French Paratroopers Memorial

The Monument to French Paratroopers was erected in memory of six paratroopers of the 3rd Chasseurs regiment of the Special Air Services who died here on April 10, 1945 (just before the liberation) in battle with the occupying forces.

The memorial plaque reads:

IN A FIRE FIGHT ON APRIL 10, 1945
FELL LIKE HEROES HERE
FOR OUR FREEDOM

IBRAHIM AZEM (SYRIAN) JEAN PIERRE MUNCH
CPL. PIERRE BEVALOT ROBERT SPINA
MARCEL LEVEQUE S.L. JEAN A. VALAYER

V.H. 3rd REG. CHASSEURS PARACHUTISTS

In the night of 7 to 8 April 1945, a regiment of more than 700 French paratroopers was dropped in Drenthe. Under the code name 'Operation Amherst' they were dropped in groups of about fifteen men throughout the province. The aim of the operation was to capture bridges and create as much confusion as possible among the occupying forces. A group of paratroopers had found shelter in a barn at a farm at 10 Koelenweg in Huis ter Heide. But they were betrayed and got into a fight with the occupier. The barn caught fire, three of the soldiers were killed here and the others were killed in a firefight.
The victims were buried in an emergency grave. The remains were later transferred to the Zuiderbegraafplaats in Assen and later to the French cemetery of honor in Kapelle-Biezelinge (Zeeland).

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Source

• Text: Bert Deelman
• Photos: Bert Deelman
• Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei