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Limburg 1940-1945,
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1940-1945. The resistance in the dutch province of Limburg

Belgium

A little geography and regional history, for a better understanding: For hundreds of years, there have been many linguistic, economic and political links between the "three Limburgs" represented on the map to the right (Source: Wikimedia, click on the map). The former Duchy of Limburg no longer exists since the time of Napoleon and is now part of the Belgian province of Liege. The majority of the population speaks French today, but during the war, Limburgish was still the main language spoken in the north. It is a regional Germanic language.
After the defeat of Napoleon, the other two territories, which are the Limburgs of today, became one province in the new Kingdom of the Netherlands (which was identical with today’s BeNeLux). The new province was named after the former duchy. When Belgium seceded in 1830, the province of Limburg was divided: Belgian Limburg and Dutch Limburg, which plays the main role on this site.
Refugees had to be forwarded from the Netherlands to Belgium. This also happened from the southern edge of South Limburg, among others in the direction of the Voer municipalities and the region of Herve. There, too, people of the resistance died. Some of them were in direct contact with the Limburg resistance and are therefore also listed here.
Jules Goffin and Karel Jacobs (Father Hugo) were part of the Belgian intelligence network Clarence, Piet Muhren (Father Étienne) of the Erkens group. This made no difference to the two monks of Valdieu Abbey. They worked closely together, despite Clarence’s strict rule of cloisoning, of division into boxes: only one group per person and only one activity. Perhaps this contributed to their becoming victims, like the Erkens group, of the Hannibal game?
Read more about Belgium during the Second World War in ⦁ NederlandsFrançaisDeutsch
Wikipedia ⦁ NL ClarenceDE ClarenceFR Clarence
Wikipedia ⦁ NL ontsnappingsroute ComèteDE Fluchtnetzwerk ComèteFR Réseau Comète

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The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Belgium – 34 pers.

Backer, Debacker, de
Willem
∗ 1894-09-11
Maastricht
† 1944-09-06
Leopoldsburg (B)
- Belgium - Maastricht -

Willem Debacker had a Maastricht mother and was born in Maastricht as well. That is why he is mentioned, by the way without any further comment, on maastrichtsegevelstenen.nl [1]. In the …


This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Beazar,
Gustaaf
“Modest”/ “Anatol”
∗ 1908-07-29
Aspelare (Ninove)
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Heer - Initial resistance -

The northeast of Belgian Limburg was the territory of the B.N.B., a.k.a. ‘Secret Army, Zone II. Antwerpen - Limburg’. Although no exact figures are available, the number of members of this …

u-01-02
Broens,
Henri
Harie
∗ 1925-02-18
Molenbeersel
† 1944-09-14
Gangelt (D)
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) -

Harie Broens lived in Molenbeersel, Belgian Limburg. Originally buried in a mass grave in Gangelt (D). Last resting place: Unknown (Source: Memorial for seven executed Belgian resistance …

u-01-02
Collas,
Laurent
Laur
∗ 1917-07-19
Maastricht
† 1943-10-06
Maastricht
- Unorganized resistance - Aid to escaped POW’s - Aid to Jews - Maastricht - Belgium -

Laur Collas was a glassblower and worked as a frontier worker in Aachen. On his own initiative, he regularly took escaped forced laborers and French-speaking prisoners of war to Maastricht. But he …

u-01-02
Conen,
Willem
∗ 1919-03-12
Molenbeersel
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Heer -

Willem Conen from Molenbeersel was one of the resisters of the Maaseik section of the Secret Army under the leadership of its section chief, gendarme
u-01-02
Crapts,
Henricus Nicolaas
Nic
∗ 1913-12-06
Maastricht
† 1944-09-13
Lanaye/Ternaaien
- Maastricht - Belgium - White Brigade (Belgium) -

Nic Crapts was a member of the White Brigade. [1] While accompanying the first liberators on September 13, 1944, he was shot at from one of the last German machine gun nests from the …
u-01-02
Driessens,
Pierre Henri Jean Mathieu
Pierre
∗ 1925-05-13
Genk (B)
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Heer -

Lived in Maaseik (Belgium). Son of Hendrikus Mathijs Lambertus Driessens (workman) and Victoria Theresa Hendrickx. Unmarried. Miner. Roman Catholic. Member of the Belgian resistance …

u-01-02
Eerdekens,
Mathieu Jozef
Jozef
∗ 1922-06-24
Gruitrode (B)
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Heer -

Jozef Eerdekens was originally from Molenbeersel and lived in Gruitrode. He was group leader [1.1] in the Maaseik section of the Secret Army under the leadership of its section chief, gendarme
u-01-02
Goffin,
Jules Ghislain Hubert Joseph
Jules
∗ 1897-03-31
Noville-les-Bois
† 1943-10-09
Bunnik (Utrecht)
- Initial resistance - Erkens Group - Intelligence - Belgium -

Jules Goffin was not a resistance fighter in the Dutch province of Limburg, but was in close contact with them and therefore also appears on this list. While studying during World War I, he …

u-01-02
Henkens,
Jean
∗ 1922-07-09
Opoeteren
† 1944-09-14
Gangelt (D)
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) -

Jean Henkens lived in Gruitrode, Belgian Limburg. Originally buried in a mass grave in Gangelt (D). Last resting place: Unknown (Source: Memorial for seven executed Belgian resistance …

u-01-02
Hillebrand,
Johann
∗ 1922-07-12
Herzogenrath (D)
† 1944-06-10
Liège
- Secret Army (B) - Belgium - Kerkrade -

Johann Hillebrand was a miner in Belgium. Belonged there to the resistance organization
wall: left, row 25-01
Hilven,
Jean
∗ 1924-01-05
Gruitrode
† 1944-09-14
Gangelt (D)
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) -

Jean Hilven lived in Gruitrode, Belgian Limburg. Originally buried in a mass grave in Gangelt (D). Last resting place: Unknown. [1]
u-01-02
Jacobs,
Karel
Père Hugues /Pater Hugo
∗ 1900-11-17
Antwerpen
† 1943-10-09
Bunnik (Utrecht)
- The clergy - Initial resistance - Aid to escaped POW’s - Ondergrondse pers - Erkens Group - Intelligence - Belgium -

He was not a resistance fighter in the Dutch province of Limburg, but was in close contact with them and therefore also appears on this list. His resistance activity began by helping escaped …

u-01-02
Jaeken,
Pieter
∗ 1917-09-15
Neeroeteren
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Heer -

Lived in Opoeteren (Belgium). Son of Jacob Jaeken and Maria Catharina Janssen. Unmarried. Farmhand. Member of the Belgian resistance organization Secret Army, sector of Maaseik.
u-01-02
Koers,
Klaas
∗ 1913-06-01
Scheemda, Gr
- Police - Belgium - Ondergrondse pers - Pilots’ helpers - Survivors - Geulle -

Gegevens van geboorte en sterven het echtpaar Koers-Brouwer vindt u op geni.com. [1] Van Klaas zijn tot nu toe alleen de geboortegegevens bekend.
De rijkspolitieman Klaas Koers was …

t-
Langers,
Guillaume J.
∗ 1923-03-29
Maaseik (B)
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Heer -

Shot in the park of House St. Joseph in Heer.
u-01-02
Langers,
Jack Hubert Mathijs
Jaak
∗ 1909-02-03
Maaseik
† 1944-09-14
Gangelt (D)
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) -

Jaak Langers lived in Rotem, Belgian Limburg. Originally buried in a mass grave in Gangelt (D). Last resting place: Unknown. [1][2]
u-01-02
Lemmens,
Johannes Antonius Mathias
Jan
∗ 1912-04-28
Limmel
† 1945-03-25
Nordhausen
- Maastricht - Belgium - The clergy - Forced Labor - Secret Army (B) -

Photo: The Hagiography Circle [1] → Jan Lemmens was born in Limmel [2.1], a village then belonging to the municipality of Meerssen and today to Maastricht. He was a monastic …
u-01-02
Lenders,
Mathieu J.
∗ 1925-02-20
Maaseik (B)
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Heer -

Lived in Maaseik. Son of miner Joseph Hubertus Lenders and Marguerite Rosalie Anne Wolfs. Unmarried. Butcher. Roman Catholic.
u-01-02
Leroy,
Alfons
∗ 1913-06-02
Massemen (B)
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Heer -

Lived in Neeroeteren (Belgium). Son of Achiel August Leroy and Maria de Rocker. Married to Anna Ida Stegen. Professional soldier. Roman Catholic.
u-01-02
Liedekerke de Pailhe, de
Raphael R.E.J.G.
∗ 1903-04-15
Eijsden
† 1943-10-09
Fort Rhijnauwen, prov. Utrecht
- Aid to escaped POW’s - Pilots’ helpers - Initial resistance - Erkens Group - Intelligence - Eijsden - Belgium -

In May 1940, Raphael de Liedekerke fought in the Belgian army. After returning from captivity, he was demobilized as a reserve lieutenant in the Belgian Army. He was a member of the De …

wall: left, row 08-02
Meerten,
Jean Hubert Antoine Jac.
Jean
∗ 1922-11-01
Heppeneert (Maaseik)
† 1944-09-14
Gangelt (D)
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) -

Jean Meerten lived in Heppeneert (Maaseik), Belgian Limburg. Originally buried in a mass grave in Gangelt (D). Last resting place: Unknown. [1][2]
u-01-02
Muhren,
Piet
Père Étienne /Pater Stephanus
∗ 1908-09-14
Bergen-op-Zoom
† 1943-10-09
Bunnik (Utrecht)
- Ondergrondse pers - The clergy - Initial resistance - Erkens Group - Belgium -

Petrus („Piet“) Johannes Cornelis Muhren was not a resistance fighter in the Dutch province of Limburg, but was in close contact with them and therefore also appears on this list. His …

u-01-02
Oost-Europeaan,
?
∗ 0000-00-00
?
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - - Heer - Secret Army (B) -

He is usually called the unknown Russian, but even that is not certain, in fact it is only known, that he was from Eastern Europe. He tried to escape and was shot while doing so. And why was he …

u-01-02
Schepers,
Henri Hubert
Harry “De Wit”
∗ 1914-12-21
Elsloo
† 1944-08-18
Meerssen
- Forced Labor - White Brigade (Belgium) - Belgium - Elsloo - Meerssen -

A detailed biographical description of Harry Schepers can be found on stolpersteine.app [1]. There we read the following about the tailor and goalkeeper of the first team of the Marsana …

wall: left, row 07-03
Schoenmaeckers,
Paul Fernand Cécile Ghislain Marie
Jean
∗ 1886-09-21
Amby (Maastricht)
† 1945-04-21
Obrnice (Č)
- Aid to escaped POW’s - Aid to Jews - Pilots’ helpers - Initial resistance - Amby - Belgium -

Paul Schoenmaeckers (“Jean”) from Amby (today a quarter of Maastricht) married Hélène Palmers on June 12, 1911 in Stevoort near Hasselt. From then on they lived in Rekem (Belgian …

u-01-02
Stinkens,
Hubert
∗ 1923-12-04
As
† 1944-09-14
Gangelt (D)
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) -

Hubert Stinkens lived in Gruitrode, Belgian Limburg. Originally buried in a mass grave in Gangelt (D). Last resting place: Unknown. [1][2]
u-01-02
Teelen /Theelen,
Jacques
∗ 1924-10-14
Neeroeteren
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Heer -


u-01-02
Tripels,
Jenny Emma Félicie
Jenny
∗ 1883-07-21
Maastricht
† 1945-02-06
Ravensbrück
- Maastricht - Women in the resistance - Belgium -

The information below is from Wikisage. [1] Jenny Emma Félicie Tripels was a Dutch member of the Belgian resistance during World War II. She became acquainted during World War I with the …

u-01-02
Vandijck /Vandyck /Vandijk,
Laurent Albert
Albert
∗ 1925-10-08
Neeroeteren
† 1944-09-14
Gangelt (D)
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) -

Albert Vandijck lived in Neeroeteren, Belgian Limburg. Originally buried in a mass grave in Gangelt (D). Last resting place: Unknown. [1][2]
u-01-02
Vliexs,
Huberta Leonie Maria
Bertha
∗ 1923-01-06
Amby
† 1944-09-11
Opglabbeek (B)
- Women in the resistance - Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Amby -

During World War II, four of the Vliexs sisters were in the Belgian resistance organization the Secret Army. Bertha was unmarried and worked as a nurse with the Red Cross. For more information, …

u-01-02
Vliexs,
Marie Hubertina Theodora
Pia
∗ 1920-05-18
Maastricht
† 1944-09-11
Opglabbeek (B)
- Women in the resistance - Aid to escaped POW’s - Secret Army (B) - Amby - Belgium -

The daily newspaper Het Belang van Limburg wrote on September 18, 2017 [1] under the title "The 9/11 of Opglabbeek": "Shot after an attack by resistance fighters on retiring Germans. In …
u-01-02
Wolfs,
Jean Martin August
Jean
∗ 1923-06-20
Maaseik
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Heer -

The baker Jean Wolfs lived in Maaseik. Son of the miner Jules Leopold Henri Wolfs and Maria Hubertina Kelders. [2] His parents both had the same last name as
u-01-02
Wolfs,
Jules Leopold August
Jules
∗ 1923-04-29
Maaseik
† 1944-09-12
Heer
- Belgium - Secret Army (B) - Heer -

Jules Wolfs lived in Maaseik. Son of the workman Jean Herman François Wolfs and Juliana Gerardina Kelders. [2] His parents both had the same last name as
u-01-02