Köstersbulte, Aalten
On the lawn of the Old St Helen’s Church on the Markt in Aalten stands a special memorial stone. The bronze plaque on the stone lists the names of seven resistance fighters within the organized resistance in Aalten.
Resistance during World War II (1940-1945) only developed over the course of the war. As the German occupiers’ measures became stricter, small groups emerged that resisted the occupation, initially with limited means. As the war progressed, more and more people faced difficulties. These small resistance groups grew in strength due to increasing membership and the networks that formed between various resistance cells.
Within the resistance, two main currents could be distinguished. The first group was the National Organization for Help to People in Hiding (LO). This group organized hiding places for Jews, for men who refused to work for the enemy in Germany, and for resistance fighters who had to go into hiding. The LO was dependent on sufficient ration coupons for the food supply to the people in hiding . The second group, the Knokploegen (KP), took care of that. This armed group carried out raids on distribution offices, tried to sabotage the enemy at vital points and in the last phase of the war prepared to assist the Allied troops in the liberation of the Netherlands.
In the Achterhoek, especially in the region of Aalten, Lichtenvoorde and Winterswijk, the resistance was particularly active. Some of the resistance fighters lost their lives during the war. Those who survived the harsh time did not feel like heroes. Many testified to the fear they would carry with them for the rest of their lives. The courageous acts of the resistance are recorded in several books.
The names of the fallen (click on the links for more information):
