Lessons of war. The significance of battlefield tours for the Dutch military

Abstract

This paper analyses the personal experiences of Dutch army members during military battlefield tours to historical war sites. We present a qualitative interview based analysis of the experiences and uses of the past by the Dutch military and discuss the tensions present in the military battlefield tours. In doing so, we argue for integrating research about cognitive procedures of re-enactment and bodily experiences on historical sites. Our findings suggest that the military battlefield tours help to evoke a specific placebound engagement with the past. Visits to former war sites evoke detailed and vivid images of the past. The historical landscape thereby provides external clues and arguments that assist in comprehending the course of a historical event. The multiple visual and sensual triggers on a historical site allow for cognitive and bodily knowledge and appeal to the participant's imagination. How and to what extent the past is imagined strongly depends on the knowledge and cultural background of the participant, as well as the attempts of the participants to actively do something imaginatively with the material present on site. When trying to understand the emotional impact and consequences of warfare, the participants tend to identify with past actors, which sometimes generates dilemmas.

Heritage, Culture and Regeneration of the Former Military Areas in the City of Oradea, Romania

“…Designed to follow current architectural trends from the beginning of the 20th century, the villa district was built for the officers and their families during 1911 -1912 (Calea Armatei Române -Romanian Army Street -nos. 6, 8, 12, 16,18,20,22). The buildings were constructed and designed in secessionist and early art deco styles, by famous architects of the Dual Monarch, like György Tarr (no.…”

“…12, 22), Ferenc Sztarill (no. 16,18) in Calea Armatei Române street, Ignácz Grünfeld and József Lánczy (no. 3, 7) in Strada Mimozei.…”

“…17 Post-military landscapes also contribute to the formation of a place-bound engagement with the past. 18 The aim of this article is to present the military heritage in Oradea (Romania); their historical and architectural significance -highlighting the possible attractions as well. The complex and integrated nature and values of the former military areas also have to be mentioned, as they are sites of archaeological, artistic, cultural, historical, scientific, social or technical interest, 19 where the socio-economic context, 20 is in direct relation to various phases of social and historical evolution.…”

Critical Success Factors (CSFs) Model for Military Training Mobile Gaming Apps (MG apps)

“…There are numerous examples of successful apps of games for military training [48]. The US, UK, Australian and Dutch armies employ Virtual Battlespace 2 [49]- [50], based on the commercial game Armed Assault, to train soldiers in fundamental infantry tactics. Steel Beasts [51]- [52] is a simulation game for training tactical vehicle movement and warfare that has been used for years.…”