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

Women in the resistance

The mortal victims within the resistance were almost all men. If a couple was arrested, the woman was soon released in most cases, as the occupiers assumed that she was no longer a danger on her own. One of the countless examples was Harry Miltenburg and his wife, whose name is not mentioned anywhere, of course. For in those days, even more than today, people thought, " BEHIND every successful man, there is a strong woman." This was in fact often the case with the resistance. After the war, it was usually the men who received the medals and other recognition for their heroic acts. The women’s heroic acts were mainly performed behind their husbands. But they did not just cook for the people in hiding or bring them food in the bottom of the baby carriage under a child, as Coen Grotaers’ wife did. Although this was already dangerous enough. Most of them stayed behind their men in their obsequious role.
The exception to this rule were the couriers, or rather the female couriers of the resistance. They were of course people who had to be able to move around discreetly, for example professional drivers or others who were on the road every day for their work. After it became increasingly clear that the most discreet couriers were in fact women on bicycles, looking like "housewives with shopping bags" and who would not be deported to Germany for slave labor, they took over this task successfully. However, even among the couriers, there were many more male victims, who were checked more often. Moreover it did not correspond to the Nazi thinking, that a woman could not participate in any resistance.
But not every woman was lucky enough to be underestimated, as the list below shows.

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The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Women in the resistance – 35 pers.

Assen-Grolleman, van
Berendina
Berendje
∗ 1894-03-29
Hasselt (Ov)
† 1945-02-18
Ravensbrück
- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Ondergrondse pers - Aid to Jews - Pilots’ helpers - Women in the resistance - Maastricht -

Almost from the beginning of the German occupation in 1940, Berendje Grolleman (Berendina van Assen-Grolleman) and her husband
wall: left, row 29-03
Bensen-Offermans,
Anna Maria
Antje
∗ 1902-09-11
Heerlen
† 1970-02-01
Heerlen
- Pilots’ helpers - Knokploegen (K.P.) - Intelligence - Women in the resistance - Survivors - Heerlen -

Antje Bensen-Offermans said at her farewell as a midwife, resistance work had been for her a phase in her life. She did not like to be reminded of it. See quote below. She was a sister-in-law of
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Bode, de
Nelly Adriana Jeannette
Nelly
∗ 1905-09-07
Heer
† 1944-01-16
Vught
- Unorganized resistance - Aid to Jews - Heer - Women in the resistance -

Nelly de Bode was born in Heer (today municipality of Maastricht). She lived in Rotterdam and worked at the G.A.B. (municipal employment office). She helped people in hiding. This came to …

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Boutet,
Eugénie Marie Theodorina
Eugénie
∗ 1897-06-07
Bressoux, Liège (B)
† 1990-06-04
Sevenum
- Initial resistance - Aid to escaped POW’s - Aid to Jews - Survivors - Women in the resistance - Sevenum -

The above information is taken from the short biography of the teacher Eugénie Boutet from Sevenum on humanitarisme.nl. [1.1] The same information can be found almost identically in large …

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Brinkman,
Sophie Marie Amélie Jacqueline
Sophie
∗ 1908-10-18
Roermond Geboortedatum:
† 1945-03-06
Klingelpütz, Köln
- Women in the resistance - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Aid to escaped POW’s - Ondergrondse pers - Roermond -

Sophie Brinkman was the daughter of notary Herman Brinkman and Francisca Brinkman-Rohling in …
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Brinkman-Rohling ,
Francisca Alberta Maria
Francisca
∗ 1875-01-18
Dokkum
† 1945-03-27
Maastricht
- Women in the resistance - Ondergrondse pers - Roermond - Initial resistance -

Francisca Brinkman-Rohling and her husband, 70-year-old notary Herman Brinkman, lived in Roermond [1] and were the parents of
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Brouwer,
Neeltje
∗ 1914-08-29
Benschop, Utr.
† 1983-09-12
Winschoten, Oldambt (Gr)
- Civil Servants - Ondergrondse pers - Pilots’ helpers - Couriers of the Resistance - Survivors - Women in the resistance - Geulle -

The birth and death dates of the Koers-Brouwer couple can be found on geni.com. [1] She and her husband Klaas Koers
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Cremers,
Anna Maria Johanna
Annie
∗ 1924-06-05
Voerendaal
† 2005-08-22
Heerlen
- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Civil Servants - Couriers of the Resistance - Valkenburg - Survivors - Women in the resistance -

Photo: Annie in the distribution office. Family archive. Annie Cremers forged documents for the people in hiding at the so called Municipal Distribution Office of  …
More in our story Resistance in Valkenburg
Cremers,
Wielke
∗ 1910-07-12
Heerlen
† 1950-08-20
Valkenburg
- Couriers of the Resistance - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Valkenburg - Survivors - Women in the resistance -

Sister of Gerda Cremers and sister-in-law of Pierre Schunck. He wrote about her: “Then I assigned Ms …
More in our story Resistance in Valkenburg
Debije,
Maria Josepha Hubertina Anna
Anna
∗ 1903-02-05
Schaesberg
† 1968-02-19
Arnhem
- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Ondergrondse pers - Aid to Jews - Women in the resistance - Survivors - Heer -

Anna Debije is the widow of Giel Duijkers. The couple did, as often happened, their resistance work together. But as always in such cases: Giel was …
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Delahaye,
Pauline
∗ 
- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Couriers of the Resistance - Aid to Jews - IJzeren - Survivors - Women in the resistance -

Pauline Delahaye - Delahaije --> was a courier for the L.O. and among other things she brought the children Cohen to the hamlet IJzeren, where they could go into hiding.
Flachs,
Käthe
∗ 0000-00-00
† 0000-00-00
- Unorganized resistance - Aid to Jews - Valkenburg - Survivors - Women in the resistance -

Rescued the children Moos and Herman of her Jewish friend
Förster,
Maria Anna Clara
Mies
∗ 1915-11-16
Helmond
† 1945-03-18
Heerlen
- Women in the resistance - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Couriers of the Resistance - Heerlen -

Nurse, assistant to the medical examiner at the municipal employment office in Heerlen. "She saved numerous approved persons from being sent to Germany for forced labour by changing medical …
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Ham, v.d.
Aalte
Aaltje?
∗ 0000-00-00
∗ ?
† 0000-00-00
† ?
- Women in the resistance - Nieuwenhagen -

Aalte / Aaltje?  ?

wall: right, row 01-03
Jans,
Katie
∗ 1923-07-24
Venlo
† 1945-01-06
Venlo
- Couriers of the Resistance - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Women in the resistance - Venlo -

Katie Jans did messenger work for the LO. In Venlo, the local LO and OD groups worked well together, as in most places in North Limburg. She was a daughter of reserve Major General
wall: right, row 29-01
Jaspers,
Marie-Thérèse
Treesie
∗ 1924-01-11
Klimmen
† 2013-09-08
Imstenrade
- Klimmen - Survivors - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Women in the resistance - Couriers of the Resistance -

Trees Jaspers was the daughter of the notary Jaspers from Klimmen and a sister of Jo Jaspers [1], who was killed in action on May 10, 1940. Trees took over courier services for
More in our story Resistance in Valkenburg
Kleine Zusters van de Hl. Joseph,

∗ 
- The clergy - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Aid to Jews - Pilots’ helpers - Women in the resistance - Heerlen -

The St. Joseph Hospital on the Putgraaf [1] in Heerlen during the occupation was firmly in the hands of the resistance and in particular the aid organization for people in hiding LO. This was …

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Maessen,
Mechteldis Margaretha Maria
∗ 1901-10-10
Roermond
† 1968-07-23
Roermond
- Initial resistance - Aid to escaped POW’s - Pilots’ helpers - Aid to Jews - Ondergrondse pers - Women in the resistance - Survivors - Roermond -

Source for birth and death dates: geneanet.org. [1] Mechteld Maessen was married to Jan Bronckhorst in 1927. They operated pub-hotel …
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Oijen, van
Hendrika Johanna
Jet
∗ 1914-07-16
Maastricht
† 1983-12-15
Enschede
- Netwerk Bongaerts - Pilots’ helpers - Survivors - Women in the resistance - Sittard -

Jet van Oijen was verloofd met de Sittardse verzetsman Harrie Tobben, die in juni 1942 op advies van bevriende politiemensen onderdook in Baexem. Zij …
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Peusens,
Els
Els
∗ 1923-06-10
† 2005-12-14
- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Couriers of the Resistance - Valkenburg - Survivors - Women in the resistance -

Pierre Schunck wrote: Wielke Cremers and the Peusens sisters worked as messengers. [3]
More in our story Resistance in Valkenburg
Peusens,
Paulina Jacobina Gerardine
Gerardine
∗ 1926-02-23
Valkenburg
† 2021-04-16
Valkenburg
- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Couriers of the Resistance - Valkenburg - Survivors - Women in the resistance -

Pierre Schunck wrote: Wielke Cremers and the Peusens sisters worked as messengers. [3]
More in our story Resistance in Valkenburg
Pijnacker Hordijk,
Anna Geertruida Adelheid
Anna
∗ 1881-06-11
Maastricht
† 1944-01-24
Ravensbruck
- Pilots’ helpers - Women in the resistance - Maastricht - Nijmegen -

Anna Pijnacker Hordijk was a daughter of rev. Arij Pijnacker Hordijk and Alida Margaretha Theodora de Ridder. She was married to Matthias Adriaan Snoeck. Sister of rev. Adriaan Nicolaas …

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Pulskens,
Jacoba Maria
Tante Coba
∗ 1884-05-26
Tilburg
† 1945-03-17
Ravensbrück
- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Aid to Jews - Pilots’ helpers - Women in the resistance - Limburg + -

Coba Pulskens hid Jewish persons, Allied pilots and resistance fighters, was arrested and brought to Vught via Haaren. During the evacuation of Vught in early September 1944, she was transferred …

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Schoenmaeckers,
Marie Clotilde Hélène
Hélène “Lèneke”
∗ 1894-07-03
Kapelhof-Rekem (B)
† 1945-07-11
Sankt Gallen (CH)
- Initial resistance - Erkens Group - Aid to escaped POW’s - Women in the resistance - Amby -

Photo: Amiepedia [4] Hélène Schoenmaeckers came from a true resistance family. Her sister Adèle and her brother
wall: left, row 01-02
Schunck-Cremers,
Gerda
∗ 1912-09-10
Heerlerheide 
† 2005-05-05
Valkenburg
- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Valkenburg - Survivors - Women in the resistance -

As the wife of Pierre Schunck, she was constantly involved in his resistance work. In retrospect, we can not determine exactly the extent of her share anymore. But given the nature of their …
More in our story Resistance in Valkenburg
Simonis,
Jeanne
∗ 1930-00-00
Sittard
- Women in the resistance - Couriers of the Resistance - Ondergrondse pers - Knokploegen (K.P.) - Survivors - Sittard -

Jeanne Simonis was koerier van haar vader Dolf Simonis, de leider van de knokploeg in Sittard. Bij het begin van de bezetting was zij 10 jaar oud en …
t-
Smeets-Hendrickx,
Jacqueline Henrica
Tante Jacquelien
∗ 1892-02-25
Melick-Herkenbosch
† 1945-02-19
KZ Ravensbrück
- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Aid to Jews - Women in the resistance - Roermond -

Jacqueline Smeets-Hendrickx was one of the few female victims at the Resistance. Arrested on August 10, 1944 in connection with the housing of Jews [1] Pub/hotel …
wall: right, row 10-05
Smid,
Hendrikje
∗ 1922-04-08
Smilde
† 1944-10-15
Hoensbroek
- Communists & Sympathizers - Ondergrondse pers - Women in the resistance - Hoensbroek -

Hendrikje Smid was a daughter of Hendrik Jan Smid (1898-1961) and Geziena Hesse (1902-1968). [1] In the card index of CPN victims in Limburg, it is noted on her card that she worked for the …

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Soree,
Hubertina
Bertha
∗ 1906-06-04
Venlo
† 1944-11-03
Venlo
- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Couriers of the Resistance - Women in the resistance - Venlo -

In the Venlo Book of the Dead (see link below, historie.venlo.nl), Hay Goertz writes about Hubertina Johanna Elisabeth Soree: “During the war, Bertha was active in the resistance in Venlo, where …

wall: right, row 30-02
Stakenborg-Trommàr,
Anna Catharina
Anna
∗ 1896-06-04
Venray
† 1957-05-07
- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Local contacts - Aid to Jews - Survivors - Women in the resistance - Brunssum -

Photo: Family archive. Biographical data: Im Memoriam card in the Rijckheyt archive. [1] Anna Stakenborg-Trommàr was the wife of Herman …
t-
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
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, …

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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 …
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Voort, van de
Johanna Catharina Maria
Hanna
∗ 1904-11-26
Meerlo
† 1956-07-26
Utrecht
- Women in the resistance - Aid to Jews - Survivors - Broekhuizen/Tienray -

The adjacent photo is from Wikipedia. [1] During World War II, Hanna van de Voort was a maternity nurse in Tienray and its surroundings in Limburg. That was in the then municipality of …
Vusschers,
Maria Magdalena
Marijke?
∗ 1914-01-02
Heerlen
† 1945-04-25
Ravensbrück → Schwerin
- Communists & Sympathizers - Women in the resistance -

Maria Magdalena Vusschers had been married to Johann Gerritsen [1] since January 17, 1935 and lived in Heerlerheide. According to her archive card (no. 23) in the CPN Limburg archives, she …

u-01-02