WWII – Other
Jasenovac Concentration Camp
Was a concentration and extermination camp established in the village of Jasenovac by the authorities of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) under German Occupation in Yugoslavia during World War II. The concentration camp, one of the ten largest in Europe, was established and operated by the governing Ustaše regime.
The camp was established in August 1941, at the confluence of the Sava and Una rivers near the village of Jasenovac, and was dismantled in April 1945. It was notorious for its barbaric practices. Unlike German run camps, Jasenovac lacked the infrastructure for mass murder on an industrial scale, such as gas chambers. Instead, it specialized in one-on-one violence of a particularly brutal kind, prisoners were murdered with knives, hammers, and axes, or shot. Camp guards would have contests to see who could kill the fastest with special knives.
In 1960 the Communist Government of Yugoslavia established a Memorial at the site. A small Museum was later added.
Today the site consists of the Memorial a small Museum and a Train with a few cars that were used to transport the victims.
Luxembourg American Cemetery
Nestled in the serene commune of Hamm, just outside Luxembourg City, lies the Luxembourg American Cemetery. This hallowed ground serves as the final resting place for over 5,000 American soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War II, particularly during the Battle of the Bulge, one of the most pivotal and brutal confrontations of the war.
You can read more about the Luxembourg American Cemetery at our blog post here.
Italian WW2 Cemetery Ljubljana
A cemetery on the outskirts of Ljubljana, Slovenia. It is the biggest cemetery of the small country. There are detailed headstones and memorials on this site honoring World War One and World War Two soldiers, and other sections of the cemetery hold the remains of civilians as well.
Austrian WW2 Cemetery Ljubljana
A memorial located in Ljubljana, Slovenia honoring Austrian soldiers. This is a memorial built and placed by the Austrian Black Cross to honor fallen Austrian soldiers from both the first and second world war.
Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping Fortress
The Lugou Bridge, otherwise known as the Marco Polo Bridge, is made famous by its one time Venetian visitor Marco Polo. Now, this bridge is most famous for the battle between the Republic of China’s National Revolutionary Army and the Imperial Japanese Army on July 8th, 1937; this is often claimed as the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). Read more on the Marco Polo Bridge & Wanping Fortress.
Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall
Also known as the Nanjing Massacre Memorial for Compatriots killed in the Nanking Massacre by Japanese Forces of Aggression, this hall is to memorialize those who were killed in the Nanjing Massacre by the Imperial Japanese Army. Read more on the Nanjing Memorial.
Fort Eben-Emael
Built from 1931-1935, Ft. Eben-Emael sits inactive on the Belgian-Dutch border. This Belgian fort was considered impenetrable and the largest fort in the world at the time. It was designed to defend Belgium from a German attack across the narrow belt of Dutch territory in the region, however in 1940 the fort was neutralized by a small fleet of German Paratroopers.