Theodoor Heltzel (Thei)

∗ 03-03-1904 Beegden † 15-11-1944 Herkenbosch (40)
- Forced Labor - Beegden -

Thei Heltzel was a farmer. On Sunday October 8, 1944, he fell victim to one of the church raids that took place on that day throughout the area in order to catch forced laborers. He was arrested at the church exit by the Green Police. Via camps in Wuppertal and Lehrte, Heltzel ended up in Viersen where he was put to work for so-called Schanzarbeit (construction of defence works). In mid-November 1944 he managed to return to the Netherlands together with his brother and some fellow villagers. In a forest near Herkenbosch he was noticed by German soldiers and immediately killed by a bullet in the heart region. Presumably he was mistaken for a spy. [4]
He was a member of soccer club Beegden from the village of the same name, now VV Hebes. For this reason, his name is on the KNVB memorial. [1]
And also on the oorlogsmonument (war memorial) in Roermond. [2]
He is buried in grave 53 in the Catholic cemetery in Beegden. [3]

Footnotes