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Berrelkamp, Hilko

Date of birth:
January 18th, 1922 (Woldendorp, the Netherlands)
Date of death:
April 14th, 1945 (Dorkwerd, the Netherlands)
Buried on:
Dutch War Graves Dorkwerd
Plot: E1. 
Nationality:
Dutch

Biography

On Saturday 14 April, when the fighting in the city of Groningen was only just getting underway, a deadly battle took place in Dorkwerd on the Gaaikemadijk. At 2:00 PM, fleeing Landwachters and NSB members seized horses and carts from farmers in Dorkwerd. They wanted to flee further north via the Dorkwerderbrug. In Dorkwerd, N.B.S. Stoottroepers were hiding on Ekke Wolters' farm: Piet Dijkema, who was in bed with jaundice, Piet's fiancée Hanny Jansen, N.B.S. section leader Klaas Wigboldus, Klaas Simon Dijkema, Evert Harm Wolters and Hilko Berrelkamp. They saw the Landwachters, but could no longer stop them in Dorkwerd. The Landwachters had new carbines and the KP members had seen that. They could use them well for their section, because the section consisted of only five men. The reason for this was that they only had 2 sten guns and 3 rifles. There was enough enthusiasm to join the shock troops, with the liberation in sight, but weapons were lacking. Because the Dorkwerderbrug could no longer be used, the landwachters had to turn around there in order to be able to continue via the Gaaikemadijk and Aduard to the North. Ekke, Klaas, Klaas Simon and Evert Harm knew this, and were therefore able to intercept the Landwachters via a quick crossing at the Gaaikemadijk. The Landwachters surrendered after a single shot. But events took a dramatic turn. A group of fleeing SS men were in the nearby Scheeringa farm. When an SS man wanted to surrender, Evert Harm Wolters came out of cover to disarm him. That cost Evert Harm his life. Hilko Berrelkamp, ??who had stayed behind because he was not yet a fully-fledged resistance fighter, rushed from Dorkwerd to help his mates. He was shot dead from a distance by an SS gunner, in the ridge of Scheeringa's farm. Klaas Wigboldus also died in this firefight. Ekke Wolters and Klaas Simon Dijkema remained in cover until it got dark and then managed to escape towards Aduarderdiep.

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