Liberation Route Marker 005

Liberation Route Europe is a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. With hundreds of sites and stories in nine European countries, the route links the main regions along the advance of the Allied Forces in 1943-1945.
The entire route consists of themed routes that can be travelled by by hiking, walking, cycling and car. These routes pass numerous historical and interesting sites and tell stories from a multitude of perspectives that were important in the final phase of World War II.
Many routes feature listening spots, offering the opportunity to listen to a historical story at a location. In addition, many ‘Vectors of Memory’ have been placed, indicating that the passer-by is on one of the Liberation Routes.
The routes can be found on the Liberation Route Europe website or in the app through which many stories can also be listened to.

Jachtslot de Mookerheide: German meeting place
The Jachtslot de Mookerheide estate is very attractive, a fact already recognised at the beginning of the previous century by His Highness Prince Hendrik. In June 1940, the Germans seized this beautiful hunting lodge and turned it into the country retreat for the feared Waffen SS. Many Dutch volunteers of that period can talk about their experiences here, some with great difficulty.

The Jachtslot de Mookerheide stands glittering in the sun on summer days. The rustic property has a rich and illustrious history. In the early twentieth century, the woods around the castle were the scene of many hunting parties organized by His Royal Highness Prince Hendrik.

In June 1940, a month after the capitulation, Reich Commissioner Seyss-Inquart claimed the castle and it became a country residence of the dreaded Waffen-SS. Himmler himself is said to have visited here several times. In the Netherlands, some 22,000 volunteers served in this ruthless branch of the German army. Ruthless to the enemy, but as it turned out later, not to themselves either.

In September 1944, the hunting lodge and outside grounds were taken over by the Americans as a temporary POW camp and served as a staging area for glider pilots after the airborne landings. At the end of the war, the ammunition depot was cleared; 20 train cars were needed to dispose of the 400 tons of ammunition.

Audiospot - Jachtslot de Mookerheide: German meeting place

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar & Liberationroute.com
• Photos: Arie van Wijngaarden