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Koot, Henri

Date of birth:
December 29th, 1883 (Singaradja, Dutch East indies)
Date of death:
January 18th, 1959 (The Hague, The Netherlands)
Nationality:
Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

Biography

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Awarded on:
1918
For decoding the code telegrams from other governments.

"Eremedaille voor Voortvarendheid en Vernuft" in gold
Huisorde van Oranje - Gouden Eremedaille (HO.GEM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Tijdelijk res-generaal-majoor v/d generale staf.
Unit:
Commandant, Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten (BS), Nederlands Verzet
Awarded on:
August 24th, 1946
Awarded for:
Operation Market Garden
Recommendation:
For having distinguished himself in interior combat in the performance of eminent deeds of courager, tact and loyalty, continually risking his life by:
1. having reported spontaneously in September 1944 to become leader of the Delta Center and he later became Commander of the Interior Forces in the Netherlans still occupied by the overwhelming enemy,
2. having held these functions in a cool-headed, courageous and most tactful manner until the end, having to move openly despite the highly increased activity of the Sicherheitsdienst (Security Service) against his organization,
3. having urged, in the most tactful manner and with strong moral dominance the three large resistance organizations to merge eventually, molding them into a well-functioning strike force, highly inspiring his sub commanders and associates with his endurance, his great perseverance and his example; consciously and courageously accepting with the greatest peace of mind the special dangers for his personal life.


Royal Decree No. 4 dated 24th August 1946.
Ridder vierde klasse der Militaire Willems Orde (MWO.4)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Tijdelijk res-generaal-majoor v/d generale staf
Unit:
Commandant, Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten (BS), Nederlands Verzet
Awarded on:
January 28th, 1948
Awarded for:
Operation Market Garden
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
"In September 1944, SHAEF, working in conjunction with the Dutch Government and H.R.H. Prince BERNHARD through Special Force Headquarters, wished to unify the Dutch Interior Resistance organisations in order to achieve the co-ordinated execution of SHAEF directives for action against the enemy. General KOOT, who had been living in retirement in HOLLAND, was considered, by virtue of his attainments and prestige, to be the most suitable person to undertake this difficult task.


Acting in conjunction with the chiefs of the various organisations General KOOT formed a Council of Resistance which operated in AMSTERDAM. This Council carried out the co-ordination of the K.P., R.V.V., O.D. and other Resistance organisations throughout HOLLAND into one body known as the Netherlands Interior Forces. This body was under the direct command of General KOOT and through him of Prince Bernhard as delegate of the Supreme Allied Commander. Fourteen regional commanders were appointed, the interior communications network perfected, exterior communications strengthened and equipment, arming and training of the forces carried out in co-operation with Special Force H.Q. SHAEF directives were transmitted to General KOOT by Special Force H.Q. in the execution of which Resistance did valuable service during the advance in E. HOLLAND.

General KOOT was also responsible for planning, in conjunction with the Netherlands Government, the part to be played by Resistance in assuring order and in other security tasks in the cessation of hostilities and entry of Allied troops. The putting into effect of this programme was of immense benefit to the Allies in the initial period after the armistice, when available troops were too few to carry out alone the effective occupation of Western HOLLAND.

General KOOT took a very prominent part in the negotiations with the enemy which culminated in the surrender of the German forces in HOLLAND as part of the general surrender in N.W. EUROPE to 21 Army Group."

British Royal approval on 11 June 1947
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Tijdelijk res-generaal-majoor v/d generale staf
Unit:
Commandant, Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten (BS), Nederlands Verzet
Awarded on:
December 18th, 1948
Legion of Merit - Commander (LoM - C)
"For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Deputy Commander of the Interior Forces of the Netherlands. It was largely through the leadership and influence of General Koot that the different little resistance groups in Holland were united into one body - the Interior Forces of the Netherlands."
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 15th, 1984

The decoration was posthumously presented to the Generaal-majoor Kootkazerne on 15th March 1984 by Z.K.H. Prins Bernhard.
Verzetsherdenkingskruis (VHK)
Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw - Ridder (NL.3)
Officier in de Orde van Oranje Nassau (ON.4)

XXX
Ereteken voor Langdurige Dienst als Officier

Sources