By May 4, it was clear that it was a question of hours before the Germans would capitulate in The Netherlands.
Openly, the Resistance was poised to recapture a number of important points. My second cousin, Jaap Broersma Jr., received orders to report for duty. Members of the Resistance movement wore blue overalls with black helmets and some had sten guns.
Openly, the Resistance was poised to recapture a number of important points. My second cousin, Jaap Broersma Jr., received orders to report for duty. Members of the Resistance movement wore blue overalls with black helmets and some had sten guns.
Early the next day the Dutch flag flew from at the Barsingerhorn Town Hall for the first time in five years. It was a festive and emotional sight for everyone. Everybody was happy.
The Wehrmacht kept a low profile and the next day we saw the first Allied military in Schagen. People celebrated their arrival in the streets.
On May 8, I cycled home via Haarlem. The whole way I encountered Canadian military vehicles. Everybody waved at them with gusto.
The Wehrmacht kept a low profile and the next day we saw the first Allied military in Schagen. People celebrated their arrival in the streets.
On May 8, I cycled home via Haarlem. The whole way I encountered Canadian military vehicles. Everybody waved at them with gusto.
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| The Canadian liberators entered Amsterdam on May 8, 1945. Source: https://isgeschiedenis.nl/nieuws/canadezen-bevrijden-nederland |
I had been informed that Mother had cycled to Haarlem to look after her father, who had terminal cancer. Opa Zuydweg lived at 116 Kleverlaan. When I arrived unexpectedly, Mother almost didn't recognize me. I had left home six weeks earlier, a pale, weak and malnourished boy. I returned strong and suntanned.
A few days later I rode home to Bussum.
In Amsterdam I stopped for a short break on the Dam in the centre of the city to eat a sandwich I had brought with me all the way from Barsingerhorn.
A man came up to me and asked if I would share some of my sandwich with him.
I refused, which is something that I regret to this day.
In Amsterdam I stopped for a short break on the Dam in the centre of the city to eat a sandwich I had brought with me all the way from Barsingerhorn.
A man came up to me and asked if I would share some of my sandwich with him.
I refused, which is something that I regret to this day.
The rest of the way home went smoothly. It is amazing that my tires, which were worn right down to the canvas, managed to hold out over such a long distance.
At home there were shortages of everything, and it took more than seven years before life returned to normal.
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