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Charles Marville and le Vieux Paris

Paris is famous for its 20th-century photographers such as Brassaï (1899−1984), Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908−2004), and Jacques Henri Lartigue (1894−1986). The city also produced two well-known celebrity photographers: Man Ray (1890−1976) and Felix Nadar (1820−1910) ⏤ Click here to read the blog, First Celebrity Photographer. During the mid-19th-century when photography was in its infancy, a group of photographers were hired by the city’s historic-works department to document Paris through their lenses. Today we are going to reintroduce you to one of those photographers, Charles Marville. While the original 2015 blog (same title) included only one image, we have expanded the story using multiple photographs. I have tried to find locations where a Marville photo can be paired with a contemporary image . . . the “before and after” effect. I like viewing these types of comparisons and thought you might also enjoy it.

Salvador Dali (left) and Man Ray (right). Photo by Carl van Vechten (c. 1934). Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division PD-Expired copyright. Wikimedia Commons.
Salvador Dali (left) and Man Ray (right). Photo by Carl van Vechten (c. 1934). Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division PD-Expired copyright. Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of Brassaï. Photo by Emiel van Moerkerken (c. 1936). Source: Wikiportret.nl. PD-CCA-Share Alike 4.0 International. Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of Brassaï. Photo by Emiel van Moerkerken (c. 1936). Source: Wikiportret.nl. PD-CCA-Share Alike 4.0 International. Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of Charles Marville. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1856). PD-Author’s life plus 70 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of Charles Marville. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1856). PD-Author’s life plus 70 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt. Photo by Nadar (c. 1864). The Getty Center, Object 45995. PD-No known copyright restrictions. Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt. Photo by Nadar (c. 1864). The Getty Center, Object 45995. PD-No known copyright restrictions. Wikimedia Commons.

I’m often asked how and why I started writing the walking tour books and subsequently, the blogs. Well, around 2010, I ran across a book by Leonard Pitt called Walks Through Lost Paris (refer to the recommended reading section below). Mr. Pitt takes the reader on four walks through historic Paris and presents pre-Haussmann photographs side-by-side with contemporary shots. The reader can easily see how Paris was transformed in the mid-1800s from a medieval city to the modern city we enjoy today. Sandy and I took Mr. Pitt’s book with us to Paris, and I became determined to write a similar book but based on the French Revolution. My one-book idea blossomed into five published books with three or four more to come.

Mr. Pitt’s book introduced me to several photographers, including Marville, who were hired by the city to visually record Paris before Haussmann began ripping it apart (click here to read the blog, The Destruction of Paris and here to read the The Missing Emperor). These photographs were “discovered” in the 1980s and have been used extensively in books and exhibitions around the world. Sarah Kennel’s book, Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris, was written in conjunction with an exhibition coordinated by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. (again, refer to the recommended reading section below). It’s a beautiful book and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in historic Paris. From these images and old maps such as the 1550 Plan de Truschet and Hoyau, we are able to get a sense of what medieval Paris looked like. London was able to shed its medieval cloak after 1666 but it took Paris another two hundred years for its transformation.

When we first started going to Paris, I was not much into the “medieval” period. The Musée de Cluny, or musée national du Moyen Âge Paris (National Museum of Middle Ages) was not high on our list of stops. I gained a healthy interest in medieval Europe as I researched the history of Paris for our third and fourth books, Where Did They Burn the Last Grand Master of the Knights Templar (click here to read the blog, Cour des Miracles and here to read Hanging Around Medieval Paris). Even if you’re not into medieval times, I think you’ll find the images in this blog interesting.

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Thursday, 6 June 2024

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An inflatable “dummy” M4 Sherman tank. Photo by anonymous (c. 1943). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
An inflatable “dummy” M4 Sherman tank. Photo by anonymous (c. 1943). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.

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Did You Know?

Did you know that Violaine Vanoyeke’s grave site is located in the Père Lachaise cemetery? I guess the real question is, “Do you know who Violaine Vanoyeke is?” It’s a beautiful plot in Division 21 with a lovely statue of Violaine and inscription of her various talents. The only problem is Violaine does not reside at this address. You see, she is not dead.

Born in 1956, Mlle. Vanoyeke is an author, poet, and woman of letters. She was a high school teacher and university lecturer. Violaine’s writings span a myriad of topics including history and science. She has gone as far as to declare a new literary movement called “naivism.” Her books on ancient history focus on Egyptians, Romans, and the Greeks. Violaine’s work has been published and translated into Spanish, Chinese, Greek, and Japanese. She’s quite popular and appears frequently on television, radio, and other media spots.

The problem is that many scholars have denounced her work and accused her of plagiarism. In their eyes, her background is suspect as well.

Regardless of what anyone thinks of her, Violaine is smart. Look at where she bought her plot ⏤ location, location, location. I suppose she could add “real estate agent” to her resume.

Père Lachaise grave site of Violaine Vanoyeke. Notice it’s missing a death date. Photo by Stockwell Roam (3 February 2024). Courtesy of Stockwell Roam.
Père Lachaise grave site of Violaine Vanoyeke. Notice it’s missing a death date. Photo by Stockwell Roam (3 February 2024). Courtesy of Stockwell Roam.

Thank you to Stockwell Roam for introducing me to Violaine as well as other interesting earthly occupants of Père Lachaise ⏤ dead or alive.

Early Photographs

Did you know that Paris was the site of the first photograph taken with people? Louis Daguerre (1787−1851) used his new technique called Daguerreotype to take the photo in 1838. It was called “Boulevard du Temple.” Despite the street being extremely busy with pedestrians and a lot of traffic, only two individuals showed up in the photo ⏤ a young boy shining the boots of a man. The required exposure time was more than 10 minutes and so those two individuals stood relatively still for that time to be captured in the photo while the moving traffic was not.

Photograph of man getting his boots polished (far left bottom corner) on Boulevard du Temple. Exposure time was so long that all traffic and pedestrians are not visible. This is acknowledged as the world’s first photograph. Photo by Louis Daguerre (c. 1838). Scanned and processed by Mariluna. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Photograph of man getting his boots polished (far left bottom corner) on Boulevard du Temple. Exposure time was so long that all traffic and pedestrians are not visible. This is acknowledged as the world’s first photograph. Photo by Louis Daguerre (c. 1838). Scanned and processed by Mariluna. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Close-up detail of a man standing still while getting his boots polished. Photo by Louis Daguerre (c. 1838). PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Close-up detail of a man standing still while getting his boots polished. Photo by Louis Daguerre (c. 1838). PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.

Charles Marville 

Charles Marville (1813–1879) was one of the early photographers in Paris. His photographs of Paris in the mid-1800s are the best representations of the streets and buildings prior to their destruction by Napoléon III and Baron Haussmann. Many of his photos give you a good sense of what medieval Paris might have looked like (i.e., narrow streets, houses, workers such as the tanners, and streets used as sewers). Many of Paris’s historically significant buildings and streets were demolished over a 17-year period as Napoléon III carried out his vision for modernizing the city.

Self-portrait of Charles Marville. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1861). PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Self-portrait of Charles Marville. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1861). PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Exterior of Charles Marville’s former studio located at 66, boulevard Saint-Jacques in the 14th arrondissement. Marville can be seen in the middle in front of the arch wearing a top hat. He is talking to his life-long companion, Jeanne-Louise Leuba. This building no longer exists as it was destroyed during Haussmann’s renovations of the city. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1865). Musée Carnavalet. PD-CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Wikimedia Commons.
Exterior of Charles Marville’s former studio located at 66, boulevard Saint-Jacques in the 14th arrondissement. Marville can be seen in the middle in front of the arch wearing a top hat. He is talking to his life-long companion, Jeanne-Louise Leuba. This building no longer exists as it was destroyed during Haussmann’s renovations of the city. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1865). Musée Carnavalet. PD-CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Wikimedia Commons.

Marville was born Charles-François Bossu. He changed his name to Charles Marville in 1837 presumably since his last name, Bossu, means “hunchback.” Right about the same time, Victor Hugo published The Hunchback of Notre Dame (was it really a coincidence Bossu changed his name at that particular time?).

A cast iron and slate urinal with three stalls on Avenue du Maine, Paris. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1865). State Library Victoria. Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons. (Refer to blog, "Please Don’t Pissoir in Public".)
A cast iron and slate urinal with three stalls on Avenue du Maine, Paris. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1865). State Library Victoria. Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons. (Refer to blog, “Please Don’t Pissoir in Public”.)
Map of the western tip of the Île de la Cité. Notice the building congestion. Thirty years later, Baron Haussmann would demolish most of these buildings and create the Place Dauphine. Map by Truschet and Hoyau (c. 1550). PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Map of the western tip of the Île de la Cité. Notice the building congestion. Thirty years later, Baron Haussmann would demolish most of these buildings and create the Place Dauphine. Map by Truschet and Hoyau (c. 1550). PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Place Dauphine on the illustrated Turgot map of Paris. Map by Louis Bretez, cartographer and Claude Lucas, engraver. (c.1739). PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Place Dauphine on the illustrated Turgot map of Paris. Map by Louis Bretez, cartographer and Claude Lucas, engraver. (c.1739). PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Place Dauphine on the Île de la Cité. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1865). This is a view to the east. Hidden behind the arch and buildings is the Palais de Justice. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Place Dauphine on the Île de la Cité. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1865). This is a view to the east. Hidden behind the arch and buildings is the Palais de Justice. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Contemporary view of Place Dauphine on the Île de la Cité. Behind the trees is the Palais de Justice. Photo by Alexander Johmann (25 November 2011). PD-CCA-Share Alike 2.0 Generic. Wikimedia Commons.
Contemporary view of place Dauphine on the Île de la Cité. Behind the trees is the Palais de Justice. Photo by Alexander Johmann (25 November 2011). PD-CCA-Share Alike 2.0 Generic. Wikimedia Commons.

Marville Photographs 

Monsieur Marville was named in 1862 as the photographe de la ville, or photographer of the city. In this capacity, he began a series of official photographs called Le Vieux Paris (Old Paris) that captured certain parts of the city — buildings and streets — before their destruction. This album of work consisted of approximately 450 photographs. They encompass his work over a 7-year period ending in 1869.

View of Boulevard Henri IV during its reconstruction. In the distance is the commemorative pillar, Colonne de Juillet, that stands in the middle of the Place de la Bastille. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1853-70). State Library Victoria. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
View of Boulevard Henri IV during its reconstruction. In the distance is the commemorative pillar, Colonne de Juillet, that stands in the middle of the Place de la Bastille. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1853-70). State Library Victoria. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Contemporary view of Boulevard Henri IV looking toward the Place de la Bastille and the commemorative pillar, Colonne de Juillet, that stands in the middle of the roundabout. Photo by Google Maps (date unknown).
Contemporary view of Boulevard Henri IV looking toward the place de la Bastille and the commemorative pillar, Colonne de Juillet, that stands in the middle of the roundabout. Photo by Google Maps (date unknown).

It is likely that many of Marville’s early photographs were destroyed. The city of Paris would have owned his photos and since the Hôtel Carnavalet (today, the museum of Paris) was undergoing renovations at the time, the collection of photos was placed within the Hôtel de Ville (city hall) for safekeeping. Unfortunately, the Hôtel de Ville was destroyed by fire during the Commune in May 1871 and many of the photos perished (along with much of the written documentation of the French Revolution).

View of rue des Ecoles toward Rue Monge from the east. On the left behind the horse and wagon is the square Monge (now known as square Paul-Langevin). Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1853-70). State Library Victoria. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
View of rue des Ecoles toward Rue Monge from the east. On the left behind the horse and wagon is the square Monge (now known as square Paul-Langevin). Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1853-70). State Library Victoria. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Contemporary view of Rue des Ecoles toward Rue Monge from the east. On the left is the former square Monge (now known as square Paul-Langevin). Photo by Google Maps (date unknown).
Contemporary view of rue des Ecoles toward rue Monge from the east. On the left is the former square Monge (now known as square Paul-Langevin). Photo by Google Maps (date unknown).
View of intersection of Rue Mouffetard (left) and Rue Monge (right) in the 5th arrondissement. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1853-70). State Library Victoria. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years of fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
View of intersection of rue Mouffetard (left) and rue Monge (right) in the 5th arrondissement. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1853-70). State Library Victoria. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years of fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Contemporary view of intersection of rue Mouffetard (left) and rue Monge (right) in the 5th arrondissement. Photo by Google Maps (date unknown).
Contemporary view of intersection of rue Mouffetard (left) and rue Monge (right) in the 5th arrondissement. Photo by Google Maps (date unknown).
View from rue Saint-Honoré looking down rue Tirechape (now known as rue du Pont-Neuf) toward the Seine. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1853-70). State Library Victoria. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
View from rue Saint-Honoré looking down rue Tirechape (now known as rue du Pont-Neuf) toward the Seine. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1853-70). State Library Victoria. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Contemporary view from rue Saint-Honoré looking down rue du Pont-Neuf (formerly known as rue Tirechape) toward the Seine. Photo by Google Maps (date unknown).
Contemporary view from rue Saint-Honoré looking down rue du Pont-Neuf (formerly known as rue Tirechape) toward the Seine. Photo by Google Maps (date unknown).
Exterior view of the Théâtre du Vaudeville. Today, the building is used as a Gaumont theater. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1853-70). State Library Victoria. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Exterior view of the Théâtre du Vaudeville. Today, the building is used as a Gaumont theater. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1853-70). State Library Victoria. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Contemporary view of Gaumont Theater in Paris. Photo by Chabe01 (11 March 2017). PD-CCA-Share Alike 4.0 International. Wikimedia Commons.
Contemporary view of Gaumont Theater in Paris. Photo by Chabe01 (11 March 2017). PD-CCA-Share Alike 4.0 International. Wikimedia Commons.

Death

Marville died on 1 June 1879 at his Paris home. Only two months earlier, his last will and testament were completed. Marville left his estate including photographic prints, negatives, and equipment to his sole life-long companion, Jeanne-Louis Leuba (1815−1882) ⏤ Marville had no children. Reportedly, he was buried in the Montrouge cemetery. The city quickly put a claim in for the prints and negatives, but Leuba indicated she would continue the business. However, in September, she sold Marville’s former property to the artist, Armand Guérinet (1852−1925). In 1882, Guérinet offers to sell the negatives to Paris and the following year, the sale was completed for 650 francs. The negatives were transferred to the Bibliothèque Historique de la Ville de Paris.

View of la Bièvre, or the Beaver River. This small river runs through Paris and was used as a dump for toxic chemicals and other harmful by-products of manufacturing companies. The river was covered over but still flows through the city. Paris is giving serious consideration to uncovering the river. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1865). Metropolitan Museum of Art. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons. (Refer to “A River Runs Through It".)
View of la Bièvre, or the Beaver River. This small river runs through Paris and was used as a dump for toxic chemicals and other harmful by-products of manufacturing companies. The river was covered over but still flows through the city. Paris is giving serious consideration to uncovering the river. Photo by Charles Marville (c. 1865). Metropolitan Museum of Art. PD-Author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons. (Refer to “A River Runs Through It”.)
Photo of la Bièvre, or Beaver River. Notice the tanners on the left. Photo by Charles Marville (date unknown). Musée Carnavalet. PD-CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Wikimedia Commons. (Refer to blog, "A River Runs Through It".)
Photo of la Bièvre, or Beaver River. Notice the tanners on the left. Photo by Charles Marville (date unknown). Musée Carnavalet. PD-CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Wikimedia Commons. (Refer to blog, “A River Runs Through It”.)
Marché des Innocents. The Fontaine des Innocents stands in the middle of the market. Photo by Charles Marville (date unknown). PD-Author’s life plus 70 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Marché des Innocents. The Fontaine des Innocents stands in the middle of the market. Photo by Charles Marville (date unknown). PD-Author’s life plus 70 years or fewer. Wikimedia Commons.
Fontaine des Innocents, Paris. Photo by Cancre (10 April 2011). PD-GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2. Wikimedia Commons.
Fontaine des Innocents, Paris. Photo by Cancre (10 April 2011). PD-GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2. Wikimedia Commons.

Charles Marville’s death and legacy were very obscure, and it wasn’t until the 1980s that his work was rediscovered. Today, the photographs are part of the collection held by the Paris-owned photographic agency, Roger-Viollet (6, rue de Seine, Paris), and loaned out to museums around the world for special exhibitions. Roger-Viollet owns, controls, and licenses almost all the official photos of Paris, photos of the relics held by city-owned museums, and other related images.

If you enjoy the historical aspect of Paris, don’t miss one of the Charles Marville photography exhibitions that come to your town. I know I won’t.

Next Blog:        “The Georgian Gestapo”

Correspondence and Commentary Policy 

We welcome everyone to contact us either directly or through the individual blogs. Sandy and I review every piece of correspondence before it is approved to be published on the blog site. Our policy is to accept and publish comments that do not project hate, political, religious stances, or an attempt to solicit business (yeah, believe it or not, we do get that kind of stuff). Like many bloggers, we receive quite a bit of what is considered “Spam.” Those e-mails are immediately rejected without discussion.

Our blogs are written to inform our readers about history. We want to ensure discussions are kept within the boundary of historical facts and context without personal bias or prejudice.

We average about one e-mail every two days from our readers. We appreciate all communication because in many cases, it has led to friendships around the world.

We average about one e-mail every two days from our readers. We appreciate all communication because in many cases, it has led to friendships around the world.

★ Read and Learn More About Today’s Topic ★

Besse, François. Charles Marville: Une Mémoire du Vieux Paris. French Edition. Paris: Parigamme, 2023.

Brassaï. Translated by Richard Miller. The Secret Paris of the 30’s. London: Thames & Hudson, 1976.

Kennel, Sarah and Anne de Mondenard, Peter Barberie, Joke de Wolf. Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris. Washington, D.C.: University of Chicago Press, 2013. Published in conjunction with the National Gallery of Art (U.S.), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.), and National Gallery of Canada. Co-published with the Public Office National Gallery of Art, Washington.

“Marville’s Vanished Paris” by Luc Sante, The New York Review of Books, Sept. 2013. Click here.

Moncan, Patrice de. Charles Marville Paris Photographie au Temps d’Haussmann. French Edition. Ravières: Les Éditions du Mécène, 2008.

Pitt, Leonard. Paris, a Journey Through Time. Berkeley: Counterpoint, 2010.

Pitt, Leonard. Walks Through Lost Paris: A Journey into the Heart of Historic Paris. Berkeley: Counterpoint, 2006.

Sante, Luc. The Other Paris. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015.

Disclaimer: 

There may be a chance that after we publish this particular blog, the video links associated with the blog are no longer accessible. We have no control over this. Many times, whoever posts the video has done so without the consent of the video’s owner. In some cases, it is likely that the content is deemed unsuitable by YouTube. We apologize if you have tried to access the link and you don’t get the expected results. Same goes for internet links.

What’s New With Sandy and Stew?

Sandy and I returned from Japan about three weeks ago. It was a cruise around the major islands as well as a stop in Busan, South Korea. I didn’t realize that Japan was 70% mountainous terrain, thus explaining why the major settlements are on the coasts. The country also boasts the largest number of active volcanoes in the world ⏤ makes sense considering Japan lies on the “ring of fire.”

We stayed in Tokyo for three days prior to embarking our ship. In our opinion, Tokyo (and other large cities) was no different than New York City except for three things: they drive on the left side of the road, you can’t read the signs, and it’s a lot cleaner. There is absolutely no indication of any urban planning in any of their major cities. Everything is thrown together in a hodge-podge way resulting in a very claustrophobic and confusing feeling.

However, the one aspect that surprised us the most was the lack of English spoken. We knew that finding people outside a major city who spoke English would be difficult. However, we met very few people in Tokyo (outside of our hotel) who spoke English and those who did, it was limited and hard to understand. (This did present problems on our excursions.) Now, as someone who does not speak a foreign language, I will never criticize anyone for not speaking my language and will always commend someone for attempting to learn English or any foreign language. (To be honest, I’m always a little jealous because one of my life’s regrets is not having learned French or German.) That being said, our surprise came from knowing that Japan is at the center of international business and that English is the agreed upon world language of business. Europe recognized this in the late 1950s and in the early 1960s began to require its young citizens to learn English as a second language. I’m not familiar with Japanese school systems and requirements but based on our interactions, it seems like they did not follow the European mandate. Just a comment on our experience and we’d love to hear about any of your experiences or knowledge about Japan.

Stew and Sandy with Fernando, maître d’ of the Luminae restaurant, on board Celebrity Millennium.
Stew and Sandy with Fernando, maître d’ of the Luminae restaurant, on board Celebrity Millennium.

Thank you to all of you who subscribe to our blogs. It seems there isn’t a day that goes by where we don’t increase our readership. Please let your history buff friends and family members know about our blog site and blogs.

Someone Is Commenting On Our Blogs

We have heard from many of you over the past several months. I apologize for not responding quickly to your wonderful comments. Sandy and I have been dealing with issues leading up to and resulting from the passing of my father in late March. The past four months have seen a shift in our priorities, but we are working our way through the list. Please be assured that I will be in touch with each of you. I appreciate your patience.

If there is a topic you’d like to see a blog written about, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I love hearing from you so keep those comments coming.

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Do you enjoy reading? Do you have a hard time finding the right book in the genre you enjoy? Well, Ben at Shepherd.com has come up with an amazing way to find that book.

Shepherd highlights an author (like me) and one of their books. The author is required to review five books in the same genre. So, if a reader is interested say in cooking, they can drill down and find specific books about cooking that have been reviewed by authors in that category. Very simple.

If you like to read, I highly recommend you visit Shepherd.com. If you do, please let me know what you think and I will forward Ben any suggestions or comments you might have.

Click here to visit Shepherd’s website.

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Posted on

May 5, 1945

Unknown Soldier Cross. Photo by Visserp (2013). PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0. Wikimedia Commons.
Unknown Soldier Cross. Photo by Visserp (2013). PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0. Wikimedia Commons.

Posting this blog on the fifth of each May has become a tradition for me.

Liberation Day (also known as Freedom Day) for the Netherlands (Holland) was 5 May 1945. Canadian forces along with other Allied forces were able to obtain the surrender of German forces in the small Dutch town of Wageningen. This led to the complete German surrender and liberation of the country. The Netherlands was one of the last European countries to be liberated. Two days later in Reims, Generaloberst Alfred Jodl signed the document for the unconditional surrender of the German armies.

Did You Know?

Did you know that for the past thirty years, “Wreaths Across America” has been responsible for placing holiday wreaths on thousands of American military graves? The secularist non-profit organization, “The Military Religious Freedom Foundation” (MRFF) has declared this tradition to be “unconstitutional, an atrocity, and a disgrace.” They believe the wreath-laying to be the “desecration of non-Christians veterans’ graves.” The MRFF says, “. . . forcing the non-Christian dead who didn’t celebrate Christmas in life to celebrate it in death.” Perhaps we should all take the position that the wreaths are really meant to celebrate, remember, and honor American veterans, fallen or otherwise.

Wreaths standing at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial as part of Wreaths Across America. Photo by Manuel Balce Ceneta (18 December 2020). Associated Press.
Wreaths standing at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial as part of Wreaths Across America. Photo by Manuel Balce Ceneta (18 December 2020). Associated Press.

Netherlands American Cemetery (Margraten)

There is a cemetery near Maastricht. It is the final resting spot for 8,301 American soldiers and a memorial for 1,722 men missing in action. They were the casualties of Operation Market Garden (17–25 September 1944) and other battles aimed at liberating Holland. Operation Market Garden was a failed Allied attempt to liberate Holland while on their march to Germany and Berlin. Other military cemeteries are located nearby for the British and Canadian men who did not survive the battle. Learn more about Operation Market Garden here.

American World War II Cemetery in Margraten, The Netherlands. Photo by Kees Verburg (2014). PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0. Wikimedia Commons.
American World War II Cemetery in Margraten, The Netherlands. Photo by Kees Verburg (2014). PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0. Wikimedia Commons.

Four generations of Dutch families have adopted every man who perished in the battle. Each man’s grave is kept up and decorated by their adopted family. Every Memorial Day, American Embassy staff greets the Dutch families as they arrive at the cemetery to lay down flowers and wreaths. Even a portrait of their adopted soldier sits in their respective homes.

Townspeople at Margraten cemetery to lay wreaths
Townspeople arriving at Margraten Cemetery to lay wreaths and flowers on their adopted soldier’s grave. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). Nathan Wilkes, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Garrison Public Affairs.

“Face of  Margraten” was started by a young Dutch man to preserve the image of each of the fallen soldiers. About eight thousand images have been collected and every two years, each grave is marked with the image of its occupant.

John J. Lister killed in action on 7 April 1945 – 48 Infantry Batalion – 7th Armored Division – C Company. Photo by Erfgoed in Beeld (2006). PD-CCA-Share Alike 2.0. Wikimedia Commons.
John J. Lister killed in action on 7 April 1945 – 48 Infantry Batalion – 7th Armored Division – C Company. Photo by Erfgoed in Beeld (2006). PD-CCA-Share Alike 2.0. Wikimedia Commons.

 

Hongerwinter

Tribute to Dutch Women of the Winter of Hunger. Photo by Peter de Wit (2008). Tile made by ‘De Porceleyne Fles’ in Delft, Netherlands. PD-CCA 2.0. Wikimedia Commons.
Tribute to Dutch Women of the Winter of Hunger. Photo by Peter de Wit (2008). Tile made by ‘De Porceleyne Fles’ in Delft, Netherlands. PD-CCA 2.0. Wikimedia Commons.

The Dutch railway workers called a strike before the battle began believing it would increase the chances of success by the Allied forces. The Allied efforts failed and Holland would have to wait another seven months to be liberated. In retaliation for the rail strike, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, the Nazi leader in charge of the German occupation of Holland, refused to allow any food into the country. Holland was literally being starved to death during the 1944-1945 Hongerwinter (winter of hunger). More than 20,000 people died that winter of starvation. By the end of the war, subsistence was four hundred calories per person. Seyss-Inquart was one of the Nuremberg defendants tried, convicted, and executed for various war crimes, including those committed in Holland. Watch a news clip here.

Liberation Day

Every May on the fifth, Liberation Day is celebrated in Holland. For two minutes, everything and everybody stops while the church bells ring. At the end of the day, a concert is held. Beginning in 1965 (the 20th anniversary of the liberation), Nino Rossi’s taps called “Il Silenzio” is played as the final piece of the concert.

As a 10-year-old living in the city of Wassenaar during the 1960s, I’ll never forget stopping on the street wherever we were when the church bells began to ring. We stopped talking and listened to the bells ring for 2 minutes—every year.

I invite you to click on the following link and listen to a 13-year-old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, play “Il Silenzio” during the 2008 concert celebrating the liberation of Holland. The Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands backs her up. It is very moving—at least for the former 10-year-old boy growing up in Holland.

Grab a tissue before you listen to this.  I do.

President’s Speech

“On this peaceful May morning we commemorate a great victory for liberty, and the thousands of white marble crosses and Stars of David underscore the terrible price we pay for that victory. For the Americans who rest here, Dutch soil provides a fitting home. It was from a Dutch port that many of our pilgrim fathers first sailed to America. It was a Dutch port that gave the American flag its first gun salute. It was the Dutch who became one of the first foreign nations to recognize the independence of the new United States of America. And when American soldiers returned to this continent to fight for freedom, they were led by a President (Roosevelt) who owed his family name to this great land.”

George W. Bush

President of the United States

28 May 2005

Netherlands American Cemetery

Recommended Reading and Viewing

Levin, Joseph E. (Producer). A Bridge Too Far. United Artists, 1977.

Matzen, Robert. Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II. Pittsburgh, PA: GoodKnight Books, 2019.

Disclaimer:

There may be a chance that after we publish this particular blog, the video links associated with the blog are no longer accessible. We have no control over this. Many times, whoever posts the video has done so without the consent of the video’s owner. In some cases, it is likely that the content is deemed unsuitable by YouTube. We apologize if you have tried to access the link and you don’t get the expected results. Same goes for internet links.

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