Airborne
Battle
Wheels
Oosterbeek
News !
ABWO 2024 will be huge
ABWO 2024 has reached it's maximum capacity. We are very happy to welcome many new people from an increasing number of countries. Earlier than other years and more than other years all places are booked. It will be one of the biggest events we ever had. If you have...
ABWO 2024 promises to be busy!
ABWO 2024 promises to be a major event. We are also very happy to welcome many new people from an increasing number of countries.If you haven't registered (and paid!) yet, do so quickly, as the maximum number of participants is almost reached.A quick note (which we...
ABWO 2023
ABWO is aiming for the biggest camp ever!Download our flyer or check the website. If you own a WW2 vehicle, you can't miss this..
Race to the Bridge
Although there were a few showers, the Race to the bridge was a success. There were a lot of spectators along the route from Renkum, through Doorwerth to Arnhem and back to the Airborne Museum Hartenstein. All vehicles were placed there so that the public could view...
Para dropping Ginkel Heath Ede
Traditionally, around 11:00, paratroopers are dropped above the Ginkel heath in Ede. It is a commemoration of the start of Operation Market Garden on September 17, 1944. Montgomery developed Operation Market-Garden. Operation Market Garden started on 17 September...
Operation Berlin for Kids
Operation Berlin was the night-time evacuation in the night of 25/26 September 1944, of the British 1st Airborne Division. Glider pilots laid white tape through the woods, leading from the Hartenstein Hotel, to the river Rijn.Royal Canadian Engineers were waiting with...
Waardering Airborne Gedachtegoed
The organizers of ABWO (Airborne Battle Wheels) were the first to receive the "Waardering Airborne Gedachtegoed" This Appreciation is for people who make a contribution to maintaining the history related to the Battle of Arnhem. Especially for this occasion, Mayor...
Objectives
Airborne Battle Wheels Oosterbeek was founded in 1996 to keep the vehicles that were used in the Battle of Arnhem “rolling”.
The main idea is to keep the memory alive of those who fought and died for our freedom. For veterans, their families and certainly the future (younger) generations.
The ABWO foundation enables an annual weekend in September, the “Airborne Battle Wheels Weekend”.
During that weekend we commemorate the Battle of Arnhem with historically correct tours and displays of men, equipment and a variety of vehicles.
Our weekend is an opportunity to show respect to the veterans and stay in mutual contact. At the same time this is a social event for people with a passion for vehicles of World War 2. To share knowledge and pass information in an informal surrounding.
Do you own a historically correct British vehicle of any kind from World War 2 ? Do you know what we mean by “respecting those who fought and died for our freedom” ?
If so: visit our camp site and participate in the events we organize during our annual meeting.
History
In 1996 a few “collector” friends realized the idea of organizing a British Airborne vehicle campsite. After finding the name Airborne Battle Wheels Oosterbeek (ABWO), they started working on their first meeting, in the woods near Camping “de Bilderberg”.
The number of participants grew steadily. Foreigners (mainly from the UK, Poland and Belgium) accounted for more than half of the number of the participants.
The 55th memorial in 1999 was the breakthrough. A record in the number of partcipants and legalisation of carrying weapons. The ABWO contributed to the Farewell parade in a tour with Arnhem veterans in WW2 military vehicles through the villages of Renkum.
In 2000 ABWO moved from the woods to the the camping ”de Bilderberg” site near the woods.
On september the 17th 2001, ABWO became official a Foundation.
In the meantime, Camping “de Bilderberg” became too small to house the increasing number of participants. In 2005 the ABWO foundation managed to find a beautiful new site for their annual camp. The grounds of Pluryn, location J.P. Heije. Although it meant a much more complicated organization, the campsite of 2005 has become a new highlight in the ever growing popularity of this historical WW2 vehicle and reenactment event.