Cycling route Death Valley De Peel - Field cross out of gratitude (Gevlocht) (#25)

Field cross out of gratitude

Historians indicated that although the military operations in the Groote Peel were in the shadow of the tank battle at Overloon, they were certainly not inferior to 'Overloon' in military significance. Fierce fighting took place for weeks over the predominantly open terrain between Zuid-Willemsvaart, Noordervaart and the Deurnese canals. Scattered in the line of fire were several farms whose residents were unable to evacuate in time. In fear and trembling, some families were locked in their bomb shelters for days. Farmer Harrie Nijssen promised in agony to erect a field cross on the spot if he and his family survived the war. Nijssen kept his word in 1949, before he, like many other Peel farmers, emigrated to Canada.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Martin Damen