Date of birth:

July 15th, 1916 (Curaçao, Dutch Antilles)

Date of death:

February 9th, 1945 (Concentrationcamp Dachau, Germany)

Nationality:

Dutch

George Maduro was a Dutch student, who distinguished himself during the Battle of the Netherlands (May 1940) when he recaptured villa Dorrepaal, thereby preventing German paratroopers from entering The Hague by that side. After the Dutch surrender he joined the resistance. During his attempt to travel to Spain, he was betrayed and handed over to the Germans. Eventually he ended up in Dachau, where he perished on February 8th, 1945. Posthumous, he was awarded the Military Order of William 4th class for his part in the Battle of the Netherlands.

On July 15th, 1916, George Maduro was born in Willemstad, Curaçao, as the son of Joshua and Rebecca Maduro. The family was of Sephardic-Jewish descent. They were forced out of Spain during the fifteenth century.

At the age of 10, George, his parents and his younger sister moved to the Netherlands. His parents were unable to adapt to the climate and culture in the Netherlands, so they moved to Paris, while George and his sister moved in with his foster parents.

After graduating from high school, George Maduro started studying Law in Leiden and joined the student society Minerva. During the hazing, he managed to set himself apart from his fellow students and earned the society’s respect. He once knocked down an older student that had been bothering him. A reckless action, as he didn’t know what the consequences would be. Luckily, it turned out alright, as even the strongest boys among the society were impressed. The other evenings were even lighter, as one night he was separated from the other students for an hour and could catch his breath.

His studies were halted shortly for his obligatory military service, where he was trained to a reserve lieutenant second class. Here he met Oncko Wttewaall van Stoetwegen. When his service was over, Maduro returned to his studies.

During the mobilization of the Netherlands, Maduro was called up. When Germany attacked the Netherlands on May 10th, Maduro managed to distinguish himself. Through skillful managing of a machinegun and an antitank canon, he recaptured villa Dorrepaal after a daring charge across a bridge. The result was that the Germans couldn’t enter The Hague through this point.
After the capitulation, Maduro joined the resistance, where he met some of his fellow students. Twice Maduro was captured and locked up. He refused to flee with Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema. Only later he went with Oncko Wttewaall van Stoetwegen to Spain. In Belgium, they were betrayed by Prosper deZitter and handed over to the Germans. They were transported to the prison of Saarbrücken. Together, with Wttewaall van Stoetwegen, Maduro undertook two escapes during the Allied bombardments. The first try failed as they stayed behind to dig out wounded Poles from among the rubble. The second attempt they were captured by the Germans.

Maduro was later transported to Dachau, where he succumbed to the spot typhus on February 8th. His date of death is incorrectly marked as February 9th because this was the date that his death certificate was signed. In his memory, Madurodam was established. The profit of this miniature city goes towards charities for children. In Madurodam, there is also a plaquette and a miniature of the house Maduro grew up in that reminds the visitor to whom the park is dedicated. Posthumous, the Military Order of William 4th class was awarded in 1946 for the recapture of villa Dorrepaal.

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• Photo: Family Maduro (via Samuel de Korte)
• - Heuvel C.C. van den, Gedenkboek Verzetsherdenkingskruis, Samsom Uitgeverij, 1985
  - Brandt-Carey, Kathleen, Ridder zonder vrees en blaam, Spectrum 2016
  - Samuel de Korte, 'George Maduro, een Leidse student in de oorlog', Oud Leiden Nieuws, 5.3 (2017) 26-27.
  - Samuel de Korte, "George Maduro en villa Dorrepaal: Hoe de enige Antiliaan de Militaire-Willemsorde won," Wereld in Oorlog 49 (2016) 21 – 24.
  - Samuel de Korte, "de vergeten Soldaat van Oranje: Voor George Maduro waren principes belangrijker dan vrijheid," Mare 40 (2017) 27.
  - Samuel de Korte, "George Maduro: de held van de gang", Mars et historia, 51.2 (2017) 26 – 33.

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