Team Forces is honoured to support the Veterans In Action (VIA) VE-80 Overland Expedition, which embarked today on a remarkable journey of remembrance and recovery. This powerful expedition commemorates the immense sacrifices made during the Second World War and provides a unique path to healing for the veterans involved.
A dedicated group of veterans—many living with PTSD from their service—are undertaking a 4,000-mile journey across Europe in a convoy of overland vehicles. Their route, beginning at the VIA Centre in Andover, has been meticulously planned to include historically significant locations in the following countries: France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Germany (re-entered), Luxembourg, Belgium (re-entered), France (re-entered), and finally, back to the UK.
Key sites on the journey include the beaches of Normandy, the Malmedy Massacre site, Hürtgen Forest, Hell’s Highway to Arnhem, Gross-Rosen concentration camp, the Nazi tunnels of Project Riese, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Berchtesgaden, Nuremberg, Bastogne, and many others. Each stop has been chosen for its historical significance, offering opportunities for reflection, tribute, and honouring the fallen.
Beyond remembrance, this expedition serves a deeply therapeutic purpose. Through shared experiences, reflection, and camaraderie, participating veterans find support and solace in each other as they travel through the landscapes of history and healing.
The VE-80 Overland Expedition is not only a tribute to the heroes of World War II but also a vital initiative in supporting the wellbeing of modern veterans. VIA’s mission is to ensure that the legacy of bravery and sacrifice lives on for future generations, while helping those who have served in more recent conflicts to rebuild and recover.
This journey would not have been made possible without the support of:
VIA is a post-traumatic growth Charity that helps to change veterans’ lives by harnessing their skills while working within a team of their peers on adventurous activities and expeditions to improve their mental, physical and social wellbeing. By putting long-term engagement, active skill development and peer support at the centre of its approach to supporting post-traumatic growth, VIA aims to help veterans cope with their past experiences, while thriving and finding new purpose in their post-military lives.
VE-80 Overland Expedition Journey
The journey will cover over 4,000 miles and will include the following historically significant sites.
- Normandy, France: The pivotal D-Day landings on 6 June 1944.
- Malmedy, Belgium: Site of the tragic Malmedy Massacre during the Battle of the Bulge.
- Hürtgen Forest, Germany: Scene of intense and costly battles from September 1944 to February 1945.
- Arnhem, Holland: The ambitious yet ultimately unsuccessful Operation Market Garden.
- Harz Mountains, Germany: One of the last strongholds of German resistance.
- Silesia, Poland: A region crucial to the German war effort and scene of significant Red Army offensives.
- Gross-Rosen Concentration Camp, Poland: Known for its brutal conditions and forced labour.
- Project Riese, Poland: Secret Nazi tunnels in the Owl Mountains.
- Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland: The largest and most infamous Nazi extermination camp.
- Slovak Mountains, Slovakia: Battlegrounds of the Slovak National Uprising.
- Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Austria: Traversing through historically significant regions.
- Berghof, Germany: Hitler’s mountain retreat and planning site.
- Alpine Way, Germany: Scenic route through the Bavarian Alps.
- Nuremberg, Germany: Site of the infamous Nuremberg Rallies and Trials.
- Luxembourg: Liberated by American troops, yet scarred by the Battle of the Bulge.
- Bastogne, Belgium: Key location during the Battle of the Bulge.