Geuzenveld-Slotermeer in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Manna
Ram Katzir, 2020
Het Meerwaldtplantsoen ligt in de Verzetsheldenbuurt, een wijk waar alle straten zijn vernoemd naar verzetsstrijders uit de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Arthur 'Boems' Meerwaldt was een Amsterdamse advocaat en betrokken bij het studenten- verzet. In augustus 1944 werd hij tot 15 jaar tuchthuis veroordeeld. Hij overleed op 8 januari 1945 in Escherhausen. Dit kunstwerk herinnert aan de dagelijkse strijd om te overleven tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Het brood symboliseert het Zweedse wittebrood dat werd gegeten aan het einde van de Hongerwinter in 1945. Veel mensen staat in het geheugen gegrift dat in april en mei van 1945 boven Nederland witbrood aan kleine parachutes naar beneden werd geworpen door Britse en Amerikaanse bommenwerpers. Het brood was echter al in februari in Nederland gebakken en gedistribueerd, van meel dat was aangevoerd door drie grote schepen van het Zweedse Rode Kruis.
Eind april en begin mei dropten de geallieerden voedselpakketten op verschillende locaties in Nederland. De Britten gaven deze droppings de codenaam Operatie Manna. Het woord Manna heeft een Hebreeuwse, Griekse en Arabische oorsprong. Het kan zijn afgeleid van het Egyptische Mennu. Dat betekent voedsel. In de Bijbel valt Manna uit de hemel. Manna is "hemelsbrood'.
Brood speelt in verschillende culturen een belangrijke rol en brengt mensen samen. Het kunstwerk is ontworpen als een ontmoetingsplek voor de buurt.
(English translation:)
The Meerwaldtplantsoen (Meerwaldt Park) is located in the Verzetsheldenbuurt (Resistance Heroes Neighborhood), an area where all the streets are named after resistance fighters from World War II. Arthur 'Boems' Meerwaldt was an Amsterdam lawyer and involved in the student resistance. In August 1944 he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He died on January 8, 1945 in Escherhausen. This work of art recalls the daily struggle for survival during World War II.
The bread symbolizes the Swedish white bread that was eaten at the end of the Hunger Winter in 1945. A lot of people remember that in April and May of 1945 white bread carried by small parachutes was dropped down from the Dutch skies by British and American bombers. The bread however, had already been in the Netherlands in February, baked and distributed from flour that had been brought in by three large ships of the Swedish Red Cross.
At the end of April and the beginning of May, the Allies dropped food packages at various locations in the Netherlands. The British codenamed these drops Operation Manna. The word Manna has Hebrew, Greek and Arabic origins. It may be derived from the Egyptian Mennu. That means food. In the Bible, Manna falls from heaven. Manna is "heavenly bread".
Bread plays an important role in different cultures and brings people together. The artwork is designed as a meeting place for the neighbourhood.
Erected 2020 by Gemeente Amsterdam.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is April 29, 1945.
Location. 52° 22.975′ N, 4° 49.67′ E. Memorial is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Geuzenveld-Slotermeer. It is at the intersection of Burgemeester Vening Meineszlaan and Burgemeester Eliasstraat, on the left when traveling east on Burgemeester Vening Meineszlaan. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1063 ET, Netherlands. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Benelux Low Countries, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Louis Naarstig (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Eijl (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Willem Arondeus (about 120 meters away); Piet Laroo (about 120 meters away); Johan Limpers (about 120 meters away); Mientje ten Dam (about 150 meters away); Cornelis de Groot (about 150 meters away); Pierre Coronel (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Henriλtte Pimentel (was about 150 meters away but has been confirmed missing).
More about this memorial. The marker is located on the northern edge of the Meerwaldtplantsoen.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Arthur Meerwaldt (Wikipedia, in Dutch).
Excerpt (in translation):"Arthur Meerwaldt (Amsterdam, October 23, 1918 - Escherhausen, January 8, 1945) was a Dutch lawyer, court clerk and journalist - resistance fighter in World War II ....He was the main defendant in the Tweede Parool trial (July/August 1944), in which he was sentenced to fifteen years in a disciplinary house after the death penalty had been demanded. He posthumously received the Resistance Cross 1940-1945, the second highest Dutch award after the Military William Order for persons who were active in the resistance during the Second World War.(Submitted on May 29, 2023.)
2. Dutch famine of 19441945 (Wikipedia).
Overview: The Dutch famine of 19441945, also known as the Hunger Winter (from Dutch Hongerwinter), was a famine that took place in the German-occupied Netherlands, especially in the densely populated western provinces north of the great rivers, during the relatively harsh winter of 19441945, near the end of World War II.(Submitted on May 29, 2023.)
A German blockade cut off food and fuel shipments from farm towns. Some 4.5 million were affected and survived thanks to soup kitchens. Loe de Jong (19142005), author of The Kingdom of the Netherlands During World War II, estimated at least 22,000 deaths occurred due to the famine. Another author estimated 18,000 deaths from the famine. Most of the victims were reportedly elderly men.
3. Operations Manna and Chowhound (Wikipedia).
Overview: Operation Manna and Operation Chowhound were humanitarian food drops to relieve a famine in the German-occupied Netherlands, undertaken by Allied bomber crews during the final days of World War II in Europe. Manna(Submitted on May 29, 2023.)(29 April 7 May 1945), which dropped 7,000 tonnes of food into the still Nazi-Occupied western part of the Netherlands, was carried out by British RAF units and squadrons from the Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and Polish air forces. Chowhound (18 May 1945), which dropped 4,000 tonnes, was undertaken by the United States Army Air Forces. In total, over 11,000 tonnes of food were dropped over 1.5 weeks. The drops were performed with the acquiescence of the occupying German forces to help feed Dutch civilians in danger of starvation.Unknown (courtesy of Beeldsbank Rijswijk via Wikimedia Commons), 19454. Operation Manna: dropping food over YpenburgA Lancaster aircraft pulls up again after it has ejected its payload over Ypenburg. The food was transported by wagons to the flour factory at the Hoornbrug. From there it was shipped across the Vliet to a storage center at the Laakhaven to be sorted and distributed.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 181 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 29, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 3. submitted on December 10, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 4. submitted on May 29, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.



