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Kars, Jan

Date of birth:
April 20th, 1919 (Sloten, the Netherlands)
Date of death:
October 20th, 1944 (Waterlandkerkje, the Netherlands)
Buried on:
Dutch Field of Honour Loenen
Row: E. Grave: 977.
Nationality:
Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Jan Kars was stationed as a young Marechaussee in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen at the beginning of the war. Jan worked with the resistance there and played a key role in August 1944 when the local KP raided the distribution office in Oostburg. He was then given a leading role within the Knokploeg "De Vos" and immediately had to go into hiding.

When Oostburg is in the front line shortly afterwards, he flees with other civilians to the homestead of resistance fighter De Bruijne near Waterlandkerkje. There are then about 70 refugees on the farm.

On 20 October 1944, Jan and two other members of the resistance decide to go through the lines to warn the Allies. The farm is in the battle zone and must not be bombed. On the way, Jan is fatally hit by a grenade; the two others remain unharmed.

Jan was reburied on the Loenen Field of Honour in 1947. His name appears on two memorials in Amsterdam and Oostburg wheren also a street is named after him.

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Sources