Welcome!

It's our pleasure to announce a special event station in the Gennep region commemorating 70 years of freedom: PA7ØOV. This special event station is made possible by several amateur radio operators from the region.

Operation Veritable, the successor of Operation Market Garden, was the northern part of an Allied pincer movement. The operation took place between the 8^th of february and the 11^th of march 1945, with the objective to clear German forces from the area between the Rhine and Maas rivers, east of the German/Dutch frontier, in the Rhineland. It was part of General Dwight Eisenhower's "broad front" strategy to occupy the entire west bank of the Rhine before its crossing.

Operation Veritable is not known very well to most people. It was the battle which formed the prelude to the leap across the Rhine after which the eventual defeat of Germany soon followed. Both operations took place in the Land of Maas and Niers.

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The Gennep region played a special role. In the city of Gennep in particular you can experience Operation Veritable. The Battle of the Reichswald forrest and the Battle of Gennep formed the prologue to the successful crossing of the Rhine.

The Martinus Tower in Gennep bears the scars of Operation Veritable and tells you it′s tale. The tower is nowadays the starting point of two cycle routes which, among other things, lead through the Reichswald where the last big battle on the western frontier took place. Here you will also find the largest war cemetery of the 2^nd World War in Europe and the largest German war cemetery of the Lower Rhine area.

To be able to get the allied troops across the Maas the longest Bailey bridge of the 2^nd World War was built in Gennep. The Gennep region became a battlefield during Operation Veritable and most of the inhabitants had to take refuge. It took a long time of heavy fighting before the region was truly liberated. Many people and militairy were killed and buildings and bridges were destroyed. At the cost of many young soldiers the Gennep region was conquered.

Let′s commemorate and celebrate 70 years of freedom. The activities will take place from february 6^th to february 8^th 2015. During 3 days we will activate the callsign PA7ØOV and try to work as many amateur radio operators across the world. Whether you are an amateur radio operator hoping to contact a new country or a casual visitor, we welcome you to our website.

Some members of the SRS (Surplus Radio Society) will also join us during the activities and will demonstrate - and transmit with - old (restored) WW-II militairy equipment. Next to that members of DARES (Dutch Amateur Radio Emergency Service) will demonstrate how - in case of an emergency - (digital) messages can be broadcasted.

The government of Limburg will lend us their exposition about the liberation of the province of Limburg during WW-II. This exposition will be shown in our radio-building next to the other activities.

If you find yourself in the vicinity of Gennep, near Nijmegen, be sure to visit us throughout the activities of the special event station. We are situated in the centre of Gennep. Our contact info is here.

The opening hours for the public are (in local time):

• Friday 6^th 2015 :
  09:30 - 21:00 hrs.
• Saturday 7^th 2015 :
  09:00 - 21:00 hrs.
• Sunday 8^th 2015 :
  09:30 - 18:00 hrs.

You might take the opportunity to visit the National Liberation Museum, only at 10-15 minutes driving distance.

Please also have a look at the website of the Veritable Foundation (only in Dutch). This website is dedicated to Operation Veritable.