New WWII plaque unveiled at Arnhem Bridge after original vanishes
A new World War II memorial plaque has been unveiled at the John Frost Bridge in Arnhem after the original bronze plaque, in place since 1978, mysteriously disappeared last week, according to NOS.
The new plaque, initiated by the Dutch television program Even tot hier, was revealed in a ceremony that drew strong reactions from the local government. The municipality of Arnhem said it was “deeply moved” by the gesture.
“The creators of the program sensed with great precision how this bridge, this monument, and the memory of the Battle of Arnhem are still alive in the city,” said alderman Bob Roelofs.
The original bronze plaque, which provided historical context about the Battle of Arnhem, vanished last week under unclear circumstances. Authorities suspect theft, and the incident triggered outrage from local officials. “It is the most sacred place in Arnhem, where the commemoration of the Second World War is so deeply felt,” Roelofs said. No information has been released on the whereabouts of the missing plaque.
The new commemorative plate created by Even tot hier is composed of hundreds of compiled photographs of soldiers from the unit commanded by British Lieutenant Colonel John Frost. Together, the photos form a mosaic image of Frost himself.
The bridge spanning the Rhine is named after John Frost, who led a British airborne battalion that attempted to hold the bridge during the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. The confrontation was a key part of Operation Market Garden, the Allied military campaign aimed at capturing a series of bridges in the Netherlands to enable a rapid advance into Germany. Although the operation ultimately failed, the battle has become a symbol of courage and sacrifice, and the bridge has remained a prominent site for annual WWII commemorations.
