The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Leo Jans

5awc1lw9h3t9.b-cdn.net …

Leo Jans was an ensign at the outbreak of war, that is, a professional officer in training.
Cammaert writes of him: {Venlo, ensign. The son of J.R.L. Jans made the necessary (national) connections on the basis of which Jans sr. was able to build up the O.D.. Jans jr. also maintained those connections afterwards, supported his father’s work whenever possible and commanded the troop detachment of the regional O.D. staff. Was closely involved in the establishment of the L.O. in the district of Venlo and the hiding camp for soldiers on the western bank of the Maas (see J.F. Gijsbers). Cooperated extensively with W.F.Th. van Boekhold.} [1]
He collected and sent intelligence on the enemy to London. [2]

In 1942 he took over from his father when the latter had to go into hiding.
Legendary is Jans’ escape from the Venlo police station after he was arrested by the notorious Sicherheitsdienst collaborator Richard Nitsch. Jans was taken from his cell by a group of Venlo resistance fighters. This included his best friend and resistance fighter Wiel van Boekhold from Venlo.
In retaliation for the escape, Leo Jans’ sisters Trees and Katie were arrested. The latter later died as a result of the detention. In Venlo-Oost the Katie Jansstraat is named after her.
Leo Jans was decorated many times after the war. Like his comrade Van Boekhold, he was awarded the Bronze Lion by Prince Bernhard. Jans had been living in Lanaken, Belgium, for many years. [3]

During the liberation of Belgium by the Allies, by order of Dutch Army headquarters, the three organizations LO/LKP, OD and RVV were merged into the Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten (Domestic Armed Forces). Participants in the armed resistance were assigned to fighting units. The inactive members of the OD were allocated to the guard troops.

Leo Jans became a professional soldier again, like his father. His obituary lists a number of positions and decorations. Among them Major of the Limburgse Jagers in retirement. [4]

At tracesofwar.com, we can read the recommendation text to the award of the Bronze Lion on October 8, 1951 to 1st Lieutenant Leo Jans:
He has distinguished himself by performing courageous and tactful deeds in combat against the enemy, serving as commander of the troop detachment of the Staff of Area 19 (Limburg) of the O.D. In particular: when in 1942 the commander of this Area was forced to go into hiding, he has maintained the communication between his commander and the other district commanders in a tactful way for a number of years. Furthermore, weapons were assembled and repaired under his direction and he has gathered and forwarded military information about the enemy. After his arrest at the end of October 1944, he has taken a very strong stand and he has claimed all responsibility for the actions of his associates. After he had been imprisoned for four days and had been liberated by members of the O.D., he has continued his service in the O.D. with undiminished vigour.

1110th Grant.
Royal Decree No. 20.
Nomination: DG La R 243, October 2, 1951. [2]

He was president of the Oud Limburgse Schuttersfederatie (Old Limburgian traditional Rifle Federation) for many years. They mention, that Leo Jans died on Friday, September 23, 2016 at the retirement home WZC Bessemerberg in Lanaken. [5]

Footnotes

1. Cammaert, A. P. M. (1994). Het verborgen front: Geschiedenis van de georganiseerde illegaliteit in de provincie Limburg tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.
   Hoofdst. 0, pp.18ff: Introductie van vaak genoemde personen
2. Leo Jans, tracesofwar, • Nederlands • English
3. omroepvenlo.nl Verzetsheld Leo Jans op 98-jarige leeftijd gestorven
4. mensenlinq.nl overlijdensbericht Leo Jans
5. Oud Limburgse Schuttersfederatie Nieuwsbrief OLS-Federatie oktober 2016, 2 (pdf)
6. https://5awc1lw9h3t9.b-cdn.net/w_/s3-omroepvenlo/0344edb8-7b31-4616-9440-174089517737.jpg