Memorial 'Hunger-Migraters'

This poem commemorates the people who were fed here during the Hunger Winter.

'HUNGER WALKS*

IN THE HUNGER WINTER OF 44/45 THOUSANDS TRAVELED
ALONG THE MAN'S ROADS IN SEARCH OF FOOD.
THAT ONE LONG WINTER WHEN LIBERATION GREATERED,
WERE ONE SEARCHED IN MANY DIRECTIONS,
OUT OF PURE NEED FOR BREAD FOR THE DAY
AND FOR HEAT FOR THE NIGHT.

WITH STONE-COLD, WHITE HAND,
WITH WHICH ONE PRAYED HIS DEEPEST PRAYER
AND OF WHICH ONLY DEATH ATE SILENTLY WITH,
WAS ASKED FOR KIND AND A PLATE OF HOT BROTH,
AT THE GATES OF THE HARDERWIJKER SOUP FACTORY.

AND HERE ALL WERE OPENED BY
'A CHRISTIAN, LIKE JESUS THAT
MUST HAVE INTENDED.'

AUGUST 2010
MICHELLE MARTIN
CITY POET OF HARDERWIJK

*ON THE TRAFFIC ROAD, WHERE THE POET'S QUARTER IS NOW LOCATED,
FROM 1938 THE FINO BOUILLON FACTORY, LATER THE CALIFORNIA SOUP FACTORY, WAS ESTABLISHED.
DIRECTOR HOLTRUST, WHO DURING THE WAR FOR HUNGER WALKS MORE THAN FIFTEEN HUNDRED LITERS OF SOUP PER DAY
LET MAKE, ALSO HAD EMPLOYEES FOR THE FOOD PROVISION WITH OFFICIAL PAPERS
OF THE OCCUPANCY TO WITHDRAW THEM FROM THE ARBEITSEINSATZ IN GERMANY.'

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

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