Memorial "Mother"

This appealing memorial commemorates 10 men who were shot here on 18 February 1945. It also commemorates the 18 residents of Heinenoord who died in the Second World War. At the monument are 10 trees, which represent the executed victims.

On February 17, 1945, the NSB became mayor M.A. Simonis was liquidated by some members of the 'Knokploeg (KP) Zinkweg' and thrown into the ditch. The KP assumed that there would be no reprisals from the German side, because it did not concern a German soldier. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a misjudgment. The mayor's body was pulled from the water by a local policeman on the same afternoon. Just as he was doing so, a car carrying two members of the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) drove by. They immediately informed their boss, who then drew up a list of ten names of illegal workers who had been locked up in the Scheveningen penitentiary. These 'Todeskandidaten' were brought to Heinenoord by truck.

In the early morning of February 18, 1945, they were shot by the Germans at the place where the assassination of mayor Simonis had taken place. By order of the occupier, the corpses had to remain under police surveillance until 8 o'clock in the evening. Two signs were placed near the bodies stating that these people had been killed for committing terrorist acts.

The ten illegal workers who were shot were:

Albert Jappe Alberts (1893, Arum). Was married and a dentist by profession. Gave help to (Jewish) people in hiding.
Machiel Wilhelm Prohn (1897, Rotterdam). Was the father of five children and worked as a bank clerk. Was affiliated with the LO and the illegal press.
Pieter van der Wallen (1900, Brielle). Married and engineer by profession. Was part of the Ordedienst at Voorne-Putten.
Emanuel Hamburger (1901, Nijkerk). Married and teacher by profession. As a Jewish person in hiding, he was active in the illegal press and helping people in hiding.
Henderik Duvaloois (1912, Rotterdam). Father of two children and works as a porter. Was an instructor of the Dutch Interior Forces (NBS).
Wouter Wilhelmus Cornelis Verkerk (1915, Amsterdam), Father of one child and Marechaussee by profession. Was part of the Ordedienst at Voorne-Putten.
Etienne de Bouter (1919, Rotterdam). Was engaged and employed as an office clerk. Was affiliated with the LO/LKP.
Cornelis Pieter Nonner (1919, Rotterdam). Was married and worked as a mechanic.
Carel August Filipson (1924, Amsterdam), Was a student of the Maritime Training School.
Teunis Kooij (1925, Amsterdam). Was a student of the Maritime Training School.

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Source

• Text: David Izelaar
• Photos: David Izelaar