The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Gustaaf Beazar (Modest)

Victims of the Executions in Heer

The northeast of Belgian Limburg was the territory of the ‘Secret Army, Zone II/Limburg’. Although no exact figures are available, the number of members of this group was described as ‘as large as a regiment’. The ‘zone commander’ was Gustaaf Beazar from Kessenich, who came from a gendarmerie family. [2]
Gustaaf Beazar had already been active in various resistance groups since the beginning of the war. On July 13, 1943, the German field gendarmerie searched his home because the Germans suspected him of various acts. However, he had hidden behind the brigade buildings of the gendarmerie and immediately went into hiding.
After he and some of his comrades-in-arms had been arrested one day after all, the Germans released fourteen arrested locals thanks to an intervention by Beazar. He had guaranteed that they had nothing to do with the Secret Army. During the transport of the 26 captured resisters to Heer (today: Cadier en Keer) near Maastricht, the already wounded Beazar was stabbed three times with a bayonet. [4]
Read the story of the Maaseik section of the Secret Army [3], which ended tragically with the Allied approach in early September 1944.

Footnotes

1. bel-memorial.org: Standbeeld voor 11 Belgische gefusilleerden – Monument pour 11 fusillés belges (Denkmal für 11 hingerichtete Belgier, Memorial to 11 executed Belgians, Monumento à memória de 11 belgas fusilados)
2. Geheim Leger zone II/Limburg Deze pagina biedt de mogelijkheid, hem te laten vertalen.
3. sectie Maaseik van het Geheim leger
4. https://www.tracesofwar.nl/persons/53281/Beazar-Gustaaf.htm
5. http://www.maastrichtsegevelstenen.nl/0.OORLOG/oorlog2c-verzet.htm
6. Wikipedia NL: Vlaams monument