1940-1945. The resistance in the dutch province of Limburg

OD trial of Maastricht

NIMH

Memorial on the Minderbroedersberg, Maastricht

In Maastricht, next to the main building of the university, there is a memorial with names and, at the left side of these, the following text: “On this site there was a Franciscan cloister from 1865 to 1970. In 1941, the building was confiscated by the German occupiers and converted into a prison. In April 1942, the OD trial of Maastricht took place in the refectory of the cloister. After being sentenced to death, twenty-four resistance members were taken from here to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp (Germany) and murdered there in the early morning of May 11, 1942. Their names are listed here.”

Open Street Map

The first OD trial (also called the Trial of the 72) was conducted by the German Sicherheitsdienst/Sicherheitspolizei (SD/SiPo). The trial began at the end of March 1942 in Amersfoort and Maastricht and ended in April. 65 OD members and 10 members of the group around Herman Bolt were sentenced to death. They belonged to three resistance organizations: the OD (Ordedienst), the Delft Mekel group, the Schoemaker group, and thirteen professional military officers who had resisted outside organized groups. All of them were awaiting severe punishment. In Utrecht, 63 sentences were confirmed, and the remaining nine sentences were commuted to life imprisonment, which meant that they too had little chance of survival. In the end, 72 of the 86 prisoners were sentenced to death. After that, 63 prisoners were transported to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, where they were executed together with other prisoners in May 1942.

The Maastricht part of the trial is also called the Maastricht OD trial. It took place in the Derde Minderbroedersklooster (Third Minorite Monastery), which was seized by the Germans during the war and put directly under the control of the SiPo as the Polizeigefängnis Maastricht (Prison of the german police in Maastricht). Click on the aerial photo to the right for more information about the two Maastricht prisons.
Below are listed the victims of this trial who were sentenced to death in Maastricht and shot in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp north of Berlin. Most of them belonged to the OD (Ordedienst).
One name is missing on this list of those sentenced to death: that of Tini Knecht from Bussum. She was not only the only woman in the Maastricht trial, but also the only person sentenced to death whose sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. “Everyone took the sentence in stride. We were aware of what we were getting into when we joined the resistance.” On the night of May 9-10, she heard from a rumbling in the corridor that her fellow prisoners were being taken away. “Shortly after, my door opened. There stood a German officer congratulating me (…), he told me that my sentence had been commuted to life imprisonment.” (Tom Visser, Lex Smidt door de Duitsers geëxecuteerd)
Thus, Tini profited from the fascist worldview, in which a resistant woman cannot actually exist, but is simply a bit off in the head. See also: verzetsvrouwen Women in the resistance

The fallen resistance people in Limburg OD trial of Maastricht – 26 pers.
Bakker, Johan	∗ 1877-12-26 Den Helder † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Ordedienst (O.D.) - The Erelijst 1940-1945 (honor roll of the Dutch parliament) [1] lists him as a businessman; the oorlogsgravenstichting.nl, the Dutch foundation for war graves [5] is more precise: gasket … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Boer, de Willem	∗ 1908-07-16 Amsterdam † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Willem de Boer was a commercial agent and kept radio contact with England [1]. According to the Dodenboek Oranjehotel (Book of the Dead) [7] he was a member of the O.G.-group Naarden-Bussum, but … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Bosch, ten Berend	∗ 1893-03-26 Charlois † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Berend ten Bosch was an electrical engineer and co-founder of the OD  … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Buikes, Jacobus Johannes Hendrikus Jacob	∗ 1903-02-22 Den Haag † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Before the war, Jacob Buikes was a sergeant-airplane mechanic in the Royal Dutch Navy. Shortly after the surrender he was put on wachtgeld and subsequently joined an … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Burger, Wilhelmus Fredericus Wim	∗ 1918-09-28 Amsterdam † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - Wim Burger was an office worker. [1] He belonged to the spy group around Hans Zomer and thus fell victim to the Englandspiel (England game). [2] He … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Fauchey, Antoine Pierre Marie Antoine	∗ 1918-07-15 Rotterdam † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - Antoine Fauchey fought at the Grebbeberg in May 1940 as a reserve cavalry sergeant. He was arrested on September 14, 1941 on suspicion of espionage (Book of the Dead Oranjehotel [7]) as a result … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Grootheest, van Gerard Catharinus Gerard	∗ 1918-10-12 Utrecht † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Studenten - Ondergrondse pers - Gerard van Grootheest was the local leader of the Amersfoort chemical service [7] and a student of indology at the RU in Utrecht [4]. He distributed banned printed matter and supported … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Huurman, Tijmen Bastiaan Tijmen	∗ 1891-02-14 Groningen † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Photo: Books of the Dead, Oranjehotel [13] Tijmen Bastiaan Huurman was an engineer at Kondor and a first lieutenant in the reserves [1] The following information about his military career … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Kroes, Willem Christiaan Albert Willem	∗ 1896-01-16 Amersfoort † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Intelligence - Initial resistance - Architect Willem Kroes is referred to as Herman Kroes in the Book of the Dead of the Oranje Hotel [10], but as his file with the Oorlogsgravenstichting (War Graves Commission) indicates, that was … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Kuntz, Petrus Josephus Maria Peter	∗ 1918-02-01 Zaandam † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - At the beginning of the war, Petrus Kuntz was a sergeant-capitulant [8] (non-commissioned officer who voluntarily remained in service after his compulsory military service.[1]) with the … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Lopes de Leaô Laguna, Jacob	∗ 1901-10-21 Amsterdam † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Intelligence - Initial resistance - Jews in resistance - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Jacob Lopes de Leaô Laguna was a factory manager and a reserve captain. He was one of the many demobilized Dutch soldiers who, after the surrender on May 10, 1940, would not and could not comply … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Medenbach de Rooy, van Johan George Alexander Johan	∗ 1906-06-14 Djokjakarta † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Johannes George Alexander van Medenbach de Rooy was an inspector at the life insurance company Nillmij and a first lieutenant in the general staff. At an early stage he had already a secret … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Meijer, Johan Coenraad Jan	∗ 1919-09-05 Tandjong Pandang, Bi † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Intelligence - Initial resistance - Studenten - Jan Meijer was born in Tandjong Pandang, Billiton, in what is now Indonesia.[1] During mobilization he was an officer candidate in the Dutch navy with the rank of corporal, and … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Miché, Bernardus Marcus Bernard	∗ 1887-07-30 Utrecht † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Ondergrondse pers - Photo: Linotype typesetting machine, Wikimedia → → … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Michels, Arnoldus Maria Arnold	∗ 1907-12-01 Overasselt † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Until the surrender of the Dutch forces in May 1940, he was a “sergeant-telegraphist” in the Dutch Royal Navy. During the war he participated in obtaining intelligence data and built … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Schoemaker, Richard Leonard Arnold Richard	∗ 1886-10-05 Roermond † 1942-05-03 Sachsenhausen (Oranienburg)	- OD trial of Maastricht - Intelligence - Initial resistance - Initial resistance - Roermond - Richard Schoemaker was a cadet at the Royal Military Academy from 1905 and active in various sports, especially fencing. In it he participated in the Olympic Games in London in 1908. He became … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Schuijl, Pieter Johannes Pieter	∗ 1886-02-28 Utrecht † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Pieter Schuijl was a retired civil servant [5]. On October 16, 1941, he was arrested in Harderwijk [1] and taken to the Oranjehotel. [2] He was sentenced to death at the OD trial in Maastricht [3] … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Sickenga, Jacob Jaap	∗ 1918-07-14 Haarlem † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Studenten - Jaap Sickenga was a student of the Dutch language, a poet and a Dutch resistance fighter in the Ordedienst during the Second World War. He and his friend Hans Zomer [1], who had returned … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Smidt, Alex Klaas Lex	∗ 1914-11-22 Diepenveen † 1942-05-11 Sachsenhausen	- OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Maastricht - Photo: Book of the Dead 3, Oranjehotel Foundation [2]. Lex Smidt was a member of the rugby club ’t Gooi since November 1940. On its website [1] it is stated that he served as … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.
Smink, Harmen	∗ 1919-11-26 Harderwijk † 1942-05-11 Sachsenhausen	- OD trial of Maastricht - Ondergrondse pers - Intelligence - Initial resistance - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Maastricht - The source of the text below is mostly the English version of Traces of War. [1] The photograph is from the Death Book of the Orange Hotel. [4] Harmen Smink did his military service as … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.
Smit, Daniel Johan Daniel	∗ 1909-11-14 Haarlem † 1942-05-11 Sachsenhausen	- OD trial of Maastricht - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Maastricht - Daniel Smit worked at the construction company Kondor. [3] He was arrested in September 1941 and spent about eight months in the Oranjehotel before being taken to Maastricht, sentenced to death … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.
Stad, van der Nicolaas Johan Nicolaas	∗ 1890-02-07 Nijmegen † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Ondergrondse pers - Cellist, muziekleraar, directeur Muziek Lyceum Amsterdam en Nijmeegsche Volksmuzieschool. Oprichter O.D. en Parool in Nijmegen. Zat in de landelijke OD-top. gearresteerd op 4 oktober 1941. … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Verstrijden, Ludovicus Franciscus Loek	∗ 1918-11-11 Amsterdam † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- Initial resistance - Knokploegen (K.P.) - OD trial of Maastricht - Loek Verstrijden was an assistant purchaser [1][4] and trade correspondent. Co-organizer of the knokploeg (battle group) around Theo Dobbep. This … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Voncken, Willem Louis Willem	∗ 1889-02-19 Maastricht † 1942-05-03 Sachsenhausen	- Ordedienst (O.D.) - OD trial of Maastricht - Maastricht - Initial resistance - Willem Voncken completed the secondary school Bisschoppelijk College in Roermond. This was followed by military officer training at the KMA (Royal Military Academy) in Breda. At the start of the … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Woudt, van ’t Cornelis	∗ 1897-12-16 Overschie † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- OD trial of Maastricht - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Intelligence - Cornelis Johannes IJsbrand van ’t Woudt was a captain in the coastal artillery. He was arrested for espionage on September 24, 1941 - sat in the "Oranjehotel", cell 640 until March 30 - … This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-
Zomer, Johannes J. Hans	∗ 1920-11-06 Probolinggo † 1942-05-11 Oranienburg	- Engelandvaarders - Ordedienst (O.D.) - Studenten - OD trial of Maastricht - Initial resistance - Intelligence - en This person is not (yet?) listed on the walls of the chapel.-