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

Engelandvaarders

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Engelandvaarders Yarmouth, 24-02-1944

After the German invasion and the subsequent surrender of the Dutch army in May 1940, many, mainly young men, set out for England to join the Dutch army. They were called Engelandvaarders (England travelers). [1]
In 1943, the discharged Dutch soldiers had to return to captivity because the German war industry had a great shortage of manpower. Male students who did not want to sign the declaration of loyalty to the occupying power also had to report for forced labor in Germany. As a result, people of both groups went into hiding en masse, the Resistance received a large influx, and the number of Engelandvaarders also rose sharply.
There were several ways to get to England. Especially in the coastal provinces, people often opted for the perilous crossing of the North Sea in a small boat. One could also try the overland route, either via British Gibraltar or neutral Switzerland. When most of the southern Netherlands was liberated in the last winter of the war, they crossed the front line to reach England via Antwerp.
There they were registered as OVW (Oorlogsvrijwilligers, war volunteers). For these people the Princess Irene Brigade was formed in England. A part of them however never reached England. Some were brought back to the Netherlands after their training to support the resistance, for example as spies or radio technicians.
Between 1942 and 1943, 54 Dutch secret agents were dropped by the Allies over the Netherlands. Immediately afterwards, they were arrested by the occupiers. No one knows how many Engelandvaarders there were in total; the number is estimated at 1,700. Among them were at least 48 women. [2]
The wave of arrests of those parachuted agents was called the Englandspiel by the Germans. [3]

1. Engelandvaarder, Wikipedia • Nederlands • English
   Museum Engelandvaarders, Wikipedia • Nederlands • Deutsch
2. monument Engelandvaarders, Mauthausen
3. Englandspiel
4. Website Genootschap Engelandvaarders Nederlands

All the fallen resistance people in Limburg Engelandvaarders – 14 pers.
Bleijs (Bleys), Ludovicus (Ludo) Adrianus Lodewijk	∗ 1906-10-17 Tilburg † 1945-08-15 Gorinchem	- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Knokploegen (K.P.) - Engelandvaarders - Roermond - Ludo Bleijs’ surname is also spelled Bleys, and sometimes Louis is given as his first name. His resistance name was Lodewijk. During the war he was a member of the Redemptorist monastery in … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.04-03
Colleije (Colleye), Josephus Hubertus Theodorus Jozef	∗ 1921-07-27 Eys (Wittem) † 1949-01-25 Nijmegen	- Police - Unorganized resistance - Simpelveld - Engelandvaarders - Information about Jozef Colleije we find mainly at the website of the municipality of Simpelveld:In the late 30’s and early 40’s he was in the ceramic art workshop in Tegelen. … wall: right, row 17-01
Droogleever-Fortuyn, Kees	∗ 1922-04-10 Amsterdam † 1944-09-07 Mauthausen	- Maastricht - Engelandvaarders - Studied in Leiden, traveled to England via Gibraltar with his fellow student Louis d’Aulnis and was trained by the Secret Intelligence Service [1] or MI6 (Military Intelligence, … wall: left, row 30-03
Kerres, Hub.	∗ 1924-06-30 Kerkrade † 1944-08-30 Buchenwald	- Engelandvaarders - Studenten - Kerkrade - The student Hubert Joseph Kerres lived in Kerkrade. His father Mathias came from the German-speaking Eynatten near Eupen, which is now Belgian again, mother Maria Hubertina from Horbach, from … wall: middel, row 13-02
Kuypers /Kuijpers, Willy Wim	∗ 1917-06-14 Heer † 1944-03-20 Bourdon, dépt. Somme	- Engelandvaarders - Heer - Willy or Wim Kuypers was an electrician. The correct spelling of his surname is Kuypers and not Kuijpers. [1] He fled to England via detours (Vichy part of France, Spain, Curaçao, New … wall: left, row 14-04
Lemmen, Gerardus Johann Willy Gerard	∗ 1926-11-20 Bocholtz (L) † 1944-12-16 Antwerpen	- Engelandvaarders - Tegelen - Gerard Lemmen was a metalworker. The five friends Gerard Lemmen, Gerard Rooskens, Piet Saelmans, … wall: right, row 23-02
Maassen, Armand Guillaume Henri Armand	∗ 1920-01-03 Maastricht † 1943-02-10 Leusden	- Engelandvaarders - Maastricht - Studenten - The student Armand Maassen was a sailor in the Roal Dutch Navy until his demobilization by the Germans. [1] In September 1941, he crossed by canoe to England, where he … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Nieuwland, Carlos Marie Carlos	∗ 1923-07-30 Fort de Kock / Bukittinggi † 1944-02-24 Buchenwald	- Engelandvaarders - Studenten - Venray - Fort de Kock was the colonial name for Bukittinggi in Indonesia. Carlos’ father was an officer in the KNIL, the colonial army in what was then the Dutch East Indies. Carlos attended the IC … wall: right, row 32-02
Rooskens, Gerardus Martinus Gerard /Broer	∗ 1926-11-13 Tegelen † 1944-12-16 Antwerpen	- Engelandvaarders - Tegelen - Electrician. The five friends Gerard Lemmen, Gerard Rooskens, Piet Saelmans, wall: right, row 22-02
Saelmans, Petrus Cornelis Piet	∗ 1925-11-25 Tegelen † 1944-12-16 Antwerpen	- Engelandvaarders - Tegelen - Cigar maker. The five friends Gerard Lemmen, Gerard Rooskens, Piet Saelmans, wall: right, row 21-06
Schampers, Reinier Rein	∗ 1924-04-21 Tegelen † 1944-12-16 Antwerpen	- Engelandvaarders - Tegelen - Reinier Schampers was a metalworker. The five friends Gerard Lemmen, Gerard Rooskens, wall: right, row 22-03
Scholten, Nicolaas Wilhelmus Nico	∗ 1925-04-01 Tegelen † 1944-12-16 Antwerpen	- Engelandvaarders - Tegelen - Nico Scholten was a metal worker. The five friends Gerard Lemmen, Gerard Rooskens, wall: right, row 23-03
Wauthlé, Joseph Marie Hubertus Jozef	∗ 1923-07-15 Mechelen (L) † 1944-11-27 Brandenburg	- Engelandvaarders - Forced Labor - Unorganized resistance - Wittem - Jozef Wauthlé was a lathe operator. He is friends with Sjeu Wetzels from Schweiberg. They decide to go to England together in order to liberate the fatherland from there. They … wall: right, row 39-03
Zomer, Johannes J. Hans	∗ 1920-11-06 Probolinggo † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- Engelandvaarders - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Studenten - OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - en This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-