The National Hiding Museum is calling for information about the Dutch National Battalion. This battalion of Achterhoekers supported the Canadian infantry in 1945 in the liberation of the rest of the Netherlands. The museum wants to draw attention to this ‘forgotten battalion’ and will dedicate an exhibition to the significance of this civilian army in 2025. Personal stories of these ‘patriots’ who actively participated in the liberation are then highlighted. To this end, plenty of information is needed.
When the Canadians invaded the Achterhoek at the end of March 1945, liaison officer Peijnenburg noticed that there was a well-organized group of Domestic Forces here, which had been active from September 1944 in weapon droppings, the accommodation of people in hiding and pilots and the committing of sabotage. It concerns men from the entire border region from Gendringen to Eibergen. Together with regional commander Bob Krul , Peijnenburg formed this active fighting unit into a battalion of infantry, which could support the Canadian infantry in the liberation of the rest of the Netherlands.
On 15 April 1945, this army unit with approximately 440 members left Aalten, the centre of the resistance, in three companies. The civilian army is actively fighting and provides flank cover in the front line of the Canadian army.
Idealists
The battalion consisted of people in hiding: resistance fighters, Jews, students from all over the Netherlands and farmers’ sons. Together they endured many dangers during the war and so a close camaraderie was created. They were idealists who considered it their duty of honour to join the Canadian Liberation Army and to actively fight on the front line. The battalion helps with the clearing of areas along the IJssel, Deventer, Apeldoorn, the Veluwe and up to Amersfoort. In Apeldoorn, the battalion of the Canadians was given its name: Dutch National Battalion DNB. Gunfights take place and hand grenades go back and forth. DNB arrests hundreds of SS men and Germans. Two people from Aalten are killed.
Canadian reports
Canadian reports are full of praise for the stubborn fighting power of the young ‘patriots’ who face the enemy without hesitation. After the liberation, DNB controls the so-called checkline, which runs from the IJsselmeer to the Waal in the Betuwe. On 12 July 1945, part of the battalion chose to return home (the army also had married men!), while others signed up as soldiers in the Dutch army, regiment Infanterie. There are men who go blind while clearing mines (Dick Fries) or mutilate their faces with phosphorus (Albert Wisselink). There is a group that then volunteered as a war to fight against Japan in an Allied context and to liberate the Dutch East Indies. In short: there are many varied stories.
Call
The National Hiding Museum is preparing an exhibition in 2025 about the meaning and route of this civilian army, which is also known as the ‘forgotten battalion’. By highlighting the personal experiences of the individual members of DNB, history is brought out of oblivion. Where did they come from, what did they experience during the war and how did they fare afterwards?
The museum believes it is important that this story also becomes (more) known in national and international history. It complements our picture of history as to how the civilian population took the initiative to actively participate in the liberation. Readers are urged to share information about individual DNB members with the National Hiding Museum, so that the history can be further coloured. The story of father, uncle or grandfather with a portrait photo is especially appreciated. In the past five years, the museum has already organized four personal exhibitions in which many participated and received much appreciation, such as: Hiding in the border region, The raid on the churches in Aalten, The woman as a pivot of the resistance and Give the names a face-Rademakersbroek.
You can contact the secretariat of the museum: telephone 0543 471797 or via the e-mail address info@onderduikmuseum.nl.
