Dutch War Graves General Cemetery Gorinchem

Spread over Gorinchem General Cemetery there are eleven Dutch War Graves, all with private headstones. These are the graves of:

Johannes Cornelis de Haan, 24-01-1945
Willem van Heumen, 20-03-1945
Josephus Adrianus Mussert, 14-05-1940
Cornelis Kreukniet, 03-12-1944
Bastiaan Nugteren, 01-08-1945
Cornelis Theodoor Smithjes, 10-11-1944
Henri Bartol, 08-02-1945
Sander Johannes de Beun, 02-12-1944
Frederik de Bruijn, 03-03-1945
Joseph Johannes van Deursen, 18-11-1944
Adrianus de Groot, 06-05-1945.

The following can be said about Josephus Adrianus Mussert.
He is an older brother of Anton Mussert and during the invasion in May 1940 he was a lieutenant colonel based in Dordrecht. On May 10, 1940, German paratroopers landed near Dordrecht, putting Mussert on the front line. His style of action was perceived by some as confused and indecisive. On 13 May the Dutch troops withdrew north across the Merwede.
Rumors of betrayal and his actions have led to a spontaneous execution by two junior soldiers with 4 bullets in his head. He was seriously injured and taken to the hospital in Gorinchem, where he died that same day. The two soldiers were severely punished during the occupation and Mussert was completely rehabilitated.
source: A. M. A. Goossens - Zuidfront Vesting Holland.

The grave monument of Cornelis Kreukniet (photo) was made by Marcus Ravenswaaij.

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Source

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