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

Elst

Due to its position between the larger cities of Arnhem and Nijmegen, the agricultural region of Over-Betuwe had an important function as a refuge for many people who had to go into hiding. The same applies to the entire district of Maas en Waal, which had been founded by Kees van Sambeek, grew steadily and thus also included Over-Betuwe and parts of the Achterhoek.
A group of officials working for the L.O. played a central role in the reception of those in hiding in Elst.
On July 26, 1943, Geert Hoes, a law student and employee of the municipality of Elst, was arrested near Arnhem.

In his possession were master cards and food stamp cards for people in hiding, as well as a stamp from the town hall of Elst. A detective of the Arnhem police, Van Wier, tried to cover up the case, knowing that Hoes was involved in resistance work. However, the National Criminal Police in The Hague called in the Security Service and Police (SD/SiPo) in Arnhem. The former police chief in Heerde, NSB man and sub-lieutenant Buijink, conducted the investigation and had officers from the Distribution Office, the police and the Municipal House in Elst arrested. A total of 15 officials from Elst were taken into custody at Arnhem Prison and transferred to the Vught concentration camp on January 27, 1944. After Dolle Dinsdag (Mad Tuesday) [1], the Germans evacuated the Vught concentration camp. The group from Elst was transported with many others to the Sachsenhausen camp near Oranienburg. Once there, after a three-day train transport, they had to walk eight kilometers to the Heinkel camp in Germendorf, from where the group from Elst was transported to the Rathenow labor camp for forced labor in the Arado aircraft factories. [2] In early October 1944, they had to return to Sachsenhausen and were then transferred to the Neuengamme concentration camp near Hamburg, where they were to dig tank trenches near Aurich in East Frisia, among other things. [5] Many died under miserable circumstances during the construction of this useless Frisian wall. The survivors returned to Neuengamme on December 22, 1944. Only seven of these people from Elst returned alive after the liberation.[3]

In September 1944, the Allies encountered fierce German resistance near Elst on their way to Arnhem. The area between the Waal and Rhine rivers was difficult for tanks to access. The many dikes, ditches and orchards stood in the way of a rapid advance. Both the Germans and the British saw the possession of the village of Elst as the key to success. So it came to a fierce battle that lasted for days. [4]

1. Wikipedia EN: Dolle Dinsdag
2. Wikipedia DE: KZ-Außenlager Rathenow
   Wikipedia EN: Arado Flugzeugwerke GmbH
3. oorlogsdodennijmegen.nl: Geert Hoes
4. https://www.spannendegeschiedenis.nl/locatie/elst-de-sleutel-tot-succes/
5. The Engerhafe concentration camp was erected for the construction of the Friesenwall and filled with prisoners from the Neuengamme concentration camp.
   wikipedia NL – wikipedia DE (More details)

Liberated: 1944-09-26