Description (EN): The Second World War has had a lasting impact on the landscape of the 2 Seas area. Many physical remains such as bunkers and fortifications still remain but are derelict and inaccessible to the public. Keys to understanding the history of World War 2 and its material legacy are the memories of eye-witnesses. Combining both physical and intellectual heritage offers important sources of information and the opportunity to learn more about this historical period.
The WW2 Heritage project aims to ensure the preservation of this heritage and improve access to it. The partnership comprises of 10 partners from 4 countries of the 2 Seas area, each responsible for key WW2 heritage sites and experts in interpreting this heritage. Together they will make an inventory of the physical relics, collect memories of WW2 eye-witness accounts, improve access to this heritage and to partner’s heritage knowledge, as well as producing interpretive information and educational programmes.
WW2 Heritage will also develop the touristic potential of these sites by creating a range of interactive and digital applications and pedestrian, cycling and driving “discovery trails”.
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Expected Results (EN): What are the key results of the project?
Activity 1 – Data Collection and Research
- 1 Report physical WW2 remains from each region with Map of the cross-border distribution and typology
- 1 Overview of oral history accounts
- 30 - 50 interviews per region (Zeeland, Essex/East of England, West Flanders)
- 1 Cross-border historic publication on DVD
Activity 2 – Making history accessible
- 1 best practice compendium
- 4 familiarisation visits with design workshops
- modernised presentations at Raversijde Atlantic Wall museum
- access path created on the grounds of Fort des Dunes, Leffrinckoucke
- memorial centre created in/around Oranjemolen, Vlissingen
- a network of interpretative shields/billboards on sites around Essex and Suffolk
- Park Toorenvliedt, Middelburg, open as WW2 memorial environment
- information materials for use on WW2 heritage sites and museums
- 1 educational package developed, pilot tested and evaluated
Activity 3 – Develop WW2 related tourism
- 1 network of WW2 heritage sites
- 1 range of Interactive presentation and information tools (web 2.0, smart-phone apps, social media)
- 15 touch screen stations (interactive presentation and information materials) in the partners WW2 sites
- 4 regional discovery routes along the participating sites including information and directions on different media (paper, CD, mobile content)
- 1 cross-border route connecting participating sites including information and directions on different media
- 1 capacity building programme for volunteers and museum staff
- 4 cross-border capacity building sessions (1 per country) delivered to audience of approx 25 volunteers and museum staff from partner regions.
- 1 webquest in 3 languages
Are all partners and territories benefitting from the results?
All partners benefit from the project since this projects links the common heritage of the whole territory. Target groups directly addressed by the project activities are: stakeholders and organisations involved in management of and communication about heritage, commemoration and explanation; owners, managers, staff, volunteers of WW2 museums / sites benefit from the knowledge exchange during meetings, study visit and familiarisation visits; eye-witnesses / people who have lived through WW2 benefit from making their stories public/having the recorded for the future; scientists and members of general public with an interest in (regional) WW2 history, schools, educational institutes benefit from the inventories of physical remnants; regional tourism associations benefit from the joint branding of the region and local communities and inhabitants benefit from the physical accessibility and understanding of their history by the educational accessibility.
Final beneficiaries are: the youth of all ages who will benefit from educational programs; tourists and visitors coming to the WW2 Heritage sites with increased educational and physical accessibility; businesses and tourism related sectors of the regional economy who benefit from increased attraction of their region to visitors; and finally public authorities, owners and managers of heritage sites throughout the 2 Seas area who benefit from joint branding, educational and physical accessibility.
What are the effects / outcomes for the territories involved?
The project contributes to the common understanding of World War 2, a very important period of the common history of the 2 seas area. Through the cooperation between organisations, schools, local communities, managers and staff of heritage sites, the project contributes to social inclusion and knowledge transfer. Especially Activity 3 (develop tourist destination), contributes to the economic development of the concerned regions.
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