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

Intelligence

Even before the German army invaded the Netherlands on May 10, 1940, people were already busy gathering information. For example, by mapping the positions of German troops on the border, like Edmond Houtappel, or even within Germany, like Ernst Berets, who in Krefeld kept an eye on industry and later, on the German-Belgian border, on rail traffic.
At first, of course, these were mainly Dutch soldiers, even once the occupation had begun. Later, more and more others joined in.
The Allies, of course, tried to take advantage of these initiatives and support them by sending transmitting equipment and trained personnel. A big flop in this regard was the England game. [1]
The British intelligence agency SOE (Special Operations Executive) [2] had set up an operation aimed at dropping agents and transmitters over the Netherlands. This often involved Engelandvaarders. It failed completely because of its clumsy approach. The agents carried badly forged papers, money that was no longer valid, clothes that stood out, and worst of all, arrested agents who were forced by the Germans to continue their work gave a signal arranged for this purpose, but it was not noticed. All agents sent behind were arrested. For example, Kees Droogleever-Fortuyn. The German counter intelligence rightly called this a game: Englandspiel. The Gestapo arrested 59 SOE agents, 54 of whom died. Most of them were shot in the Mauthausen concentration camp. [2]
But by no means all services proceeded so foolishly.

Of particular interest were all transports of war material and troops. This was done mainly by rail. Everywhere in the occupied territories resistance fighters were busy reporting about it to London, for example the loadmaster Alf Dresen or the monk Piet Muhren (Père Étienne). The latter was nicknamed "the amorous monk" by the population because he was so much on the road with his bicycle.
Especially after the Allied landing in Normandy in June 1943, such reports naturally became more and more important. The information gathered by the bomber crews urgently needed to be supplemented by that of the resistance fighters on the ground. These were sometimes so accurate that the Germans were able to determine who was behind them, by the hit locations of the Allied artillery. It was Sylvester Berden.
Cammaert writes in Chapter 12 about Theo Goossen’s intelligence agency ID18:
Thus, in the summer of 1944, the L.O. intelligence agency in the mining region was effortlessly transformed into a military intelligence service, which soon covered large parts of Limburg after the liberation and provided numerous services to the Americans. [3]

1. SOE (Special Operations Executive), Wikipedia • Nederlands • Deutsch • English • Français • Português
2. Englandspiel
   Het Englandspiel: de Duitse list die leidde tot een oorlogsdrama
3. Dr. F. Cammaert, Het Verborgen Front – Geschiedenis van de georganiseerde illegaliteit in de provincie Limburg tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Doctorale scriptie 1994, Groningen
   12. Inlichtingen

The fallen resistance people in Limburg Intelligence – 31 pers.
Arts, Lodewijk Peter Antonius Louis	∗ 1925-08-13 Venray † 1944-10-04 Venlo	- Venray - Forced Labor - Unorganized resistance - Dutch Soldiers - Intelligence - Louis Arts was an apprentice plasterer. He worked as a forced laborer on a farm in Germany and took advantage of that by helping other forced laborers across the nearby border. He did so outside … wall: right, row 31-02
Berden, Sylvester	∗ 1919-09-02 Den Haag † 1944-11-07 Kessel	- Underground Press - Studenten - People in hiding - Heel-Panheel - Intelligence - Sylvester Willem Jerome Maria Martin Berden was a law student and during the German invasion he was a drafted sergeant at the Grebbeberg. See funeral card [1] and … wall: left, row 13-02
Berets, Ernst David Ernst	∗ 1898-10-16 Krefeld † 1943-01-31 Auschwitz	- Maastricht - Jews in resistance - Initial resistance - Intelligence - Ernst Berets came from a Jewish family with many children. His father was Dutch, his mother German. They had moved to Krefeld after World War I, where they ran a wholesale fruit and vegetable … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Boer, de Willem	∗ 1908-07-16 Amsterdam † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Willem de Boer was a commercial agent and kept radio contact with England [1]. According to the Dodenboek Oranjehotel (Book of the Dead) [7] he was a member of the O.G.-group Naarden-Bussum, but … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Burger, Wilhelmus Fredericus Wim	∗ 1918-09-28 Amsterdam † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - Wim Burger was an office worker. [1] He belonged to the spy group around Hans Zomer and thus fell victim to the Englandspiel (England game). … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Erkens, Nicolaas Egidius Nic "van der Maas"	∗ 1894-10-10 Maastricht † 1943-10-09 Fort Rhijnauwen (prov. Utrecht	- Initial resistance - Erkens Group - Maastricht - Sittard - Intelligence - During the First World War, Nic Erkens too had been mobilized and at the end he was discharged as an officer. Between the wars, he worked at the Hustinx tube company in Liège, where he met his … wall: right, row 18-03
Fauchey, Antoine Pierre Marie	∗ 1918-07-15 Rotterdam † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - Antoine Fauchey fought at the Grebbeberg in May 1940 as a reserve cavalry sergeant. He was arrested on September 14, 1941 on suspicion of espionage (Book of the Dead Oranjehotel [7]) as a result … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Goffin, Jules G.H.J.	∗ 1897-03-31 Noville-les-Bois † 1943-10-09 Bunnik (Utrecht)	- Initial resistance - Erkens Group - Intelligence - Belgium - He was not a resistance fighter in the Dutch province of Limburg, but was in close contact with them and therefore also appears on this list. He was a general practitioner in … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.02-02
Gruijters, Pierre Emile Joseph Pierre	∗ 1906-03-14 Eijsden † 1944-10-08 Effeld	- Underground Press - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Couriers of the Resistance - Intelligence - Roermond - Pierre Gruijters was Chief purchaser at the Patent- en Kristalsodafabriek in Linne. Roman Catholic. Member of the resistance. Arranged hiding addresses and provided the Allies … wall: right, row 06-01
Hilkens, Leonard Peter Joseph Leo	∗ 1921-05-10 Wessem † 1944-10-16 Wessem	- Wessem - Couriers of the Resistance - Intelligence - Leo Hilkens was an agricultural worker. [1#2] He brought messages from resistance groups to the Allies. When he fought with British and Belgian troops in the liberation of his hometown, he … wall: right, row 38-03
Houtappel, Edmond Marie Hubert Ghislain Henri (Ed)Mond	∗ 1901-10-18 Maastricht † 1944-11-24 Neuengamme	- Initial resistance - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Maastricht - Intelligence - Edmond Houtappel was a wine merchant and ran a wholesale grocery store at Wolfstraat 8 (Fa. Wed. R. W. Hustinx, Koffiebranderij, groothandel in koloniale waren). Captain of the Reserve in the … wall: left, row 32-02
Jamin, Hubert J. Hubèr	∗ 1880-05-29 † 1945-03-08 Buchenwald	- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Intelligence - Maastricht - Hubert Jamin was a caregiver and prison guard (prison in a former Franciscan monastery on the Minderbroedersberg), belonged to the L.O.-Maastricht, specially helping imprisoned resistance … wall: left, row 32-03
Kroes, Willem Christiaan Albert	∗ 1896-01-16 Amersfoort † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Intelligence - Initial resistance - Architect Willem Kroes is referred to as Herman Kroes in the Book of the Dead of the Oranje Hotel [10], but as his file with the Oorlogsgravenstichting (War Graves Commission) indicates, that was … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Liedekerke de Pailhe, de Raphael R.E.J.G.	∗ 1903-04-15 Eijsden † 1943-10-09 Fort Rhijnauwen, prov. Utrecht	- Eijsden - Belgium - Initial resistance - Erkens Group - Intelligence - He was one of eleven members of the Dutch resistance group around Nick Erkens executed by the Germans in fort Rhijnauwen near Bunnik, province of … wall: left, row 08-02
Lopes de Leaô Laguna, Jacob	∗ 1901-10-21 Amsterdam † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Intelligence - Initial resistance - Jews in resistance - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Jacob Lopes de Leaô Laguna was a factory manager and a reserve captain. He was one of the many demobilized Dutch soldiers who, after the surrender on May 10, 1940, would not and could not comply … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Meijer, Johan Coenraad Jan	∗ 1919-09-05 Tandjong Pandang, Bi † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Intelligence - Initial resistance - Studenten - Jan Meijer was born in Tandjong Pandang, Billiton, in what is now Indonesia.[1] During mobilization he was an officer candidate in the Dutch navy with the rank of corporal, and … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Meulensteen, Hendrik A.C.	∗ 1886-03-28 Dinther † 1943-02-05 Neuengamme	- Initial resistance - Groep Dresen - Intelligence - Forced Labor - Maastricht - Hendrik Meulensteen was a shipping agent. His sons and a daughter sailed on barges. He and his wife ran her parents’ boatmen’s pub at Franschensingel. The regulars’ table or the back room … wall: left, row 34-02
Partouns, Jozef Jean Gerard Jef	∗ 1911-01-03 Eijsden † 1945-02-08 Vaihingen	- Eijsden - Initial resistance - Erkens Group - Intelligence - Jef Partouns was a laboratory assistant. Jean Arpots, Jef Partouns, and Jef Reintjens were three young men, one of whom worked for the Dutch railways. The three called themselves the Orange … wall: left, row 08-03
Peeters, Peter Antonius Joseph Toon	∗ 1916-06-20 Broekhuizenvorst † 1947-06-24 Venlo	- Broekhuizen - Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Intelligence - Netwerk Bongaerts - Toon Peeters, popularly known as blacksmith Toontje, was a blacksmith and bicycle dealer. [1] Cammaert writes about him: In Broekhuizen and Broekhuizenvorst the … wall: left, row 04-05
Schoemaker, Richard Leonard Arnold Richard	∗ 1886-10-05 Roermond † 1942-05-03 Sachsenhausen (Oranienburg)	- OD trial of Maastricht - Intelligence - Initial resistance - Initial resistance - Roermond - Richard Schoemaker was a cadet at the Royal Military Academy from 1905 and active in various sports, especially fencing. In it he participated in the Olympic Games in London in 1908. He became … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Sickenga, Jaap	∗ 1918-07-14 Haarlem † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Studenten - Jaap Sickenga was a student of the Dutch language, a poet and a Dutch resistance fighter in the Ordedienst during the Second World War. He and his friend Hans Zomer [1], who had returned … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Smeets, Michiel Hubert Alphonse Alphons	∗ 1887-07-14 Mheer (L) † 1943-10-09 Fort Rhijnauwen, prov. Utrecht	- Eijsden - Initial resistance - Erkens Group - Intelligence - Alphons Smeets was a grower and merchant of fruit in Eijsden, neighbor and tenant of Raphael de Liedekerke, father of Jef and wall: left, row 07-05
Smidt, Alex Klaas Lex	∗ 1914-11-22 Diepenveen † 1942-05-11 Sachsenhausen	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Maastricht - Photo: Book of the Dead 3, Oranjehotel Foundation [2].Lex Smidt was a member of the rugby club ’t Gooi since November 1940. On its website [1] it is stated that he … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.
Smink, Harmen	∗ 1919-11-26 Harderwijk † 1942-05-11 Sachsenhausen	- OD trial of Maastricht - Underground Press - Intelligence - Initial resistance - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Maastricht - The source of the text below is mostly the English version of Traces of War. [1] The photograph is from the Death Book of the Orange Hotel. [4] Harmen Smink did his military service … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.
Smit, Joseph Sef	∗ 1916-09-09 Roermond † 1942-09-17 Amsterdam	- Initial resistance - Group Smit - Police - Heerlen - Intelligence - Sef Smit from Roermond was before the war a professional sergeant in the 13th Infantry Regiment. [1] He chose after demobilization in July 1940 to join the police in Heerlen. He did not … wall: left, row 19-02
Sonneville, Alphonse Fons	∗ 1883-07-23 Maastricht † 1945-02-25 Dachau	- Underground Press - Communists & Sympathizers - Intelligence - Maastricht - As the following shows, Fons Sonneville was not a communist, but he did work with communists. Therefore, he was considered and treated as such by the Nazis. This cost him his life. He was an … wall: left, row 36-04
Tobben, Hendricus Hubertus Harry	∗ 1917-08-24 Heerlen † 1945-03-15 Hameln (D	- Underground Press - Initial resistance - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Police - Heerlen - Intelligence - Netwerk Bongaerts - - Harry Tobben was a former soldier and after his demobilization by the Germans in 1940 member of the mine police. Was involved, among other things, in acts of sabotage in the Oranje-Nassau Mine I … wall: left, row 19-05
Will, Peter	∗ 1896-08-21 Schoonhoven † 1945-04-24 Transport vanuit Neuengamme	- Aid to People in Hiding L.O. - Police - Limburg + - Underground Press - Intelligence - Nijmegen - Quality inspector in the slaughterhouse of Nijmegen, see the memorial plaque in the slaughterhouse [1] and honorary policeman. After May 1940, he helped people who wanted to escape forced labor … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.
Wolters, Oscar Wilhelmus Laurentius Oscar	∗ 1914-12-20 Venlo † 1944-09-05 Vught	- Studenten - Venlo - Intelligence - The medical student Oscar Wolters was participant in the resistance under the pseudonyms Doctor O. de Blécourt when he had to examine people and Otto Weber as a truck driver when he had to drive … wall: right, row 30-03
Woudt, van ’t Cornelis	∗ 1897-12-16 Overschie † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Intelligence - Cornelis Johannes IJsbrand van ’t Woudt was a captain in the coastal artillery. He was arrested for espionage on September 24, 1941 - sat in the "Oranjehotel", cell 640 until March 30 - … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Zomer, Johannes J. Hans	∗ 1920-11-06 Probolinggo † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- Engelandvaarders - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Studenten - OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - en This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-