Residents of the village of Wierden, Overijssel, vividly recall an air raid on a train on Christmas Day 1944. Allied fighter planes mistakenly targeted the train, which carried around 1,400 forced laborers, not enemy troops.
The laborers were men captured in raids from Goeree-Overflakkee and Schouwen-Duiveland, meant to be taken to Germany to repair infrastructure. After the train was attacked near Wierden station, four men were killed and dozens injured.
Nearly 200 managed to escape, with locals helping to hide them. Jan Janssen, 92, recalls sheltering escapees in his home.
Another local, Jo ten Cate-Breij, 94, remembers helping a young man who fled the train. Most passengers were recaptured and held at a factory before being sent to Germany.
Some managed to escape during the transfer. The raid’s miscommunication highlighted the challenges of wartime operations.
Source: NOS