Dutch War Grave Groessen

The war grave of Wolterus (Wout) Willemsen is located at the Groessen cemetery
(born 18-9-1881).
Wout was housed with the Bodde family in Nieuw-Dijk (Didam). During the fighting during the liberation of Didam on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, he stayed behind on the farm with his son Bernd Bodde. In Nieuw-Dijk it was thought that they had already been liberated, but behind the railway line the Germans were still offering resistance. While dozens of people were in an air raid shelter, Bodde's barn was set on fire and then the entire house burned down.
The next day, when the Germans had left, Bernd Bodde was found dead and Wout Willemsen seriously injured. On April 9 he died of his injuries, according to the pastor he was killed by a mine.
(Driepas – jrg.31 – nr.2 – okt.2014)

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Koos Winkelman