Dijk 320 - The house of Haske en Fried van Elk-Arts

This memorial sign commemorates the burning of Haske and Fried van Elk-Arts' house by the Germans on 6/7 October 1944.

After Operation Market Garden, the river Waal acted as the border between liberated and occupied Netherlands. The part of the Betuwe opposite Beneden- and Boven-Leeuwen was still occupied and so the villages found themselves in the front line. Daily shelling took place across the river and the Germans wanted to create the best possible field of fire for themselves and to optimise their lines.

On the night of 6-7 October, 25 Germans crossed the river in boats and started burning all houses, businesses and farms that stood in their way. Some 40 buildings along the dyke were burnt down over a length of 2,500 metres.

At the last, the house of Haske and Fried van Elk did not escape the destructiveness either. The front house of their home burned down completely, the back house was saved.

This sign is part of the ‘Dijkbrand Route’, set out by the Stichting 4 mei Herdenking Beneden-Leeuwen (Beneden-Leeuwen 4th May Remembrance Foundation) along the houses that were destroyed at the time.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Jeroen Koppes
• Route Dijkbrand - benedenleeuwenherdenkt.nl