The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Ben Verstappen
(Bernardus Petrus Lambertus)

Het Grote Gebod – L.O.

In the spring of 1944, Ben Verstappen, 30 years old, merchant, residing at Keulscheweg 597 in Reuver, had formed a K.P.(combat group), which was affiliated with the regional K.P.-Noord-Limburg under the leadership of H.J.H. Bouten from Velden. Besides Verstappen, it included Anton Hubert Ummels, J.H. Goossens, G. Janssen, M.J. Pereira, a person in hiding (“diver”) from The Hague, A.M. Roelofs, and B. Hegger. An air-raid shelter on the Patersweg in Belfeld, which had long served as a transit station for escaped Allied prisoners of war, was used as a meeting place. (Cammaert VIb p. 588 [1]).
Ben Verstappen was shot at Patersweg in Belfeld (Registry Office Belfeld, document 15/1944). On his body was found a list with the names of people to whom he had given a firearm. (Cammaert VIb p. 589 [1]).
For more see Anton Hubert Ummels.
Bernardus Petrus Lambertus ( Ben ) Verstappen is listed in the Erelijst 1940-1945 (Honor Roll of the Dutch Parliament). [3]

Footnotes

1. Cammaert, Alfred Paul Marie, Het Verborgen Front VIb, De Landelijke Organisatie voor hulp aan onderduikers
2. oorlogsgravenstichting.nl
3. erelijst.nl
4. http://historie.venlo.nl/persoon.asp?odID=1216
5. https://www.4en5mei.nl/oorlogsmonumenten/zoeken/28/belfeld-oorlogsmonument