80 years ago, on March 3, 1945, the town of Kevelaer was liberated by British troops. For the people who remained in Kevelaer, this marked the end of the Second World War, even if the consequences of the war were still felt for a long time.
At the beginning of 1945, British troops advanced from the west and northwest through the northern Lower Rhine as part of "Operation Veritable". As the front line drew ever closer, Kevelaer was largely evacuated, partly voluntarily and partly under duress, as many citizens did not want to leave their homes. Nevertheless, some inhabitants were still hiding in the town's already badly damaged buildings or on the surrounding farms when the British units approached at the end of February.
The first battles on the territory of today's pilgrimage town of Kevelaer took place in Kervenheim on February 28, 1945. The town was heavily destroyed by bombing and artillery fire. On March 2, the German soldiers withdrew from the largely destroyed Kervenheim.
Kevelaer was luckier than Kervenheim. The German troops left the town almost without a fight the day before. Fortunately without carrying out the ordered demolition of the tower of St. Mary's Basilica. The fact that Kevelaer was largely spared was partly thanks to the French prisoner of war Irénée Hypolite Aguillon, who brought the news to the British troops that no resistance was to be expected in Kevelaer. As a result, British soldiers entered the town on the morning of March 3, 1945.
On the same day, Twisteden and Wetten were occupied without a fight, while the last battles for Winnekendonk and the surrounding farms took place on March 4. For the people of Kevelaer, this was the end of the war - but its traces and effects left their mark on the townscape and the lives of the citizens for a long time to come.
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of these historic events, the liberation of Kevelaer and the people who lived through this time will be commemorated.
Interesting information about Kevelaer citizens from the post-war period and about the three stumbling stones in Kevelaer can be found on the pages of the town archive at www.kevelaer.de/stadtarchiv.