Liberation Route Marker 132: The secret map

The secret map
On the 5th of November 1944, as the 1st Polish Armoured Division approaches, a schoolmaster from Hooge Zwaluwe must hand over a secret map to the Poles. On it, the underground has accurately pinpointed the German positions around Moerdijk.

Dutch underground organisations covertly gathered information about the German defences. Huib Toebak and Eduard Janssens from Zwaluwe had drawn up an intelligence report about the defences at Moerdijk. Their intention was to hand over this report with a map to the first Allied officer they would encounter in Zwaluwe. Until then, the report was hidden behind a loose brick in the attic of the school.

On the 5th of November 1944, the Polish liberators from the 1st Polish Armoured Division approached the Goverde cafe. While many villagers hunkered in shelters awaiting the end of the fighting, Eduard Janssens set off and handed over the report to a Polish officer. The Poles thought there were no more German troops in Hooge Zwaluwe but Eduard Janssens discovered their positions and warned the Poles in advance. A fierce battle then raged for a half-day in the streets of Hooge Zwaluwe, before the village was liberated.

Audiospot - The secret map

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.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar & Liberation Route Europe
• Photos: Fedor de Vries