I'll probably spell this wrong but when I lived in your fair country I used to take my son (two year old at the time) to the 'Bis Bosch'....an area I belive the Dutch Resistance used to consider they're safe haven and an area the Germans (muff) feared to enter.

While definitely heroic, I doubt that the resistance played a large role in the military operations of WW2 (and thus deserves a place on maps).

Because of the German retaliations that often followed resistance operations, many of these operations may even had a negative effect. I'm not saying this is to blame on the resistance fighters, but the effect's there nonetheless.
Somewhere in the end of 1944/beginning of 1945 my grandfather was, like all young men of his town (Zelhem), called up to dig trenches, to be used in the German defence of the Netherlands. Not wanting to help the German occupiers, he hid in a nearby barn, just as many other called up community members did. In response, the Germans arrested and executed the mayor and a few other people, and threatened to keep on executing people until everyone had turned themselves in. My Grandfather did so, and was put to work digging trenches around the town.
While certainly admirable that he (and the many other young men involved) didn't want to help the occupiers, the collective hiding in this case only had negative effects. Had they turned themselves in, nobody would have been shot. For the war it wouldn't have mattered a thing as the trenches probably weren't even used in the German defence of the Netherlands.
Same goes for most "real" resistance.

I think saving jews by providing hiding places, ration stamps and ID cards may be called the "worthiest" achievement of the Dutch resistance. Most of the other actions may have harassed the Germans, may have disrupted communications and operations of the German army, and may even have saved one or two lives. But as a whole, I see these "other", non live-saving actions as maybe even having caused more harm than they prevented.

It doesn't make the resistance fighters less heroic though:salute:

Didn't know about this part of the history of the Biesbosch. From what I'm reading now, though "safe haven" may be a bit exaggerated, the Biesbosch indeed seems to have played a large role in the local resistance. Apparently in 1944 the resistance even captured 70 German soldiers, and held them captive until the Allies liberated the area.

The inaccessibility of the Biesbosch did indeed make it a relatively safe hiding place, but the only problem was to get there, with the "Moffen" ("Jerries") heavily patrolling the bordering rivers.

Has "Moffen" actually a meaning or is it just a "name" for Germans?:hmm2:

^http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mof

HunterICX

For non-German speakers;):
"Mof" is just a derogative term for Germans with no further meaning (much like "Jerry"). The etymology is uncertain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ns#Netherlands

Looks like my friends from Dordrecht stories have some foundation then :DL

@DarkFish & other Kaaskop:D

Thanks.:salute:

It's remarkable how little info is readily available. Really requires some digging. :hmmm:


Here in Vlissingen (Flushing), you can still find old bunkers (more like MG-nests) dotting the landscape, in and around the city. I know 1 that's a few meters from someones home, in his yard.

Feels a bit surreal at times, such a stark contrast if you think about it. The peace we have here now, and a relic from a time where peace was a memory. Can never help but stop and ponder a while when I come across one.


Random bit: one of the resistance newspapers, Het Parool, is still in circulation. Friend of mine has a route, delivering them.

I regulargy go on vacation in Zeeuws Vlaanderen (Zeelandic Flanders), same goes for there. If you know where to find them, there are quite a lot of bunkers scattered all over the dunes.
I remember one especially from my childhood. It was essentially a large hole, leading to at least 2 underground chambers. I was too small at the time to climb down there and take a better look, when I had finally grown large enough they had filled it up with sand:damn:
Near my birthplace of Arnhem, (one of?) the largest German bunker (40*60*16 m) of the Netherlands is located: the Diogenes bunker. This was the command center of the 3. Jagddivision of the Luftwaffe.

Actually, even three resistance newspapers are still in circulation:
Het Parool
Trouw
Vrij Nederland

Relics of war still litter the landscape here, back from when we thought that we were next. There's several pill boxes littered around the local landscape, tank cubes near the beach, anti-glider ditches here and there.

Thanks, was only sure about Parool. :doh:

We have The Sun.......and STEED :DL

And according to them you will have us too in a short time.http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/pict...pictureid=2164

Provided you come across on the ferries and not in aircraft you should be quite safe :DL