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Hilvarenbeek Holland 4 oct. 1944 in 1944
written by Julius Vroom
 My name is Julius Vroom. I was born in Holland in Bussum on 15/07/1925. On the fourth of Oktober 1944, I was riding on a bike with a suitcase on the back from my hiding place-where I was hidden about one and half year avoid the Germans-to Hilvarenbeek. Halfway I came across about 16 German frontline-soldiers in ambusch. They were completely camouflaged. They were armed with two antitankguns and about six heavy machineguns. When they stopped me, Isaid that I should like to go to Hilvarenbeek for shopping and I should come back again within a quarter of an hour. I promissed to ring the bell of the bike in the winding of the road to warn them, not to shoot on me. They let me go.
Nearby the winding of the road witch is called Groot Loo, I looked back in the direction of the Germans. You could not see anything. They were invisible by twigs and leaves. In the bend I saw on the road direction Hilvarenbeek on about 70 meter distance two rows of -for me strange looking-soldiers marching to me. The first one (an officer?) pointed his pistol on me. I stopped, and while my bicycle and suitcase falled down on the road, I jumped with him in the dry ditch and warned him for the many Germans round the corner. When I saw that about 50 soldiers were still walking in the middle of the road? I jumped on the road again and wawed with my arms to the left and to the right: to seek cover! They had no idea about the danger.
The British officier ordered three soldiers to go on scouting. They were directly shot down by a German machinegun. One British soldier got a bullet in the belly, the other in his jaw and the third one through his arm. The heavily wounded dropped his rifle and stumbled back and died.
By my action I saved the life of the officier and many Royal Welch Fusiliers soldiers.
My question is, are there still people alive, who can remember this?
In May 2010 was a British veteran about the age 85 in Goirle in the company of a Dutchman (clergyman?). We looked to each other, but we could not speak. I think, maybe he was the officier?
Please send a reaction on my real story!
Address: Julius Vroom
Driebos 5
2381 Weelde
Belgium
e-mail: julius.vroom@telenet.be |
click here to email Julius Vroom about this Campaign/Arena
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