John thank you, I new a little about the plaque, but now know a great deal more, what a awful story. lofty Lofty Sadly just one of many that took place at the time and in the ensuing months. The bravery and the losses amongst the Dutch population who looked after many Airborne soldiers both during and after Arnhem is something that is all too often overlooked. John
Back to the original topic. On 24-10-1944 four people were shot (Doelwater) as reaction to a raid of the resistance on a police station. During this raid 40 prisoners were liberated, most being resistance fighters.
On 12-03-1945 twenty people were shot on Hofplein for the same reason as the 20 on the Pleinweg (see post #7). In all 40 people where shot in reaction to this resistance action. I have read that later research has shown that amoung those executed were 3 Dutch police officers. The firing squad however contained 7 Dutch police officers who worn German uniforms. In the picture you can see a laminated sheet on the cross. It contained a newspaper clipping with a photograph of the site during the war and the caption 'In 1914-1918 we fed and clothed German refugee children. See how they thanked us in 1945'.
On 12-03-1945 twenty people were shot on Hofplein for the same reason as the 20 on the Pleinweg (see post #7). In all 40 people where shot in reaction to this resistance action. I have read that later research has shown that amoung there were 3 Dutch police offers among those executed. The firing squad however contained 7 Dutch police offers who worn German uniforms. In the picture you can see a laminated sheet on the cross. It contained a newspaper clipping with a photograph of the site during the war and the caption 'In 1914-1918 we fed and clothed German refugee children. See how they thanked us in 1945'. This is tragic. Are you doing anything else with these photos and the information other than posting them on here?
Hello JJS, The information is available on different websites but is usually in Dutch. I think this forum is a good place to house it in English. No further plans. Regards, Marco
Hello JJS, The information is available on different websites but is usually in Dutch. I think this forum is a good place to house it in English. No further plans. Regards, Marco It's very interesting, It should be available in English.
JJS, my idea. I never realised it were so many and I still have some sites to go. Curious to know how this was in other occupied European cities. Regards, Marco
JJS, my idea. I never realised it were so many and I still have some sites to go. Curious to know how this was in other occupied European cities. Regards, Marco Excellent idea Hopefully others will respond by posting details for you. It would be very interesting to see it all in one place, and something of a tribute to those poor souls that lost their lives in such a shocking way. I have also just spotted and clicked on the link for WW1 site. I am about to spend rather a lot of time on there as I have a relative that died during the battle of the Somme. So very interested in the site. Regards, Parnel.
On 28-11-1944 five people were shot (Jan Vermeersingel) as reaction to sabotage of the nearby railtrack. See also post #4.
Between 21 September 1944 and 24 December 1944 a shooting range (Kralingen) belonging to a private rifle club was used on different occasions to execute 38 people in all. Although all executions are a tragedy, there are some that just stands out. J.J.M. van der Loo has the distinction that he was executed twice on two consecutive days. The First time he was executed was on 21-09-1944 with two others for smuggling weapons. When the Dutch police cleared the bodies they noticed that Van der Loo was still alive. He was brought to a hospital where it turned out that two bullets had broken both legs. The Dutch police (although the police also contained resistance fighters, it must be said that the more I read about them, the more I get a feeling of shame) dutifully reported this fact to the German S.D. Van der Loo was taken from the hospital back to the Kralingen fire-range. Since he was unable to stand up, they lay him down and one soldier riddled him with bullets from a machinegun.
On 06-05-1945 (one day after the Germans capitulated in The Netherlands) two members of the resistance were killed during a firefight with retreating Kriegsmarine soldiers/sailors on the Doklaan.
Marco, Virtually towards the end of hostilies,there was a large number of hostages shot after the attack on the unidentified German car which transpired to that of the infamous Rauter. Were these unfortunates taken from one place or many?
Hello Harry, These people came from different places and were executed at different places. In retribution 117 prisoners were shot at the site of the attack (see pictures) These prisoners came from Apeldoorn, Assen, Almelo, Zwolle, Doetinchem and Colmschate. A German Oberwachtmeister from the German GrĂ¼ne Polizei who refused to be part of the firing squad was also shot on site. 53 prisoners were shot in Amsterdam, 49 Todeskandidaten in Camp Amersfoort, 11 prisoners and 27 Todeskandidaten in Scheveningen and finally 6 Todeskandidaten from Utrecht.
On 06-02-1945 A rumour reached the headquarters of the firefighters that the SD was going to surround the building. Jan Philipse knew they came for him and tried to escape. His section commander - a member of the Dutch Nazi NSB - tried to avoid this which lead to a fight. Firefighter Lee Eland heard this and came to the help of his friend, Philipse. This gave Philipse the chance to escape. When Eland tried to get away he was too late and was shot dead. From the memoriam from the Dutch Marine museum it is unclear to me if Eland was shot by the named N.S.B. section commander or by the S.D. The white cross on the site of the incident was replaced some years back - when the area of the Wilhelminakade was redeveloped - with a plaque at the northern entrance to the subway station.
Czeslaw Oberdak, a Polish Pilot, was one of the 117 people executed, as a reprisal for the attack on Rauter, at Woeste Hoeve on 8th March 1945. He was originally believed to have been a Dutch resistance fighter and buried as such. It was only very recently that the Dutch Army Recovery and Identification Unit positively identified him, through his Sister's DNA, and his body was returned to Poland for reburial. See Battledetective Case Files John
Graves of those shot on 12-03-1945 in Rotterdam at the locations Hofplein and Pleinweg and who are now burried in the Resistance plot at Crooswijk Cemetery (Rotterdam). Regards, Marco