The Margraten Boys: How a European Village Kept America's Liberators Alive

by Peter Schrijvers

Harrowing and redeeming, this is the history of a unique 'adoption' system. For generations, local families, grateful for the sacrifice of their liberators from Nazi occupation, have cared for not only the graves, but the memories, of over 10,000 US soldiers in the cemetery of Margraten in the Netherlands.

Genres: Nonfiction

341 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Dr. Peter Schrijvers (1963- ) is a Belgian academic and writer of history books. He earned a masters degree in Modern History from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Catholic University of Leuven) an a PhD in US Diplomatic and Military History from the Ohio State University.
Today (2014) he is a Senior Lecturer American and international history at the School of Humanities and Languages, University of New South Wales in Sydney.

Peter Schrijvers mainly writes academic books in English.

*****

Peter Schrijvers doceerde Amerikaanse geschiedenis in Australië, de VS en Zwitserland. Hij publiceerde zes non-fictieboeken over de Tweede Wereldoorlog, onder andere bij Cambridge en Yale, en was te zien op National Geographic. Momenteel is hij curator van Liberation Garden, het nieuwe museum over de Tweede Wereldoorlog in Leopoldsburg. Een hoofd vol vlammen is zijn eerste roman.

Reviews

[Boudewijn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story about an American war cemetery in Margaten, the Netherlands. The local people who have adopted 'their boys' and take care of the graves and their American family, grateful for the care.

When the Netherlands was liberated in 1944-1945 - not only by the Americans but also the English and Canadians - those who gave their lives were all gathered in the Margraten cemetry. This book deals with the initial beginnings, the 'adopt-a-grave' initiative started by the local inhabitants and the role of the cemetry in the American - Netherlands relations during not only the initial years after the war, but also the more troubeld times during the Vietnam war and the Iraq war.

What struck me was that the politics never was able to influence the relationship the local inhabitants had with 'their boys'. Most of the inhabitants actually had personally known the soldiers, for ezample because they were quarterred in their homes, only to fall later in the war. A bond was created and taking care of the graves of their liberators is passed on from one generation to the next.

Between the politics, the organization the author managed to capture the enduring bond the Dutch citizens have with the American families of the deceased ones. The book is full of stories about the adoptees and the thankfull American families which added an emotional layer.


(Private collection)

[Azcenedella · Rating 4 out of 5]

My uncle is a Margraten Boy. I have visited his grave there, and have met his adopter, so the book was very meaningful to me. It is amazing that a village managed to adopt the graves of every soldier who is buried there. It gave, and continues to give, great comfort for families to know that these young men were not forgotten by the people they helped to liberate.

[Koos Van Delden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirerend boek over de adoptie van de graven op Margraten door de jaren heen.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! Granted, I love cemeteries and war history, so this book was perfect for me. It does get a bit repetitive at points, but otherwise, it was really good. I loved how the author weaved general world history together with the individual stories of the Margraten boys (and girls). In all, "The Margraten Boys" was a fantastic book, and I highly recommend it to anyone.