Heusden is a small historic town near the Meuse river with, at the time of the war, 2000 inhabitants.
During the war Heusden didn't had much to complain. The Germans showed little to no interest in the town.
But all things changed in October 1944.
As a result of the advancing Allied armies Heusden became right in the middle of the battle.
The town was filled with retreating German troops and it was also under the relentless shelling of the allied troops.
Normal life on the streets and in their homes became impossible so many of the people were forced to seek shelter in the basement. Many, however, had no basement and sought hiding in other peoples basement.
Many families had sought shelter in the town hall basement because, with its thick walls and vaults and additional external reinforcement of beams and sandbags it had to be safe.
Here they stayed for days, because normal life at home and on the street was no longer possible.
On Nov. 4, the British crossed the canal in Drunen and the rumble and roar that penetrates into the vaults announced the impending liberation. The day passed full of tension and unrest and nonsensical rumors. It was claimed that the Germans would have undermined the towers so they could be blown up to prevent that they were going to be used as lookout posts for the allies. Some men of the air protection, led by Mr Verschuur, went out to investigate. They found nothing suspicious, and so the night fell.
The night of 4 - 5 November 1944.
The Germans are cornered, the Allied armies are on their heels and as a last act of desperation they destroyed all the beautiful old towers along the front-line. Among these towers was the town hall tower of Heusden. It is also evident that they didn't care that dozens of men, women and children were at risk. At that moment there were about 200 people in basement of the town hall, men, women and children.
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| Town Hall before the explosion. |
At about 2.20 AM a violent explosion ripped through the night. With a thunderous roar the elegant tower of the town hall of Heusden came down.
The bells of the carillon, that would applaud for the towns liberation, fell down with sharp and dull sounds in the avalanche of dust and debris. The roof and the vaults collapsed. The thick exterior walls reinforced with beams and sand collapsed inside. Walls, beams, glass, stone, sand and dust fell down on the adults, children and infants in the shelter of the town hall. After this disastrous moment, it became quiet. A wall of dust hung over a mountain of rubble.
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| Town Hall after the explosion. |
Among the debris faint cries could be heard. Some, who were close at the exit of the basement, came crumbling out of it looking gray of sand and dust and were in a shock. Dozens of men and women came to help and worked hard to free the trapped people but dust and darkness were their biggest obstacles.
A battle for life and death raged on in the debris. Dozens were trapped under beams and bricks. They were still alive. Mothers were screaming for their husbands and their children. But the voices became weaker and weaker until it became silent.
It took a week to recover and count all the victims.
Of the approximately 200 people in the basement 134 people didn't survive this German act of terrorism.
Whole family's were killed. Sometimes only 1 child or person of a family could be saved.
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| Memorial commemorating the 134 casualties.Writing: Passer-by, where you are, on five November 1944 one hundred and thirty four civilians fell victim to the war. |
After the Germans retreaded north over the Meuse river, Heusden became part of the front-line and Germans aimed their fire on the town. On December 31 the people were ordered to leave the town only to return on May 9, 1945.
At the end of the war 10% of the population of Heusden was killed.
Heusden paid it's toll.
Thanks for reading.
Photo1: Geheugen van Nederland
Photo 2 and 3: Nederland in de Tweede Wereldoorlog
Now with this box in my possession the total of 25 pounder guns in the platoon will be brought to a total of 8 guns.
