The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Frans Joseph Henssen (Frans)

Oorlogsgravenstichting

Frans Henssen was orphaned at an early age. He was a machine fitter, and during the invasion of the German army he served in an anti-aircraft battery. During the war he married Anny Schmetz. The couple had their son Wen in 1941, who was given the first name of the American president Franklin as his middle name. He sabotaged German telephone poles, made fake keys for the resistance. He was employed in a munitions factory in Aachen, where he provoked a machine malfunction. In the course of 1944 (because of this?) he was sought by the Germans and, while trying to arrest him, was shot by two patrolling land guards. The perpetrators were sentenced to long prison terms after the war. [1]
The Landwacht was an auxiliary police force composed of Dutch Nazis.
After the war, the municipality wrote to the Oorlogsgravenstichting (War Graves Foundation): Henssen was shot with a hunting rifle by the Landwacht man Maurits Slabbers in Simpelveld on August 8, 1944.
On August 10, 1944, the Marechaussee, Gewest Eindhoven, group of Simpelveld, drew up a detailed official report on this under no. 367.
This report is now in the possession of the group commander of the Rijkspolitie (National Police) in Simpelveld. [2]
This person is listed in the “Erelijst 1940-1945” (Honor Roll of the Dutch Parliament). [3]

Footnotes

1. simpelveld.nl Frans Henssen
2. Archief Oorlogsgravenstichting (@ Nationaal archief), Dossier Frans J. Henssen #3
3. Erelijst 1940-1945
4. Oorlogsgravenstichting.nl