The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Sjef Haan
(Mathias Joseph)

Sjef Haan worked in the Oranje-Nassau IV coal mine. [1]
Without meaning to, he may have contributed to the busting of the Smit resistance group by introducing the traitor Huub Thelen.
The Dutchman H.M.J. Thelen, born of German parents, former soldier and miner on the Oranje-Nassau IV, had joined the Smit group in the second half of 1941, possibly introduced by M.J. Haan. [2.1]
Arrested 02-02-1942, sentenced to penitentiary. Died in a bombing raid on Oranienburg. [2.2]
Another member of the Smit group was H.J. Haan, also from Schaesberg and also employed on the Oranje-Nassau IV. The latter was arrested on 12.02.1942, was given a prison sentence as well, which he served in various camps until his liberation. He apparently survived the war. [2.2]
Until June 11, 1942, Mathias Joseph Haan was imprisoned in the Amersfoort camp for his resistance activities, on which day he was transported to Sachsenhausen. [3]
His name is on the war memorial in Schaesberg. [4]
Posthumously he was awarded the Resistance Memorial Cross (VHK). [5]
Mathias Joseph ( Sjef ) Haan is listed in the Erelijst 1940-1945 (Honor Roll of the Dutch Parliament). [6]


Wikimedia
Verzets-herdenkings-kruis
tracesofwar.nl VHK

Footnotes

1. Oranje-Nassau mijnen Wikipedia • Nederlands • English
2. Dr. F. Cammaert, Het Verborgen Front – Geschiedenis van de georganiseerde illegaliteit in de provincie Limburg tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Doctorale scriptie 1994, Groningen, 2. De eerste militair-civiele verzetsformaties
   1. pag. 111
   2. Bijlage V, Arrestaties in de groep-Smit, p.118
3. https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-gerits-meijers-weijers-collong/I6734.php
4. 4en5mei.nl oorlogsmonument Schaesberg
5. tracesofwar.nl Haan, Mathias Joseph
6. Erelijst 1940-1945
7. Oorlogsgravenstichting.nl
8. https://www.oorlogslevens.nl/tijdlijn/Joseph-Haan/02/206741