Soest during Second World War (WWII)

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Local newspaper ‘Soester Courant’ 5th of May 1945.

Because I live in Soest I was curious about stories and visible memories concerning the Second World War. Therefore ‘What could I find about Soest during WWII’? The main source for this is of course the internet. But in my search I also went to Museum Soest where a small part of the exhibition is specifically about this period. And it turns out that some important events have already received attention on the internet so I will refer to them. This page gives an impression of what a small village and its inhabitants experienced during the war and what visible memories still can be found.

The newspaper ‘Soester Courant‘ is an important source as it was published just after the war and chronologically describes the events (on page 4) in Soest in the period 1940 – 1945.

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Netherlands

Huis Doorn – The last residence of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany

In 1918 the First World War ended with the signing of the armistice in Compiègne, but Wilhelm II, the last emperor of Germany, also resigned and applied for asylum in the neutral Netherlands. First in Amerongen and then quietly as a ‘normal citizen’ in the Huis Doorn estate. Although at his death there was a desire not to have a Nazi funeral, Hitler made it a registered event with a guard of honor, military band and representatives of the Nazi party.

Leutlant von Braunschweig at the main gate. The gatehouse was built by the Kaiser before moving into Huis Doorn in 1920

The ex-Kaiser Wilhelm II died in Huis Doorn on 4 June 1941. Because of the resistance that was still experienced in parts of Germany around the Emperor, Hilter decided that the funeral should be a modest ceremony with a considerable military delegation.
Since the mausoleum, then planned to the north of the main house, still had to be built, the body of the emperor would be temporarily laid to rest in the small chapel near the entrance to the estate.

Chapel Huis Doorn - temporarily resting place Kaiser Wilhelm II

Monday, April 9, 1941: On the picture on the right Count von Moltke (left) and Count von der Goltz (right) present the Field Marshal’s Staff and the Emperor’s decorations while Father Doehring leads in prayer from the chapel.

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Huis Doorn, Netherlands

Battle for Arnhem – bridge too far

75 years ago! That is now one of the largest airborne landings taking place at Arnhem to put a swift end to the war in Europe. Unfortunately it all went differently and the sacrifice that the soldiers then made is an ultimate act of courage and justifies the attention it should receive every year.

It has been on my list for a long time to find out more about the battle of Arnhem (Market Garden) where my family rootes are. It will be exciting and beautiful to visit the places that played an important role in battle for Arnhem. On 15 September 2 days before the actual landing in 1944 we are ready in the morning to do a battlefield tour at Arnhem / Oosterbeek. What strikes me is the broad interest and involvement of people from the immediate surroundings of Arnhem and Oosterbeek, but also the people who come along from different areas of the country with the tour of today.

Arnhem Bridge
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Market Garden , ,

A tour in Western Jutland through Stutzpunkt Börsmose-Dorf and Stutzpunkt Blavland

Today we did a car tour to the far western tip of Denmark with a stop at Lake Filso and under the lake Stutzpunkt Börsmose-Dorf. The majority of the area has been abandoned and is being used as a military training ground. This gives the whole an extra dimension. Certainly considering the bunkers present (and there are many) that are still in good condition and often just free to enter. Stutzpunkt Börsmose-Dorf was established in the spring of 1943 to protect the intersection 3.5 kilometers inside the coast. It had a strategic position to block the passage to further inland and Germany.

  • Bunker S.t.610 entrance 01
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  • Bunker S.t.610 entrance 02
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  • Bunker S.t.610 entrance 03
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We went to look in the middle of the stutzpunkt and walked a bit into the forest. xactly opposite the S.t. 610 bunker, Danish soldiers were busy with a …

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Atlantic wall, Denmark
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