Gerrit Hendrik Brinkman
6 October 1914 – 7 April 1945

Gerrit Hendrik Brinkman
6 October 1914 – 7 April 1945
Berkenhove Cemetery, grave 554

Fatally hit by flying shrapnel, as a victim of the liberation.
Gerrit Hendrik Brinkman was born in Aalten and married Johanna Berendina Mateman, also from Aalten, in the early 40s. The couple will live at Praebsterkamp 4 in Zutphen. When they went to live there is unknown. Gerrit Hendrik has been appointed as a Tramway official. On 16 February 1942, their daughter Engelina Berendina (Ineke) was born. Shortly afterwards, Hendrik Brinkman, his wife Hanna Mateman and their daughter TBC. Daughter Ineke died on 19 November 1943 in the sanatorium in Almen.

When the Canadians advanced in the Achterhoek in early April, Zutphen was put in a state of defense by the Germans. Access roads are blocked with concrete blocks and with tram cars, filled with stones. Bridges are blown up. Cannons and machine gun nests were set up. The Germans did not want to give up the city just like that.

On April 6, fierce fighting broke out, especially in the Deventerwegkwartier district where the Praebsterkamp is also located. Hendrik Brinkman and his wife Hanna, together with their neighbors, look for the shelter. A long and anxious night follows. Hendrik leaves the shelter the next morning to collect provisions. The next day there is also fierce fighting for the city. House after house and street after street must be conquered. And again Hendrik decides to leave the shelter and look for provisions. In the process, he was fatally hit by flying shrapnel.

It was not until the morning of 8 April that the entire city was liberated. Many soldiers on both sides were killed and many of the civilian population were also killed.
Among the dead is also Gerrit Hendrik Brinkman. The dead are first temporarily buried at the Praeberskamp.

On April 12, he was buried from his parental home on the Meiberg next to his daughter Engelina at Berkenhove cemetery.
His funeral card reads “As a victim of the liberation”.

Sources:
Notes: Jan Kreijenbroek
Additions: Ina Sluiskes-Tolkamp
Research: Gerrit Nijman and Ina Brethouwer
© Collection National Hiding Museum

Gerrit Hendrik Brinkman
Born 6 October 1914 – Died 7 April 1945
Berkenhove Cemetery, grave 554

Funeral card in memory of Gerrit Hendrik Brinkman