Jan Andreas Verhoeff
Jan Andreas Verhoeff (born June 25, 1911 in Brouwershaven , † December 10, 1944 in Renesse ) was a Dutch resistance fighter against National Socialism , who was executed during the German occupation in World War II . His resistance name was Jan van Schouwen.
Life
Jan Andreas Verhoeff was a painter and painter in Brouwershaven ( Zeeland ) and active in the resistance. He participated in the resistance because of his reformed faith .
He was part of the LO (Landelijke hulp aan onderduikers) resistance movement that helped people or families go into hiding during World War II. The movement was initiated by the pastor ds. Frits Slomp , aka Frits de Zwerver.
On the night of December 6, 1944, Verhoeff was arrested by the Germans while attempting to sail with 16 others from the occupied Schouwen-Duiveland in a shell cutter under English command to the already liberated island of Noord-Beveland . On December 10th, Jan Verhoeff was hanged with nine resistance fighters in Renesse. Together they are called the Ten of Renesse .
His father, Hendrik Verhoeff, was forced to watch his son being hanged. That happened on December 10th at 12:00 noon. He was thrown into the street a few hours later with his unhappy and sick wife and two daughters, following the verdict of the court martial. The Germans immediately took possession of his house. When Hendrik Verhoeff returned to his apartment after the surrender in May 1945, the furniture, cutlery, etc. had been stolen. The tools and paint supplies from his painting business had disappeared.
Visit of the pastor ds. HC Voorneveld
On the Monday after the execution, the Reformed pastor visited ds. HC Voorneveld Hendrik Verhoeff in Brouwershaven and brought him a message from his hanged son Jan. On Sunday, December 10th, an hour before their execution, he had given the nine men spiritual support in a bunker in Haamstede Castle.
Ds. Voorneveld writes:
“The next day I went to see other relatives. I ended up in a family where the father was forced to see his own hanged son on Sunday. What he felt while seeing his boy like this, no outsider will ever understand. You must have lost all humanity to ask that of a father. But were they still human? Wasn't the devil completely in his power? He went home a broken man. Others had to support him.
And now I was sitting in front of him. He was still numb from the heavy blow. I had to tell him and his family in detail what his son had told me. And then I could say that he told me, 'Would you tell my parents and sisters that I know my sins have been atoned for in the blood of Christ?'
Then something happened that made an indelible impression on me. This man, still buried in his grief, stood up. It was as if there was something prophetic about his figure. And in a powerful voice he said: 'Pastor, then we have every reason to thank God!'
Wasn't this also only possible through the power of faith? Not a word of hate or vengeance escaped his lips: they were hunted from their house after all. But only thanks to God because her boy had entered into his glory so. I don't have much more to add. "
Resistance memorial cross
After the war, Jan Verhoeff was posthumously awarded the resistance memorial cross 1940–1945 ( Verzetsherdenkingskruis 1940–1945 ) by royal resolution on September 20, 1982. Prince Bernhard handed it over to his sister Pie Verhoeff from Brouwershaven in 1983.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ failed ds voorneveld. Retrieved August 6, 2012 (Dutch).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Verhoeff, Jan Andreas |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Verhoef, Jan |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Dutch resistance fighter and victims of National Socialism |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 25, 1911 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Brouwershaven |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 10, 1944 |
| Place of death | Renesse |