The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Charles Nicolas
(Carolus Maria Joseph Antonius Franciscus)

The above information on the birth and death of Charles Nicolas can be found on geni.com [1]

Charles Nicolas had already had a career as a professional soldier and diamond miner in Africa when he was appointed inspector of the State Mining Inspectorate in 1939. Like Bongaerts, he worked for military intelligence. Many Germans lived and worked in the coal mining district and there was a relatively high level of support for National Socialism. Nicolas was expected to keep an eye on the situation and therefore fulfilled a dual function. He enjoyed a great deal of freedom of movement, even after May 1940, and stayed away from resistance activities for the time being. [2]
Since demobilization after the capitulation of the Dutch army (May 1940), he was a reserve major, worked at the Emma State Mine as head of the geological office of all the State Mines and became commander of the Ordedienst or OD in Heerlen. [3]
In the article quoted above, he is also referred to as commander for the entire mining region of the Nationwide Organization for assistance to those in hiding L.O.. This is incorrect, as Nicolas had nothing to do with the LO organizationally and this position did not exist there.
Cammaert writes more correctly about him in a summary: Heerlen, inspector of mines. Initially headed the O.D. in the Heerlen region, but repeatedly clashed with Ch. Bongaerts, whom he considered far too reckless. Nicolas therefore temporarily resigned from the O.D. - until shortly after Bongaerts’ arrest at the end of 1943. After his return, he took command of the O.D. in the entire mining region. He refused to make way for the Dutch military authority after the liberation, because he wanted to exercise military authority in the name of the O.D. himself. Since he obviously could not be ignored, Nicolas was appointed military commissioner (of the military authority) in the mining region. His intention however to create a national liberation army at the request of the Americans thwarted all existing plans and came to nothing. [4]

Footnotes

1. www.geni.com Carolus Maria Joseph Antonius Franciscus Nicolas
2. Dr. F. Cammaert, Het Verborgen Front – Geschiedenis van de georganiseerde illegaliteit in de provincie Limburg tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Doctorale scriptie 1994, Groningen
   Hoofdstuk 8, De Ordedienst, p.921
3. Hans Heltzel, Mythe en mysterie. Raadsels rond de Militaire Willemsorde van Adriaan Paulen, Het Land van Herle, 2011-3, p.127
4. Cammaert, A. P. M. (1994). Het verborgen front: Geschiedenis van de georganiseerde illegaliteit in de provincie Limburg tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.
   Hoofdst. 0, pp.18ff: Introductie van vaak genoemde personen