Monument Mayors Asten and Someren

Text on the monument:

"In remembrance of W.J.M. Wijnen, mayor of Asten, P.J.C. Smulders, mayor of Someren who on 15 August 1944 died on this location as victims of the resistance."

Mayor Piet Smulders van Someren and Mayor Willem Wijnen van Asten were active in the resistance during the war. They also refused to provide names of people who could be put to work in Germany. Both were also employed for a time in the province of Zeeland. The murder of two land guards by the resistance in Gemert is the reason for a revenge attack by the SS.

On the evening of August 14, 1944, both mayors were arrested by a Dutch murder squad, as was Frans Eijsbouts. They drove in a car across the Kanaaldijk towards Weert. Suddenly the driver stopped and shouted "Break down". Smulders, Wijnen and Eijsbouts had to get out and stand in front of the car. All three were shot. Eijsbouts was injured in his arm, rolled off the side of the road into the ditch and pretended to be dead. Both mayors died on the spot.

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Source

• Text: STIWOT
• Photos: Martin Damen
• SCHAAP, I., Sluipmoordenaars, Just Publishers, Leeuwarden, 2010.