The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Herman Stakenborg
(Hermanus Hubertus Antonius Franciscus)

Mine supervisor Herman Stakenborg was the local contact person for the LO (divers’ chief) in Brunssum and founder of a group that helped Jews.
At the request of the L.O. sub-district leader Father W. van der Geest, divers’ chief H. Stakenborg took in a Jewish couple at his home at the end of September 1943. Soon van der Geest also referred other Jews who came to him through various channels to his divers’ chief. [1.1]
It is estimated that Herman Stakenborg housed and cared for between 200 and 300 Jewish people in hiding in the mining communities of Hoensbroek, Heerlen, Brunssum and Schinveld. [2]

When Father van der Geest was arrested, his brother Jaap initially took over his work. However, he proved to be less talented and skilled than his brother. Hendriks and Stakenborg were therefore appointed to the sub-district leadership. This situation remained unchanged until the liberation. [1.2]

Herman Stakenborg is buried with his wife in the Rumpen cemetery, Tolenhof, Brunssum. Grave number C0903 [3]

Footnotes

1. Dr. F. Cammaert, Het Verborgen Front – Geschiedenis van de georganiseerde illegaliteit in de provincie Limburg tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Doctorale scriptie 1994, Groningen
   1. Hulpverlening aan joden, pp.420 ff: IV.2.3. De organisatie-Stakenborg/Paasen
   2. De Landelijke Organisatie voor hulp aan onderduikers, § VIII.5.5.: Rayon Brunssum. pp.675 ff
2. rijckheyt.nl Geest, W.M. van der (Pater-Lazarist)
3. Brunssum, Kerkhof Rumpen
4. Wikipedia NL: Herman Stakenborg