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

Police

Before the war, the Dutch police consisted of the military police unit called marechaussee, the rijksveldwacht (national police) and the gemeenteveldwacht (municipal police). On July 5, 1940, the German occupiers merged those three forces under the name of marechaussee. After World War II, they were split again into the Korps Rijkspolitie (National Police Force, replacing the old rijksveldwacht and gemeenteveldwacht) and the Royal Marechaussee, which regained military status. (Dutch Wikipedia).

For the rough stuff, the occupiers had established two new police services:

The search for and arrest of hidden Jews was mainly carried out by specially selected police officers who in Limburg belonged to the Security Police (SiPo).
A separate group was the Arbeitskontrolldienst (AKD, Labour Inspection Service). They wore the same uniforms as the normal police and searched for people who were in hiding, e.g. because they didn’t want to go to Germany for forced labor. The AKD people shot at anything that moved (municipal police Eindhoven). They were recruited from Dutch concentration camp guards. One of the most notorious members of the AKD was their chief in Venlo Johan Berendsen, aka “The Terror of Venlo”, who was executed as a war criminal after the war.

The attitude among the Dutch police towards the occupiers was very different. Besides the collaborators, there were also many, who looked the other way, who executed an order too late or warned people before a raid. And there were also active resistance fighters among them. The fallen police officers on this page show how far some of them went.

Former police station of Valkenburg

*Police – 28 pers. ⇒*All the fallen resistance people in Limburg
Beerman, Wilhelmus Adrianus Wim	∗ 1909-08-20 Amsterdam † 1944-06-06 Overveen	- Police - Nijmegen - Limburg + - Wilhelmus Adrianus Beerman was a police photographer and detective. During the Second World War, he was a member of a resistance group in Nijmegen in which in particular a number of police officers were active. The group carried out an attack on the traitor Ederveen on the Daalseweg on … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.
Bongaerts, Charles M.H.J.	∗ 1909-08-07 Venlo † 1944-11-23 KZ Ladelund, KZ Neuengamme	- Ondergrondse pers - Police - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Netwerk Bongaerts - Initial resistance - Heerlen - Married to Trees (Theresa) Dahmen. In 1940 Charles was a reserve officer in the Dutch army and during the five day battle of the Netherlands he fought on the so called “Grebbenberg Line”, that the Dutch army held to the very end, repulsing heavy assaults from the German forces. After … wall: left, row 16-01
Bots, Theo J.	∗ 1905-02-28 Leiden † 1944-05-05 Roermond	- Police - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Roermond - Chief Inspector of Police. “In addition to the cooperation of the L.O. side and the associated aid apparatus for refugees, the contribution of some Roermond police officers was important, including Th.J. Bots. They followed in the footsteps of … wall: right, row 04-03
Broek, van den Cornelis /Cornelius	∗ 1907-07-21 Heer † 1945-03-12 Rotterdam	- Heer - Local contacts - Police - Cornelis van den Broek was a corporal of the Marines in Den Helder [1][4] until the surrender of the Dutch forces in May 1940. During the war he worked as Opperwachtmeester at the police in Rotterdam at the Hoflaan. He belonged to the KP (Knokploeg, armed group) in Rotterdam. On … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Bruls, Léon Antoine Leo	∗ 1912-02-06 Sittard † 1945-04-17 Dresden	- Initial resistance - Group Smit - Sittard - Police - Leo Bruls from Sittard was an aircraft mechanic and aviator at the Militaire Luchtvaartafdeling (Military Aviation Department) in Soesterberg. [1] Today it is called the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Dutch Air Force) After the capitulation of the dutch army in 1940, … wall: right, row 17-04
Colleije (Colleye), Joseph	∗ 1921-07-27 Eys (Wittem) † 1949-01-25 Nijmegen	- Police - Unorganized resistance - Simpelveld - Josephus Hubertus Theodorus (Joseph) Colleije died after the liberation as a result of the starvation and exhaustion suffered in the prisons and camps, and was subsequently buried in Eys. Since his parents moved to Simpelveld, he too is registered there as a war victim. In the late 30’s and … wall: right, row 17-01
Dusink, Lubbert Lambert	∗ 1907-04-28 ’s-Gravenhage † 1945-05-24 Ludwigslust	- Police - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Nederweert - Lubertus Hindrikus Johannes Dusink lived, among other places, in Nederweert, where he worked as a municipal policeman. On March 10, 1943, he was relocated to Mierlo-Hout in connection with the reorganization of the police. He stayed in contact with Nederweert. Provided with the necessary papers, … wall: left, row 39-04
Franssen, Jan	∗ 0000-00-00 † 0000-00-00	- Police - Valkenburg - survivor - Jan Franssen was chief of the Marechaussee (later Rijkspolitie) in Valkenburg. On June 7th, 1946 he wrote a report on occupation and liberation at the request of the mayor, Piet Hens. Jan Diederen quotes from this in … More in our story Resistance in Valkenburg
Hendriks, Bartholomeus Theodorus Bart	∗ 1915-04-16 Nijmegen † 1944-06-06 Overveen, duinen	- Police - Nijmegen - Limburg + - During the Second World War, he was a member of a resistance group in Nijmegen in which in particular a number of police officers were active. The group carried out an attack on the traitor Ederveen on the Daalseweg on September 24, because he knew too much. However, Ederveen managed to escape … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.
Kroezen, Herman L.M.	∗ 1919-12-02 Boxmeer † 1945-05-31 Bergen-Belsen?	- Police - Horst - Policeman in Weert. Although he did not belong to the organized resistance, he supported it wherever he could, which eventually became his undoing. Together with policeman K.W.L.A. Wering, chief A. Josephs and gendarme Lambert Dusink he was … wall: left, row 23-02
Linders, Franciscus Gerardus Pierre Frans	∗ 1918-05-03 Venlo † 1944-09-12 Eindhoven	- Police - Knokploegen (K.P.) - Geleen - Pierre was a policeman in Geleen. In early 1944 he was transferred to Eindhoven, where he joined a resistance group that, among other things, transported weapons for the underground, the Partizanen Actie Nederland. His resistance name was Frans. On September 12, 1944, he was shot in an … wall: left, row 09-04
Marcusse, Albertus Hendrikus Albert	∗ 1903-11-02 Batenburg † 1944-06-06 Overveen	- Police - Nijmegen - Limburg + - Albert Marcusse was married to Johannea Stevens and together they had seven children. He was chief inspector (hoofdinspecteur) of police and during the Second World War, he was a member of a resistance group in Nijmegen in which in particular a number of police officers were active. The … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.
Miltenburg, Harry	∗ 1911-12-17 Nijmegen † 1944-08-30 Kamp Vught	- Weert - Police - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Hendrikus Cornelis Bernard (Harry) Miltenburg worked at the police administration in Weert with the rank of deputy inspector. His collegues J.H.M. Geurts and P.W. Saes also collaborated with the L.O. in Weert. Harry was arrested after a person in hiding, who was living with Miltenburg, was … wall: right, row 38-01
Mullen, van der Alphons J.A.	∗ 1886-11-01 Liège † 1945-05-31 Bergen-Belsen	- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Police - Helden - Alphons van der Mullen was one of the three police officers active in Helden in the resistance (the other two were J.J. Grijsbach and G.W.H. van Amerongen. He was their local chief or Opperwachtmeester). They and the other pilot helpers were all members of the local L.O. and K.P. section. … wall: left, row 21-03
Noordermeer, Cornelis Klaas Cor	∗ 1918-04-12 Lochem † 1944-08-11 kamp Vught	- Raad van Verzet (RVV) - Police - Limburg + - Zwarte Plak - The policeman Cor Noordermeer was the local leader of the Raad van Verzet (RVV, Resistance Council) in Deurne. The RVV was a loose association of scattered, independent resistance groups that, in the absence of national coordination, had to act completely independently. Working from their base at … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.03-10
Oolbekkink, Herman	∗ 1911-09-27 Deventer, † 1944-06-06 Overveen	- Police - Nijmegen - Limburg + - During the Second World War, detective Oolbekkink was a member of a resistance group in Nijmegen in which in particular a number of police officers were active. The group carried out an attack on the traitor Ederveen on the Daalseweg on September 24, because he knew too much. However, … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.
Rennes / Renesse, van Godert	∗ 0000-00-00 Heteren † 1903-02-16	- NSB - Valkenburg - Police - survivor - On the genealogy page of the Van Rennes family we read that both forms of the surname occur. Renesse however is the old version. Before the war the Netherlands was very … More in our story Resistance in Valkenburg
Rooyackers /Rooijackers, Wim A.	∗ 1918-03-13 Heerlen † 1944-09-05 Vught	- Heerlen - Knokploegen (K.P.) - Ondergrondse pers - Initial resistance - Police - Wilhelmus Antonius (Wim) Rooijackers was a trade correspondent and a member of the mine police. Almost from the beginning of the war he was involved with prisoners of war who had escaped from Germany. (Cammaert III, p. 217) He also was involved in a failed assassination attempt (Cammaert IV, p. … wall: left, row 17-03
Roy, van Hubertus Andreas	∗ 1893-03-09 Nederweert † 1981-11-24 Valkenburg	- Initial resistance - Police - Valkenburg - survivor - Group Smit - Veldwachter (local policeman appointed by the municipality) in Valkenburg until december 1941. Was a member of the early resistance group around J.Smit in Heerlen. The earliest data on this group are from the end of 1940 and early 1941. Smit, a professional soldier demobilized in July …
Scheer, van der Pieter Hendrik	∗ 1919-07-10 Nijmegen † 1941-03-21 Nieuwenhagen	- Police - Initial resistance - Unorganized resistance - Nijmegen - Nieuwenhagen - Pieter Hendrik van der Scheer was a conscript from 1939 until the end of the war, assigned to the Vickers M.C. 3rd Bat. 19th Reg. IVth Infantry Division and took part in the fighting during the combat days of May 10-15, 1940, in the vicinity of the … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.
Smit, Joseph Sef	∗ 1916-09-09 Roermond † 1942-09-17 Amsterdam	- Initial resistance - Group Smit - Police - Heerlen - Sef Smit from Roermond was before the war a professional sergeant in the 13th Infantry Regiment. [1] He chose after demobilization in July 1940 to join the police in Heerlen. He did not stay there for long. It was a thorn in his side that the public actions of N.S.B. members and … wall: left, row 19-02
Snijders, Johannes Franciscus Frans	∗ 1916-09-16 Helden L. † 1944-09-05 Vught	- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Koeriers van het verzet - Police - Weert - Ondergrondse pers - Railroad policeman, courier for Jan Hendrikx (Ambrosius). Distributed illegal newspapers such as De Stem, Je Maintiendrai and Trouw. On July 19, 1944, he received a telegram asking him to come to Eindhoven … wall: right, row 35-05
Starren, Jozef Mathieu	∗ 1900-10-15 Maastricht † 1945-05-31 Bergen-Belsen	- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Police - Horst - Zwarte Plak - Chief of police in Horst. Belonged to a resistance group that had housed divers (persons in hiding), students and pilots in two camps in the woodland Schadijkse Bossen. Antonie Damen, a young marine engineer working for German counter intelligence, infiltrated the group. With 15 … wall: left, row 23-04
Tobben, Harrie /Harry	∗ 1917-08-24 Heerlen † 1945-03-15 Hameln (D	- Ondergrondse pers - Initial resistance - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Police - Heerlen - Netwerk Bongaerts - - Former soldier and after his demobilization by the Germans in 1940 member of the mine police. Was involved, among other things, in acts of sabotage in the Oranje-Nassau Mine I (O.N. I) in Heerlen, which was uncovered by the SiPo. In … wall: left, row 19-05
Ummels, Anton Hubert	∗ 1894-07-15 Amby † 1944-08-30 Belfeld	- Reuver - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Knokploegen (K.P.) - Police - Beesel - Antonius Hubertus Ummels had the rank of Opperwachtmeester in the police, which was generally associated with the function of station chief. He belonged to the LO in Reuver, moreover its combat group KP. Dr. Fred Cammaert wrote (Chapter VIb p. 589 [1]): “A truck driver, who … wall: left, row 03-02
Ven, op de Johannes Hendrikus	∗ 1919-02-23 Swalmen † 1948-06-20 Maastricht	- Valkenburg - Unorganized resistance - People in hiding - Police - survivor - On the night of June 22, 1944, together with Den Haring, an NSB member, he was on guard at the Valkenburg distribution office. Was initiated into the plot. Afterwards went into hiding to deduce the suspicion from Freysen et al. More in our story Resistance in Valkenburg
Vries, de Douwe Hans	∗ 1920-03-17 Zevenhuizen † 1947-09-13 Haulerwijk	- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Knokploegen (K.P.) - Echt - Police - Douwe de Vries was a policeman, he belonged to the LO and the KP in Echt. Died after the liberation, partly as a result of his resistance work. [1] In the municipality of Ooststellingwerf, where he died after the war, he was a straw merchant.[2] There is also his grave. [3] Do you know more? Write us! This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.03-12
Will, Peter	∗ 1896-08-21 Schoonhoven † 1945-04-24 Transport vanuit Neuengamme	- Nijmegen - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Police - Limburg + - Ondergrondse pers - Quality inspector in the slaughterhouse of Nijmegen, see the memorial plaque in the slaughterhouse [1] and honorary policeman. After May 1940, he helped people who wanted to escape forced labor in Germany. He distributed the underground newspaper Trouw [8], took care of people in hiding, … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.