The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Frans Josef Peter Nies (Frans “Peters”)

Het Grote Gebod – L.O.

Frans Nies was a funeral director [1] and carpenter. At the beginning of the occupation he held a leading position in the Jonge Wacht (Young Guard) and was leader of the Katholieke Jonge Middenstanders (Catholic Middle Class Youth) in the Weert region. Vicars P.J. Slots and H.Th.H. Adams set up a functioning organization for aid to those in hiding even before joining the regional LO [2]
In mid-June 1943, Slots himself went into hiding in Baarlo. Since then Adams, Hermans and Nies have taken over the leadership. Miss Hermans took care of the distribution of rationing documents, and Adams and Nies took care of finding host families and housing people.
…
After the reorganization of the district in January 1944, Nies dealt with the organization of the sub-districts around Weert. These were Nederweert, Ospel, Kelpen (sub-district leader M. Keupers), Asten and Someren (sub-district leader P. Hoefnagels), Stramproy and Tungelroy (sub-district leader A. Maes), and Ell, Hunsel, Neeritter, Ittervoort (sub-district leader J.L. Koolen). [3.a]
At the same time, as was often the case in Central and North Limburg, Frans Nies was a member of the OD (Ordedienst). [2]
On Thursday morning, August 10, the Sipo, supported by land guards and German soldiers, arrested F. Nies. It is not clear whether this was a case of treason or whether the arrest was the result of investigations by the Sipo or of confessions beaten out of arrested people. Nies suffered terrible mistreatment in Maastricht. Together with other detainees, he was transported to Vught on September 2. [3.b]
Like so many other resistance fighters, Frans Nies was shot on September 5, 1944 at the execution site in a fortification near the Vught camp (Lunette 2). [3]
These mass executions around Mad Tuesday are also known as the Deppner executions. They followed Hitler’s so-called Niedermachungsbefehl or killing order. The camp was subsequently evacuated. [4]
His ashes lie in one of the Asputten (ash pits) behind the crematorium of the concentration camp. [3][5]
Frans Josef Peter ( Frans “Peters” ) Nies is listed in the Erelijst 1940-1945 (Honor Roll of the Dutch Parliament). [1]

Vught • Fusilladeplaats • Former execution site • Ancien site d’exécution


Footnotes

1. Erelijst 1940-1945
2. wo2slachtoffers.nl Biogr. Frans Nies
3. Dr. F. Cammaert, Het Verborgen Front – Geschiedenis van de georganiseerde illegaliteit in de provincie Limburg tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Doctorale scriptie 1994, Groningen
   6. De Landelijke Organisatie voor hulp aan onderduikers
   a. pp. 701-702
   b. p.707
4. 1. Monument fusilladeplaats & herdenkingswand, Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught
   2. OpenStreetMap • Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught • Fusilladeplaats • Crematorium
5. 1. Deppner-executies / Erich Deppner, Wikipedia • Nederlands • Deutsch
   2. Dolle Dinsdag, Wikipedia • Nederlands • Deutsch • English • Français • Español
6. Asputten Kamp Vught
7. Oorlogsgravenstichting.nl