Five Brothers and a War

1944 Summary

Oct 13 Oct 14 Oct 16

Resistance forms Stichting 1940-1945 for aid to survivors of fallen comrades.

Allies take Athens.

Hitler forces Hungarian puppet leader Admiral Horthy out of office. Allies liberate Woensdrecht, trap German troops in Zeeland.

Oct 20 Oct 23

Americans land in the Philippines.

First efforts at establishing a central soup kitchen for Amsterdam. First major crossing of the Rhine by Allies. Attempt on life of SD-commander Oehlschlagel. Germans kill 29 hostages alongside an Amsterdam road in reprisal for attack on Oehlschlagel. KP raids police station Haagse Veer in Rotterdam, free 40 prisoners. Germans retaliate with executions of hostages.

Oct 24

Oct 25

Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28

Natural gas supply cut off in Amsterdam.

Allies liberate Den Bosch, Prinses Irene Brigade Tilburg.

BS-commander Koot re-organizes underground army in two divisions: stoot and bewakingstroepen (commando and guards).

Oct 30 Nov 01

Allies take Tholen.

Historic town of Sluis falls to Allies. Canadians land near Westkapelle on Walcheren. Koot sidelines Thijssen, former commander Raad van Verzet.

Nov 02 Nov 03 Nov 04

Liberation of North Beveland.

Heavy fighting around Vlissingen results in freedom for city.

Resistance groups of Werkendam and Sliedrecht lay out Biesbosch “traffic route” in and out of occupied territory. Germans blow up town hall of Heusden, and kill 134 civilians hiding in cellar. Amsterdam reports first casualties of hunger. LO-KP Biesbosch hands 75 captured Germans over to Allies. Allies reach river arm Hollands Diep, a natural defense line south of Rotterdam. US elects President Roosevelt to unprecedented fourth term. Germans at Vrouwenpolder surrender, Walcheren cleared of enemy. Reichskommissar Seyß-Inquart ends food embargo.

history

Nov 05

Nov 06 Nov 07 Nov 08

Nov 09 Nov 10

Allies clear Central and Western Brabant of last German units.

Two-day roundup of men for forced labor starts in Rotterdam and Schiedam; Germans catch 50,000.

Nov 14 Nov 15

Resistance names delegates for visit to London.

Germans comb Amsterdam for workers. KP-Almelo net f46 million in raid on branch of Nederlandsche Bank, requires it for aid to families of fugitives. SD-chief Rauter leads manhunt in onderduikersparadijs (“hiders’ paradise”) Noordoostpolder (“Northeast Polder”). Thousands caught.

Nov 17

Five Brothers and a War

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