DIARY

The weeks (months) of war.

On Sunday September 17, 1944, I was 14 yrs. old when started with a lead pencil, an account of what happened on that memorable day, in a small orange book, given to me by my uncle Frans Leferink, who after a few days took over, to continue the story, day by day.

It's half past eight in the morning, Mum left for church. Air-raid alarm sounds during Mass, at 9.05.(a long modulating blast) until 9.30. the siren let us know with a straight pitch that all was safe again. For the second time the alarm sounds at 9.45 to finish at 10.05. The church emptied, Mum was on the way home (walking, 2km. distance) when the air-raid alarm sounded for the third time, roughly at 10.30 a.m. During the first alarm period, we could hear aircraft in the air, but no anti-aircraft guns were heard. When the second alarm sounded, no planes heard or seen. At the third alarm, many, many aircraft in the sky, among many fighter planes, lots of bombers. Mum was just home when we heard a violent singing buzz and shortly after an enormous bang. We fled into the passage, as there it was safest, because being surrounded by many walls.
We were really frightened, however after that first big explosion, we heard once more that high buzzing sound and another loud bang. Then there followed more explosions, two or three. After that, a severe shelling started from the guns of the diving fighter planes. We ran to the cellar, it was safer there than upstairs, at least for now, if they start to bomb then there is no safe place to hide.
Half past twelve, the air-raid alarm let us know, danger has past.
It is a couple of minutes before 1.00pm.for the fourth time the alarm goes off and has not ended until now.
During the day parachute troops were dropped and gliders landed North-West of Arnhem.
The German occupation troops hurriedly leave Arnhem, burning the buildings they had used before.
The first Englishmen reached Oranjestreet, close to dusk (between 7and 8.00 pm.), meanwhile the German and Dutch SS units making contact with the paratroopers.
The night we spend in the living room downstairs, even there we feel not safe.
MONDAY, SEP.18th
English soldiers, in small groups, move through the streets of West Arnhem. More paratroopers are dropped. Towards the evening the fighting flares up. The allied fighter planes are constantly mixing it with the enemy forces on the ground, so much so, that we stay most of the day and following night in the cellar.
TUESDAY SEP.19th
Little by little the Englishmen had to pull back and prisoners are taken continuously. Our suburb is under fire from battle carriers with 8cm guns, also from artillery positions in Arnhem Zuid, across the Rhine.
The butcher (Hunnik) distributed meat for free, which we happily accepted. The English and Germans seem to command the situation around the bridge in turns. We decide, after some deliberations with the
residents of the neighbourhood, to stay put, despite the precarious position we are in.
WEDNESDAY SEP.20th
The fighting continues. Towards the evening tens of armoured cars arrive in our street seeking cover under the canopy of the trees. This happened the day before also.
Helped Mr.Wigman. (He was our teacher in Arts and geography at St. Boneface High school,
who lived down the road from us at Onderlangs near the river. His wife was pregnant and gave birth to a baby that day. In the meantime several neighbours have departed.
THURSDAY SEP. 21st
“Rheinbrucke in Nimwegen fallt unbeschadigt in allierte Hande”
We decide to flee. Preparations are made. We depart about 5.00 pm., taking along the most necessary, as blankets and food. We arrive in the Hoogkamp suburb, close to Sacred Heart church, at 25 Isaac Evertslaan
FRIDAY SEP. 22nd
Ludwig (our Bouvier dog) dispatched with a revolver shot (by A German officer).
SUNDAY SEP. 24th After an announcement today, we continue our flight and departed from Arnhem at 8.00pm.on