Commemorate in May

May is traditionally the month of remembrance. In anticipation 80 years of freedom, which launches in September, asks National Committee On May 4 and 5, attention will be paid to the scars of the Second World War that are still visible. On May 14, 1940, Rotterdam was hit hard by the German bombing, which destroyed the historic city center in less than fifteen minutes. After the war, the city was rebuilt, with many new buildings fitted with works of art. There are numerous monuments and works of art throughout the city to commemorate the impact of the Second World War and the subsequent reconstruction.

Liberation Monument (1950)
Joan Bakker

This Liberation Monument was made by sculptor Joan Bakker and municipal architect Jan Poot. It was unveiled on May 5, 1950 by the then mayor Oud. It consists of a red brick column interrupted by collars of French natural stone. Reliefs have been applied at eye level, representing dancing youth. The crown of the column is a lion, also made of French limestone. The text on the column reads: “May 5, 1945 - We Commemorate Our Cases".

The destroyed city (1953)
Ossip Zadkine

This image is one of the most famous international war monuments. The destroyed city has become the embodiment of bombed Rotterdam. Sculptor Ossip Zadkine made this war memorial in 1947 as a terracotta statue of 70 cm high. In 1949, the then director of the Bijenkorf, Mr. Van der Wal, was so impressed by the design that he purchased a large bronze version and donated it to the municipality of Rotterdam.

The bow (1956)
Frederico Carasso

In memory of the victims who fell at sea during the Second World War, Carasso created the 'National Monument for the Merchant Navy'. The work is 46 meters high and was awarded the title The bow. Even before the unveiling, the image was criticized and it was decided to add a human element to the image. In 1965, therefore, a group of bronze figures was placed at the foot of the statue. The words 'are on the base of the monument'they kept course'.

Monument to All the Fallen 1940-1945 (1957)
Mari Andriessen

The Monument to all fallen 1940 - 1945 was created as a result of a competition organized by the Committee for the Establishment of the Rotterdam Memorial, which was founded on May 16, 1945. None of the entries were satisfactory, after which the Dutch Circle of Sculptors put forward several sculptors on its own initiative, including Mari Andriessen.

Il grande miracolo (1958)
Marino Marini

Il grande miracolo by Marino Marini was unveiled in 1958 to commemorate the execution of twenty Rotterdam men on March 12, 1945. It was a reprisal for an attack on two members of the German secret service. Shortly afterwards, another twenty men were executed on Hofplein. On May 4, there will be several gatherings and wreath layings in the city, including the commemoration ceremony at the National Merchant Navy Monument The bow. The memorial meeting starts at 18.30:1940 PM in the Laurenskerk, followed by a silent procession towards Plein XNUMX.

Fire limit (2010)
West 8

On May 14, 1940, Rotterdam was bombed, after which a large part of the center went up in flames. In May 2006, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen decided that the fire boundary should be marked. The Fire limit, designed by the West 8 architectural firm, consists of LED luminaires that light up red or green at night. The luminaire contains an illustration of The destroyed city and the silhouette of a Heinkel bomber, both depicted in front of a sea of ​​flames with a few burning buildings.