The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Frans Denis
(Franciscus)

Photo: Roos Cox-Verstappen. [2]

Frans Denis was a merchant in manufactories from ’s-Hertogenbosch. [1#2]
He was in a German labor camp, but had escaped. After his arrest, he was forced to work at the military airfield in Venlo. There, too, he absconded. For fear of being arrested again, he hid in a self-built hut in a grove near a farm. On August 23, 1944, he asked Maria Kotenko, a soviet woman passing by, if she had a sandwich or a cigarette for him. Out of pity, she fetched food and cigarettes from home. After Denis asked her if she had any underwear for him, she took him home and looked after him. He recovered and stayed there in hiding. [2]
But he was arrested again and sentenced to death under martial law by Major Ulrich Matthaeas. This made him one of the 14 Roermonders murdered during Christmas 1944, who were shot just across the German border, in order to expel their male townmates between the ages of 16 and 60. Detailed information on this website: The Tears of Roermond.
They were buried on the spot. The aforementioned Denis was exhumed on August 28, 1947 in Elmpt (Germany) by the Identification and Recovery Service (Dienst Identificatie en Berging) [1#10]
He was reburied at the Roermond general cemetery "Tussen de Bergen" [1#13], grave monument 20. [3]

Footnotes

1. Archief Oorlogsgravenstichting (@ Nationaal archief),
   Dossier Franciscus Denis • #2 • #10 • #13
2. wo2slachtoffers.nl, biogr. Denis, Franciscus
3. Oorlogsgravenstichting.nl