All parties represented in the Provincial Council of Limburg, with the exception of the BBB, the PVV, Forum for Democracy and Oos Limburg, want to quickly investigate whether there can be a memorial – temporarily or otherwise – for black American liberators. The eleven parties ask the Provincial Executive (GS) to explore the possibilities with the municipality of Eijsden-Margraten.
They include this assignment in state questions in response to a publication by NRC. Two panels explaining the contributions of African-American soldiers have disappeared from the permanent exhibition in the visitor center at the cemetery. According to a spokesperson for the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) in Paris, this involves “rotation”. Kees Ribbens, senior researcher at the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies and special professor of popular historical culture of global conflicts and mass violence at Erasmus University Rotterdam, believes the removal of the memorial plaques is in line with the Trump administration’s approach, aimed at tackling diversity and inclusion policies.
‘Indecent’ and ‘unacceptable’
The eleven parties that asked the questions to GS “are shocked by the reporting.” According to them, the removal does not do justice to history and is in their view “indecent” and “unacceptable”. PvdA, VVD, GroenLinks, the Party for the Animals, D66, Lokaal-Limburg, SP, CDA, Horizon, 50PLUS and JA21 also want to know whether GS can do anything to promote the replacement of the panels.
The American cemetery in Margraten is the final resting place of more than 8,000 liberators. In addition, 1,700 missing people are commemorated on a memorial wall. The Netherlands has loaned the land to the Americans forever in gratitude for the liberation. The ABMC is responsible for the management of the cemetery. The monument desired by some of the States should be placed outside that area.
The American military was still segregated during World War II. Black soldiers mainly had a serving, logistical role. They also helped dig the graves in Margraten. One of the two memorial plaques stated that the black soldiers fought against both the enemy and racism.
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