Cycling route Death Valley De Peel - Maria van Otterdijk (#6)

Maria van Otterdijk

Maria van Otterdijk, only 21 years old, was fatally struck in the area of the Rakt in Vlierden, by a shooting from a train traveling from Venlo to Eindhoven.

Maria had been to the market in Helmond and on the way back, around half past two, a train passed her with German soldiers who shot her, for unknown reasons. Maria was found fatally injured on the cycle path, but initially no foul play was suspected. However, some witnesses had heard a shot while this train was passing and before Maria was shot at, it turned out that shots had already been fired from this train in Zelberg.

In summary, the report stated: 'By order of the Lord Public Prosecutor, the body was transferred to the Sisters' Monastery in Deurne on September 26, 1943 and was examined there. It turned out that there was a carbine bullet in this girl's body, which was removed. The Feldgendarmerie in Venlo was able to explain that this bullet probably came from a German Infantry carbine.

As far as is known, the guilty were never punished. Maria's name is mentioned on the War Memorial in the Willibrordus Church in Vlierden.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Martin Damen