Memorial "Woeste Hoeve" Beekbergen - Netherlands - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

On July 21st,1945, on the initiative of the Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten (Internal Forces, BS), a simple memorial was unveiled near the place of execution. The monument consisted of a wooden cross on a base of boulders. On a wooden sign the text: "‘Op 8-3-’45 werden hier 117 Vaderlanders door de Duitsche overweldigers op gruwzame wijze vermoord” (On 8-3 - '45, 117 patriots were killed here in a gruesome manner by the German captors).
At the ceremony a guard of honour was formed by members of the BS departments Loenen and Apeldoorn. The commander of the BS department Loenen made a short speech, after which the monument was transferred to the municipality of Apeldoorn. The mayor of Apeldoorn also held a speech and concluded with the words: "This memorial will be honoured by the citizens of Apeldoorn, far into posterity".
At a ceremony on May 4th, 1947, Queen Wilhelmina laid a flower arrangement in the shape of a pillow, showing the resistance cross in flowers. In 1948, some survivors declared that they would like a plaque at the monument, with the names of the people that were shot, and a bench. For unclear reasons, the town council did not respond to this request. "The council considers it desirable not to publish names at the monument. For one, for the sake of three undisclosed people”. Yet, the wooden sign with the inscription was replaced by a bronze plaque, with a slightly modified text: “117 vaderlanders werden hier op 8 maart 1945 door de Duitse overweldiger op gruwzame wijze vermoord” (Here 117 patriots were murdered in a gruesome way by the German captors, on March 8th, 1945).
On March 8th, 1970, there was the last official commemoration. Perhaps, after 25 years, one would have thought to have remembered enough. In 1979, the original cross was replaced by a larger one. Still a bench was placed and a parking space was created as well. But still, the names of the victims were not mentioned. When in 1987 the monument was adopted by the primary school De Touwladder, the annual commemoration was continued. At the same time, personal initiatives made clear that there still was a want for a new monument, including the names of the victims.
In 1991, the Stichting Monument Woeste Hoeve (Foundation Memorial Woeste Hoeve) was founded and relatives chose a design by artist Hans Morselt. The politicians, however, decided otherwise and opted for a design by the Apeldoorn artist T. Verrips. On May 4th, 1992, the monument was unveiled by the then Queen's Commissioner of Gelderland, Jan Terlouw. The monument consists of a large wooden cross from 1979, placed on a pedestal. Behind the cross, a metal framed glass plaque with in alphabetical order the names of one hundred and fifteen known victims. The cross and the plate are surrounded by a metal construction of pipes. In front of the monument, a square with red bricks and two benches has been created. In the path to the monument, a plaque is put in, with a poem by the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. On April 9th, 1945, just before the liberation, Bonhoeffer was put to death in concentration camp Flossenbürg, on personal orders of Hitler.

Date of Dedication: 07/21/1945 Property Permission: Public Website for Waymark: [Web Link] Location of waymark: Oude Arnhemseweg Beekbergen, Gld Netherlands Commemoration: Dutch resistance Access instructions: Not listed Access times: Not listed

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