Date of birth:

April 25th, 1899 (Enschede, The Netherlands)

Nationality:

Dutch

Cornelis Brasz was in important figure in the Smit-Van der Heijden Line, he was then residing at Haaksbergerstraat 37, Enschede, next to the main police station. After the liberation he was residing at Emmastraat 111, Enschede. He was born in Enschede on 25.4.1899, married, and had two children, ages 7 and 19 in 1945. Gesina Willemina Brasz-Brasz.

According to his file compiled by Headquarters, Allied European Theatre of Operations, Military Intelligence Service, he gave food and shelter to about 15 evading Allied airmen. He transferred some of the airmen to his brother-in-law, Bertram Brasz, of Tilburg, a close friend of Karst Smit. In addition, it appears that he put Karst Smit in touch with Hendrik Jannink and his wife Joanna Jannink Bruyns, who also assisted Karst with the transport of airmen. Mr. Jannink was shot at Vught on 5 September 1944 but Mrs. Jannink survived the war. Cornelis Brasz is listed on the British index of Helpers. He also appears in the list of members of the Smit-Van der Heijden Line.

For his help to Allied pilots he received a British certificate (grade 5). In total he received 3 certificates of commendation from the Allied Authorities after the war, one from the US, signed by Eisenhower, one from France, signed be de Gaulle and the one from England, signed by Air Marshall Tedder.

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