many skirmishes in between. It’s a place where even nurses from the German Red Cross and child soldiers from the “last reserves” are laid to rest, serving as a reminder of how war touched every corner of life.
One Last Hurrah … Let’s face it—this event is probably a once-in-a-lifetime affair. With the sheer cost of keeping these WWII vehicles on the road, and the maintenance that rivals a Formula 1 pit stop, it’s a miracle they’ve managed to pull this off. After all, how often do you get to see tanks rolling down your street in peace?
If you’re ever in the neighbourhood, do not skip a visit to the recently opened “Liberation Garden” museum. At the Liberation Garden museum, you’ll discover what everyday folks endure when life takes an unexpected, historic twist. Even better, the characters themselves are ready to spill the beans—just give them a handshake, and they’ll launch into their own epic tales!
A few days later we paid a visit to the grand finale: the airshow. Now, I consider myself somewhat of an aviation fan, which basically means I can recognize a plane when it’s in the sky. But nothing could have prepared me for the howl of modern fighter jets—those sleek, high-tech machines that zip through the air like oversized mosquitoes. Only, instead of whining, they roar so ferociously, I half-expected to see the clouds scatter out of sheer terror.
But as the jets screamed into the distance, things took a more sentimental turn. Out of the sky, as if from a time capsule, came two majestic heroes of World War II: the American B-17 Sally B Flying Fortress and the Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Suddenly, it wasn’t about speed, but about history, honor, and the kind of aircraft that helped change the world. Seeing those two icons fly by was like watching living, breathing pages of history take flight—and trust me, it was hard to keep the goosebumps at bay.
Sally B, with her unmistakable silhouette, lumbered through the sky with all the grace of a grand dame from another era. And accompanying her, the Lancaster, one of only two flying examples left in the world, was a reminder of just how rare and precious this moment was. As they slowly flew by, you couldn’t help but think of the brave crews that once manned these machines, knowing that their missions might be one-way trips.
Can you think of a better way to commemorate such an important event? No high-tech gadget, no modern marvel, could match the significance of these two flying legends. They didn’t just entertain us; they took us back in time to a pivotal moment in history. It was a tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and sheer willpower of those who fought for freedom, and a reminder that the sky has always been a battlefield—and sometimes, a monument.
For that brief, awe-inspiring moment, we were reminded that history isn’t just something you read about in books. Sometimes, it soars overhead, reminding us all why the past is worth honoring—and why earplugs might be the greatest invention of the 20th century.
