March 2, 1945 Holtum Netherlands

Posted on by Thor

On March 2, 1945, the entire 75th Infantry Division  was moved 33 miles by motor troop carrier trucks from Helden Netherlands to new assembly areas at Buchten Born and Holtum Netherlands. These small villages are near Venlo Netherlands which had just been liberated on March 1, 1945. After a few hours on Buchten Born and Holtum the troops were again moved to an area near Venlo. They were being moved into position to help clear out any last German resistance in Venlo and Roermund Netherlands.

At a camp of the American troops the Museum44 director found holes, craters that were full of glass. Much of the glass was from broken Coke a Cole bottles. Most were broken, a few were complete and some were still full of Coke. The Americans always had more than enough supplies.

After the Netherlands was liberated, the American government printed Dutch currency. The bills were printed using American plates so in some ways they resemble American currency. Other money was printed because there was a fear that Germans would counterfeit the money, which was indeed a problem. Germans printed British pound notes in an effort to disrupt the economy. Each time America liberated a country they printed this liberation currency.

Officially there were three divisions on this area of the Netherlands. Soldiers used poisoned wood alcohol to clean their boots. The alcohol wasn’t actually poisoned it was just given that name so the soldiers would not drink it. While exploring the top floor of Museum44, there were wasps buzzing at the insides of the windows. The director became very quiet. 8There was a display that resembled an American encampment. I figured if I didn’t disturb the wasps, they would ignore me. It is hard not to swat at a wasp when he buzzes by your ear. I finally shouted “retreat!” and made my way quickly down the ladder to the floor below.

The Saint Martin’s Church which I sketched in Holtum, dates back to about 1200 when an aisle less church was built next to a feudal lord’s home. The tower was added in 1460. The ancient medieval structure is largely intact to this day.

Born Netherlands Memorial

Posted on by Thor

On March 2, 1945 the 290th Infantry Division was moved by a motor convoy from Helden Netherlands to Buchten, Born and Holtum Netherlands. Like the rest of the Netherlands, Born was under German occupation from 1940 to 1945. The period of occupation was a difficult time for the Dutch people, with food shortages, persecution, and forced labor. The Jewish Population in particular suffered during the occupation. 3/4 of the Dutch a Jews did not survive the war.

The official day that all of Netherlands was liberated was May 5, 1945 which would be 2 months after the 290th Infantry was in Born. On September 12, 1944, the first American troops of the 30th Infantry division first set foot on Dutch soil. The next day the Limburg Capitol of Maastricht was reached. The US 9th Army stayed in Maastricht from October 22, 1944 to March 10, 1945. Other US troops were stationed in South Limburg thus the region became the most “Americanized” part of the country.

During the winter of 1944-1945 only the southern cities of the Netherlands were liberated. A German blockade after a strike of the National Railway Company cut off food and fuel shipments to the Netherlands. 4.5 million people began to starve. Many ate tulip bulbs in an effort to stay alive. Many died. It is estimated that 18,000 Dutch people died of malnutrition. The Americans initiated Operation Chowhound to relieve the famine.

It is estimated that between September 1944 and May 1945, about 13,000 Allied troops lost their lives in the fighting in the Netherlands. The Americans lost about 1,135 men. Much of the fighting happened in the air. Of the 3,850 allied aircraft that were shot down over the Netherlands, about 1/5 were American.

The memorial I sketched in Born Netherlands was to honor two Dutch soldiers who gave their lives at this spot on May 10, 1940 in the struggle for freedom and peace for their people and their fatherland. May 10, 1940 was the first day of the German invasion of the Netherlands. The Netherlands surrendered 4 days later when Germany flattened Rotterdam with a bombing campaign and threatened to do the same to other Netherlands cities if they continued to fight.

The memorial plaque says “Piet Walraeven from Maastricht and Harie Custers from Einighausen gave their  lives here on May 10, 1940 in the fight for freedom and peace for their people and country.”

 

 

March 2-5, 1945: Buchten, Netherlands

Posted on by Thor

On March 2, 1945, the 290th, 75th Infantry was moved by motor convoy to an assembly areas in  Buchten, Born and Holtum, Netherlands. They only spent a few hours in these locations before being moved again by motor convoy to an Area near Venlo, Netherlands. They didn’t get comfortable in Venlo, because they were then almost immediately alerted that they were to move forward to another assembly area in Westerbrock, Germany. This is where the 75th infantry entered Germany for the first time. Troops were anticipating a final push into Berlin to end the war.

While doing this drawing, a woman asked if I would like a coffee. She lived across the street behind where I was sketching. Before she came back with the warm drink, it started to rain, so I decided the sketch was done. I ran for the cover of a building awning and packed up my art supplies in my day bag. I was debating if I should wander off, but then heard the woman shouting, “Come inside”. It turns out she is an artist as well. She works somewhat abstract with patched of gold leaf in the paintings. She was working on a floral mural in the hallway of her home which will look amazing when done.

Then I met her husband and her son and his friend who were maybe around 10, or 12. I had actually seen these two several times as I was sketching, but they were always playing off to my right, so I didn’t include them in the sketch. I explained my project as we had coffee. Thankfully the woman and he husband spoke English. Then there was a video call to the daughter who is getting married soon and is living in NYC and planning to become a lawyer. It was fun talking to her since ai lived in NYC for 10 years. Then the daughter said, “Alright mom, I’m going to leave you to your new bestie.” It was endearing to see mom test up after the video call was over.

Then outside in the distance I could hear a band playing with snare drums and brass, and the marcking music got closer. Mom shouted that I had to see the parade. It was a celebration for the master marksman in town. He wore a vest of large golden metals and was escorted by a mysterious woman all in black. Behind the marksman marched a phalanx of men all holding rifles. The rifles were just carved pieces of wood. This tradition has been going on since long before WWII so I was told I had to see it. There was no time to set up and get a sketch. I took 2 quick iPhone photos and the moment was gone.

After the parade was over, mom took me in her car to see the local military cemetery where some British soldiers are interned. I took a photo of the cemetery entrance so I could return. The woman told me she had recently met a rather famous magician who did sleight of hand tricks. He offered to do a performance for her and her friends and they were all amazed. I wondered if it was an amazing sleight of hand magician I had met at the Orlando International Fringe Festival, but I doubt it. She couldn’t recall his name. She felt that she h as started meeting more talented people, but that is what happens when you are curious and open to what the universe throws your way.