THURSDAY MARCH 1st
The Yssel crossings are closed. The V1’s persist in upsetting us, with their thundering and shaking sounds and falling around us.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 28th A few more days and it is Easter. The general situation justifies optimism like never before. Every day one expect a complete fall apart, nevertheless it was last night very turbulent.
Fighters hunting the slower V1’s, with the result of many of these monsters crashing down, all night long, one of them in the centre of Velp, destroying 4 houses and killing 9 people, plus many injured.
Mr. Wiessink came today with some very welcome provisions and a good dose of optimism. He spoke even about an end of it all, before Easter. Do we ever want to believe that, because it has been very oppressive the last days. At this moment, it’s 8.30pm.and we can hear the first V1 for the night.‘
THURSDAY MARCH 29th “WITTE DONDERDAG” Maundy Thursday,
Thank God, we slept a little better last night, despite the sky was filled with V1’s, but perhaps not as many and they seem to have a higher trajectory. This afternoon, around 3 o’clock, one of those monsters fell in the forest just behind us, with a terrific explosion. Mr. Wiessink came to visit us again today, with much excitement the latest news gets passed on. Orts-commanders leaving their posts, artillery positions dismantled and statements as: ”If we surrender and it will come to pass, it’s for the sake of the women and children”
.GOOD FRIDAY MARCH 30th
Last night quite a few V1’s in the air, but not many functioned as well as the producers hoped for.
They terrorized the surroundings, crashing down in greater numbers. It gives us a fearful, restless night.
During daytime it’s much better, quite calm and the talk of imminent and decisive news that did the round yesterday, is today coldly neutralized. God help us through the night and give a speedy end to these state of affairs.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 4th
We spend the night in the cellar. It was quiet, as much we can call the situation quiet. After a reasonable calm day, hearing of evacuation announcement startled us. Everything south of the highway have to be cleared and everybody to leave, with the effect that we’re getting thirty-one extra people in “de Hut” for shelter. They are, Baroness van Ittersem, the Ramard family, the ladies Lelie, Portielje, Teesink, van Aalst, and the family de Visser. And now! Holy Mary of Fatima, save us from the violence of war.
MONDAY APRIL 9th
There go some more trees down, left and right. They are dynamited and the residents implore the soldiers if they themselves are allowed to saw the trees, to safeguard their windows and possible their homes.
Towards Rheden, the double rows of mature trees on both sides of the highway are blown up, in an effort to stop the advancing allies. The news we gathered is that the river Yssel have not been crossed yet by the allied forces, and what about the Rhine? Zutphen is free and Zwolle is approached at a close distance.
Men between the ages of 16 and 45, have to report at the Roskam (hotel), at 7.00pm.
What we have got for dinner is the crucial question now. The potatoes are once again finished, where do we get new ones? Trusting on the intercession of the Holy Virgin Mary, everything will be all right ultimately.
Marie had saved some old cigarettes for Antoon and Jan, but alas, now our beloved brothers are already enjoying their freedom and no doubt, have picked up some decent smokes. With that in mind, we by now lighted our cigarettes and smoked an old cigar, yesterday. Until now, I still have a saved “Camel” fag.
TUESDAY APRIL 10th
The fruit trees are flowering, a swallow gives an “act de presence” and the weather is almost summer-like.
The last trees on the road are laid to rest peacefully and a few are still felt in a violent manner. Under the branches, they lay mines. “Let puss come now”
In the afternoon, fighters, tens of them, swarm through the sky, some diving and opening their guns, happily not in our direction.
Jan and Marie are married 5 years, today.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 11th
By all accounts it seems that the night was boisterous, (“het spookte”), but we did not hear a thing in the cellar. It is so warm, like a mid summer’s day. Fighter planes. Grenades scream from left to right and right to left. A small distance away, they blow up the road. In the twinkling of an eye, the defenders created an impromptu tank moat. Meanwhile The Netherlands is practically cut off from the rest and it is understood that 60.000 Germans, of which only 20.000 trained, are trapped. And they still building fortifications and obstructions, if there is still a war to be won.
“Aunty Pos” cannot reach us anymore and does not take anything from us. Are we still to endure the torture of hell. So help us God, guide us to more peaceful days.
SUNDAY APRIL 15th
Grenades are still coming down around us. In Velp and Rheden where the houses are close together, it caused much damage. Velp was burning yesterday. In comparison with preceding days, this Sunday is a quiet one, more surprising now the battle scene is upon us. We can even hear the tanks rolling on.
It’s good that we’ve a somewhat tranquil day, time to recover from the restless times behind us, the lack of sleep and the often occurring, bowel disorders. The war noises are coming from very far, only very sporadic there is a bang close by, a couple of times the whistle tone of a lone grenade, thus is the situation about 9.00pm. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.
MONDAY APRIL 16th
We’re flying the flags. It’s summer everywhere. Early this morning, we wake up to some grenades and a piece of shrapnel through the portico and front door. The last anxious hours are upon us. The first “Tommy’s” were sighted at daybreak, near Middelkoop. At 10.00am the first soldiers coming over the railway track. It’s noon and the road is practically free and we are FREE.
Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday… Graven-A, Players, white bread, chocolate, tins of meat and butter.
Met and spoken to Van Otten, who is from Enschede, he will take our greetings to the families.