RN Documentary: A Diary of War and Liberation
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Series: RN Documentaries
Length: 30:26
The program consists of readings of Harm van der Wal’s vivid and often dramatic wartime diary. It tells of hours and sometimes weeks sitting in an anti-bomb shelter while both Allied and German forces were bombing the area of Delfzijl, a harbor town in the Northern part of the Netherlands close to the German border. It also tells how his “normal life”, of going to high school on his bike, having parties, etc, continue. The readings ( read by a younger studio voice) , are cut with the 80-year-old’s memories, partly recorded near the tiny church that is the only thing that remains from his village, partly on the dyke overlooking Germany.
The area was liberated by several Canadian regiments; The Cape Breton Highlanders captured Delfzijl in May 1945. Delfzijl was one of the last Dutch towns to be liberated.
Also in the RN Documentaries series
An Angel-headed Hipster's Howl
(29:30)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Fifty year's after the publication of Allen Ginsberg's poem "Howl" and its subsequent obscenity trial, poets and friends look back at its origins, impact and relevance today.
RN Documentary: Raising Cain(e) with Mahler
(29:31)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
American jazz pianist and composer Uri Caine talks about his interpretations of work by Austrian composer Gustav Mahler.
RN Documentary: The Music of Love (Valentine's Day special)
(30:59)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Seated at his Bechstein grand, concert pianist and astrologer Gary Goldschneider talks to Dheera Sujan about the music inspired by and written about love - illustrating with ...
RN Documentary: Cavalry, Caravans and Christians: Genghis Khan and Europe's first global age
(29:30)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
The lasting impact of the Mongol invasions on Europe, 800 years after Genghis Khan united the Mongols into one nation.
RN Documentary: Driving out the Filth in Zimbabwe
(31:00)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
A year and a half ago, the Zimbabwean government destroyed the livelihoods of 2.5 million Zimbabweans and made 700,000 people homeless. Nothing has been done to help the victims.
RN Documentary: Modern Day Mongolia
(29:30)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Mongolia in the 21st century must choose which aspects of modernity and tradition will shape its identity in the 21st century.
RN Documentary: Seamus Heaney: Bogging In Again
(29:30)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Poet and Nobel laureate revisits dark past in response to recent wars and violence
RN Documentary: Taming the Salt Monster
(29:29)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
The great swathes of the Western Australian wheatbelt were created a century ago when 1000 acres of bush were burned a day and the land became the nation?s breadbasket. ...
RN Documentary: A Christmas Edition of The Stars of Music with Gary Goldschneider and Dheera Sujan
(29:59)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Concert pianist and astrologer Gary Goldschneider talks to Dheera Sujan about the origins of Christmas music.
RN Documentary: Law and Peace Part I
(29:30)
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Why has The Hague become the centre for International peace and justice.
Related Pieces
Piece Description
The program consists of readings of Harm van der Wal’s vivid and often dramatic wartime diary. It tells of hours and sometimes weeks sitting in an anti-bomb shelter while both Allied and German forces were bombing the area of Delfzijl, a harbor town in the Northern part of the Netherlands close to the German border. It also tells how his “normal life”, of going to high school on his bike, having parties, etc, continue. The readings ( read by a younger studio voice) , are cut with the 80-year-old’s memories, partly recorded near the tiny church that is the only thing that remains from his village, partly on the dyke overlooking Germany. The area was liberated by several Canadian regiments; The Cape Breton Highlanders captured Delfzijl in May 1945. Delfzijl was one of the last Dutch towns to be liberated.
Transcript
Voice
Radio Netherlands, the Dutch International Radio, presents:
A Diary of War and Liberation.
Music starts( Jacques Ibert, Trio for violin, cello and harp ( 1944), CD 2, track 10, Brilliant 6486, performers: Ernestine Stoop harp, Nieuw Nederlands Strijkkwartet)
Teaser Harm van der Wal
You think, ya, sixty years, now, a free man, what does that mean? And then I started looking into my diaries, and I could not sleep and I said “it’s enough, I can’t read it. It was very difficult for me to talk about those horrible events and I have put it away. And now it’s different. I think it’s so necessary that people like me who experienced this war tell the story and tell what ordinary people like me suffer during such a war.
I now see there is still a mission for us.
voice
Harm van der Wal came of age during World War two.
He lived in a village close to the harbou...
Read the full transcript
Musical Works
1) music title: Trio for violin, cello and harp ( 1944); sound carrier CD; title Jacques Ibert chamber music; catalogue: brilliant 6486; performers Nieuw Nederlands Strijkkwartet; composer: Jacques Ibert; dur: 45 secs
2) Regimental March- Highland laddie; CD Eighty years of glory ; performers Calgary Highlanders
composer:unknown, BNA 5051, dur: 40 secs
3) music title: Ik zie de zon; sound carrier CD, Title: Nederland Bezet en Bevrijd II, label: DCD 5421; composer:unknown; performer: Eddy Christiani; dur 40 secs
Related Website
Of 1 purchasers of this piece...
- 1 also bought:
The WASPs: Women Pilots of WWII (21:43) - 1 also bought:
A Cowboy Christmas (54:24) - 1 also bought:
- 1 also bought:
- 1 also bought:
christine porter
Posted on May 03, 2005 at 05:34 AM | Permalink
Review of RN Documentary: A Diary of War and Liberation
Very interesting topic and insightful man. Well done.