Memorial Executions 12-03-1945 Pleinweg

On March 12th, 1945 at Pleinweg twenty men were shot as reprisal for the assault on an member of the Ordnungspolizei as well for the liquidation of a German member of the SD and an Dutch assistant. Another 20 men were shot at Hofplein in the centre of Rotterdam. A memorial is erected here as well.

Investigation in 2008 found out that seven members of the execution-squad were Dutch policemen, they carried German uniforms.The monument is a work of Marino Marini and called Grande II Miracolo.

The monument was unveiled on 3 may 1958 by a son of one of the executed persons.
The monument is a prancing horse for fear of hitting a nearby bomb. It symbolizes the powerlessness of people in the war.

Text on the monument:

1940 TO THE UNNAMED WHO FELL FOR FREEDOM

IMMORTAL BY THE SACRIFICE OF THEIR LIVES 1945

At the corner Pleinweg / Mijnsherenlaan is a boulder with the 20 names of those who are murdered.
Nearby is the monument Grande II Miracolo.

On 12 March 1945 at the Pleinweg, twenty men were shot as reprisal for the assault on an member of the Ordnungspolizei as well for the liquidation of a German member of the SD and an Dutch assistant. Another 20 men were shot at Hofplein in the centre of Rotterdam. A memorial is erected here as well.

Investigation in 2008 found out that seven members of the execution-squad were Dutch policemen, they carried German uniforms.

The executed were:
T.J. ABBENBROEK
A. BEITEN
L. van den BERG
C. van den BROEK
J.A. BIJLOO
I.J. CHEF d'HOTEL
A. de GRAAF
G.F. HOOIJER
J. KERKHOF
J.H. KLINKER
F. LAM
A.M. van LEEUWEN
F.H.M. LEM
H.C. van de LOGT
F.A. van MOURIK
P. OUWENDIJK
P. PRINS
F. REITSMA
H.A. van 't VEEN
J.A. van der WEIJDEN

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Source

• Text: Fedor de Vries & Dick de Bruijne
• Photos: Masja Roggekamp (1, 2, 3), Dick de Bruijne (4, 5)