Resistance groups of the Dutch province of Limburg, 1940-1945

What exactly was resistance during WW2? How could they think of doing such dangerous things? What were those things? The answers to these and similar questions are different for each group and for each individual. Nevertheless, it is possible to give some general answers.
We talk below about organized resistance. You will see how different those groups were, in terms of working methods, effectiveness, motivation, composition, etc.
The resistance groups with the most members were mainly engaged in helping people wanted by the Germans. This began early in the war with helping escaped French prisoners of war. Later on, downed Allied airmen and Jews got help too. Resistance fighters also got into trouble themselves and had to go into hiding.
It is sometimes said that this was not resistance because it had no military significance. This is not true, at least for the help to airmen. But even with purely humanitarian resistance, which is what rescuing persecuted people is, those resistance fighters put their own lives in danger.
That help consisted of getting Allied refugees on their way home and helping others go into hiding.
But there was also, on a smaller scale, resistance with a military purpose, especially after the Allies landed in Normandy. These were acts of sabotage and especially intelligence. Thanks to the resistance, the Allies were accurately informed where and how the Germans were.
Armed groups played almost no role in the liberation in the Netherlands. Attempts to build up a guerrilla army failed, also in Belgian Limburg. Our natural areas are too small for that.

The groups that played a role in the Limburg Resistance (1), as well as groups of whom some (sometimes many) were part of the Resistance (2).

1– “Aussenministerium”
1– BS (Domestic Forces)
1– Communists & Sympathizers
1– The outskirts of Limburg
1– Local contacts
1– Dutch-Paris
1– Engelandvaarders
1– Secret Army (B)
1– Groep Dresen
1– Erkens Group
1– Group Smit
1– Versleijen Group
1– Aid to Jews
1– Aid to escaped POW’s
1– Intelligence
1– Jews in resistance
1– Knokploegen (K.P.)
1– Couriers of the Resistance
1– Netwerk Bongaerts
1– NV
1– Aid to People in Hiding L.O.
1– Underground Press
1– Unorganized resistance
1– Pilots’ helpers
1– Raad van Verzet (RVV)
1– Verzetsherdenkingskruis
1– Women in the resistance
1– Peace Carillon
1– Initial resistance
1– White Brigade (Belgium)
1– Zwarte Plak
2– Civil Servants
2– April-Mei-stakingen, 1943
2– Mayors
2– Crisis Controle Dienst (CCD)
2– The clergy
2– Forced Labor
2– Artists
2– People in hiding
2– Ordedienst (O.D.)
2– Police
2– Students