Cycling route Death Valley De Peel - Theodore Baron de Smeth (1919-1988) (#2)

Theodore Baron de Smeth

Theodore (Toto) Baron de Smeth, Lord of Deurne, was better known in resistance circles during the occupation as 'Eugène' and actively involved in illegality.
Towards the end of the war he was asked to become commander of the Council of Resistance, where he also commanded the Deurne Resistance Group. At the beginning of July 1944, despite the fact that Smeth was suspected by the Germans, all Council of Resistance leaders met at the Groot Kasteel at Haageind. Because he was closely monitored by the Germans, Smeth was unable to do much and at the end of July 1944 he made his position available again. After the airborne landings of 1944 he was part of Prince Bernhard's staff.

The castle was shelled by the English Artillery on September 24, 1944 because it was thought that Germans were hiding there. The grenades penetrated the south and east walls of the castle and exploded inside. A fire broke out and eventually the entire roof collapsed.
Parts of the east wall, as well as the entire west and north walls, remained standing.
De Smeth and his later wife Marijke Snethlage stayed in one of the cellars during the shelling, from which they managed to escape through a cellar window.

Theodore Baron de Smeth, the last Lord of Deurne, gave up his rights to the manor of Deurne in 1948.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Martin Damen