Line-crosser is a Dutch concept from World War II. The name is used to refer to 21 people, mostly from Werkendam, who during the last months of the war maintained a secret connection between occupied and liberated Netherlands across the Biesbosch and the Merwede. They were part of the larger Biesbosch resistance group, and the Albrecht intelligence group.
Basket used to indicate that a line-crosser was on the way.Saint Jan bridgeMonument in WerkendamMonument in Lage-Zwaluwe
On 6 November 1944 the Biesbosch, a difficult to penetrate area, became the front between the German and allied forces. The Germans would almost never go into this area and as such it was ideal for hideouts for refugees.
Later that month it was decided to create a water crossing in the area between occupied and liberated Netherlands. Across two different routes people, goods, information and medicine were transported. In total 374 crossings were made. It was mostly a military intelligence route, but also Jews and stranded pilots were helped. It is not known how many people were transported. One of the people who crossed was the British general John Hackett who had been wounded during Operation Market Garden. He would later describe his experiences in 1978 in the book 'I was a stranger'.
There were two main routes of 13 and 18 kilometers. Crossing were made in canoes or small boats, mostly rowed or with silent engines. At one of the places they used a raised basket next to a restaurant to indicate that a line-crosser was coming.
During the end of the war, after Dolle Dinsdag, several German troops deserted, mostly across "the bridge of saint Jan". These were often captured and at one point around 75 German soldiers were held for 8 weeks on boats in the area. These were later handed over to Polish allied forces who liberated the area.[1]
People were transported both in and out of occupied Netherlands. Not many names are known. The following agents crossed from occupied into liberated territory:
On Tuesday 4 December 1984 about 50 people of the Biesbosch resistance group meet. One of the people present was prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. There were commemorative meetings in 2010 and 2011.
Monumentsedit
On the bridge of saint Jan is a memorial text. There are several monuments dedicated to the Line-crossers, most prominently in Werkendam,[3][4] Hank, Lage Zwaluwe[5] and Sliedrecht.
Referencesedit
^Nieuwe ruige, natte natuur - Volkskrant, 30 October 2004
line, crosser, dutch, concept, from, world, name, used, refer, people, mostly, from, werkendam, during, last, months, maintained, secret, connection, between, occupied, liberated, netherlands, across, biesbosch, merwede, they, were, part, larger, biesbosch, re. Line crosser is a Dutch concept from World War II The name is used to refer to 21 people mostly from Werkendam who during the last months of the war maintained a secret connection between occupied and liberated Netherlands across the Biesbosch and the Merwede They were part of the larger Biesbosch resistance group and the Albrecht intelligence group Basket used to indicate that a line crosser was on the way Saint Jan bridgeMonument in WerkendamMonument in Lage Zwaluwe Contents 1 History 2 List of line crossers 2 1 Military William Order 4th class 2 2 Bronze Lion 2 3 Bronze Cross 3 Names of people transported 4 After the war 4 1 Reunions 4 2 Monuments 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksHistory editOn 6 November 1944 the Biesbosch a difficult to penetrate area became the front between the German and allied forces The Germans would almost never go into this area and as such it was ideal for hideouts for refugees Later that month it was decided to create a water crossing in the area between occupied and liberated Netherlands Across two different routes people goods information and medicine were transported In total 374 crossings were made It was mostly a military intelligence route but also Jews and stranded pilots were helped It is not known how many people were transported One of the people who crossed was the British general John Hackett who had been wounded during Operation Market Garden He would later describe his experiences in 1978 in the book I was a stranger There were two main routes of 13 and 18 kilometers Crossing were made in canoes or small boats mostly rowed or with silent engines At one of the places they used a raised basket next to a restaurant to indicate that a line crosser was coming During the end of the war after Dolle Dinsdag several German troops deserted mostly across the bridge of saint Jan These were often captured and at one point around 75 German soldiers were held for 8 weeks on boats in the area These were later handed over to Polish allied forces who liberated the area 1 List of line crossers editAll 21 line crosser were decorated after the war Military William Order 4th class edit Arie van Driel posthumously he made 53 crossings Kees van de Sande posthumously Jan de Landgraaf Cornelis Pieter van den Hoek He made 37 crossings Van den Hoek was the last living line crosser and member of the Military William Order Bronze Lion edit Jacobus Bakker Cornelis Leendert Bolijn Pieter van Dam Desiderius Hubertus van Gool Maria Catharina van Grunsven Jacobus Cornelis Hoevenaar Franciscus Johannes Maria Hoffmans Albert Kunst Jacobus Meyer Johannes Rombouts Cornelis Visser Jan VisserBronze Cross edit Leendert Gerardus van Beugen Arie de Boon Cornelis de Boon Cor Hoekstra Adriaan de Keijzer Leendert van Kempen Willem van VeenNames of people transported editPeople were transported both in and out of occupied Netherlands Not many names are known The following agents crossed from occupied into liberated territory Theodorus Bernardus Bleeker Stephan Marie Claessens 2 Dirk Dral Jan Willem van Driel Maria Catharina van Grunsven Riet van Grunsven Ivan Brooks Hollomon pilote Adriaan de KeizerAfter the war editReunions edit On Tuesday 4 December 1984 about 50 people of the Biesbosch resistance group meet One of the people present was prince Bernhard of Lippe Biesterfeld There were commemorative meetings in 2010 and 2011 Monuments edit On the bridge of saint Jan is a memorial text There are several monuments dedicated to the Line crossers most prominently in Werkendam 3 4 Hank Lage Zwaluwe 5 and Sliedrecht References edit Nieuwe ruige natte natuur Volkskrant 30 October 2004 Stephan Marie Claessens 1922 1993 Geni com Memorial The Line Crosser Werkendam TracesOfWar com in Dutch Werkendam De line crosser Nationaal Comite 4 en 5 mei Memorial The Line Crosser Lage Zwaluwe TracesOfWar comFurther reading editBiesbosch Crossings 1944 1945 P Hoek 2000 ISBN 9789029711623External links edit in Dutch Line crossers Biesbosch nu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Line crosser amp oldid 1068833541, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
