Cor Hoogenbosch during WWII
The period before May 1940
During World War I, the Netherlands were neutral. The changed way of warfare made the Dutch Government aware that civilians could become victims by air raids with chemical weapons. That's why the Government urged establishing air raid protection services, who would be responsible for setting up aid organizations and informing citizens about things like, how to act in case of an air raid or how to darken houses, in all municipalities.
Already in 1934 the “Eindhovensche Luchtbeschermings-Organisatie” was founded.
Cor Hoogenbosch was registered as amateur radio operator in 1938, his Call Sign was PAoNN. In August 1939 total mobilization was declared. The army was put on alert, buildings and vehicles were commandeered as well as radio transmitters used by amateur radio operators.
Already in 1934 the “Eindhovensche Luchtbeschermings-Organisatie” was founded.
Cor Hoogenbosch was registered as amateur radio operator in 1938, his Call Sign was PAoNN. In August 1939 total mobilization was declared. The army was put on alert, buildings and vehicles were commandeered as well as radio transmitters used by amateur radio operators.
Period May 1940 - 18 September 1944 (liberation of Eindhoven)
Cor Hoogenbosch, had a lot of connections because of his background, occupation and membership of different organizations. Being a member of the local Air Raid Protection service, he had permission to be outside during evenings. As a dentist it was not strange that people would visit his house/practice regular. He was also an experienced morse code user with an (illegal) radio transmitter.
Cor was section leader and member of the Eindhovense Air Raid Protection service.
With his team of 8 persons he was responsible for the safety in his neighborhood.
With his team of 8 persons he was responsible for the safety in his neighborhood.
15-07-1941, Het volk: dagblad voor de arbeiderspartij
De heer Donkers en dr. Cor Hoogenbosch van de vakpost Eindhoven geven leiding aan luchtbeschermingsonderdelen die bij dit ernstige ongeval hun ondersteuning geven.
Both Mr. Donkers and Dr. Hoogenbosch lead, air raid protection teams, providing assistance at the site of a fatal accident.
De heer Donkers en dr. Cor Hoogenbosch van de vakpost Eindhoven geven leiding aan luchtbeschermingsonderdelen die bij dit ernstige ongeval hun ondersteuning geven.
Both Mr. Donkers and Dr. Hoogenbosch lead, air raid protection teams, providing assistance at the site of a fatal accident.
Cor still had a radio transmitter in his possession during the war. Ad told the following about this:
"My father had been a radio amateur for many years before the war and he had a hidden transmitter inside of a wall in our house. It operated on the 80/40 and the 20-meter band. The aerial was a 20 meter long copper wire strung from a chimney at the rear of the house to another building. He tuned it with a little lamp that lit on the voltage difference over one meter length.
He used to transmit signals into the blue yonder in Morse code giving details of rail movements and whatever else could be of benefit to the allies. One day he forgot his test lamp and there was a panic. The Germans on top of the Philips factory or those in the Elias house could have read the signals. However he did not get caught with that. The little railway line was bombed though and that made the day for him."'
The Elias house, is the house of neighbours, the family Elias Willemstraat 31. The family Elias was forced to move when the Germans commandeered their house. The "little railway" could be the railway connecting Eindhoven with the airfield "Welschap". The railway was build in 1941 by the "Luftwaffe" and used for transport of ammunition and fuel. It has been bombed several times.
"My father had been a radio amateur for many years before the war and he had a hidden transmitter inside of a wall in our house. It operated on the 80/40 and the 20-meter band. The aerial was a 20 meter long copper wire strung from a chimney at the rear of the house to another building. He tuned it with a little lamp that lit on the voltage difference over one meter length.
He used to transmit signals into the blue yonder in Morse code giving details of rail movements and whatever else could be of benefit to the allies. One day he forgot his test lamp and there was a panic. The Germans on top of the Philips factory or those in the Elias house could have read the signals. However he did not get caught with that. The little railway line was bombed though and that made the day for him."'
The Elias house, is the house of neighbours, the family Elias Willemstraat 31. The family Elias was forced to move when the Germans commandeered their house. The "little railway" could be the railway connecting Eindhoven with the airfield "Welschap". The railway was build in 1941 by the "Luftwaffe" and used for transport of ammunition and fuel. It has been bombed several times.
Another story of Ad: "The grown ups whispered about the underground action and I picked up enough to know that my father had a part in it. One day during the night a German truck drove in to behind our house. It was a fair hiding place because it could not be seen from the street or from houses. My mother complained bitterly about it. She said that it was irresponsible, foolish and dangerous for the family.
As it was, this truck had been stolen from near the airfield and it was supposed to have had weapons on board. But the underground people had taken the wrong truck and this one had parachutes and other stuff on board. They had not dared to return the truck and that’s how it got parked behind our house. My father insisted that it had to go. They then drove that truck away and dumped it into the canal in the center of our town. The Germans recovered their truck easily because the canal had turned bright green due to the dye marker that was with the parachutes. We expected reprisals but that mouse had no tail. Nobody knew anything about it." This must be the "Eindhovens kanaal" which forms a connection with the "Zuid-Willemsvaart". |
Cor is often absent from his practice in the course of 1944 as can be read in newspaper announcements. This has been noticed by others as well.
Eindhoven4044.nl
Eindhoven in de Tweede Wereldoorlog A) Partizanen Actie Nederland na 17 september 1944. "Op W26 moeten we weg; de mensen praten over ons; de Willemstraat zit vol illegale actie; bij de tandarts de telefoonpost [Dit is de telefoon van C. Th.A. M. Hoogenbosch, die in 1926 een tandartspraktijk is begonnen op Willemstraat 29 Eindhoven. Cor Hoogenbosch is de laatste maanden voor de bevrijding steeds afwezig (verzetswerk?) en pas op 23 october 1944 opent hij zijn praktijk weer], verderop de Inlichtingendienst." |
Eindhoven4044.nl
On this site information about Eindhoven during WOII. A) Partizanen Actie Nederland na 17 september 1944. "We have to move from Willemstraat 26; people start talking about us; The Willemstraat is full of illegal activity; at the dentist the telephone post [This is the telephone of C.Th.A.M. Hoogenbosch, who in 1926 started a dentist practition at Willemstraat 29 Eindhoven. Cor Hoogenbosch is in the months before the liberation often absent (resistance?) and on October 23 1944 he opens his practition again], further on the Intelligence department." |
Period 18 September 1944 - 1945
Ad's memories about that day:
"That is how it happened on September 18th, 1944, liberation had arrived. It was not with a bang, no, there was not any shooting to speak of. They came quietly, their boots made no noise. (Not like the Germans with their hobnailed boots). They arrived in single file and kept on walking. They did not march. No, they just walked. The file was as long as the street and you could see more of them coming. When we went up to them and said, “Happy to see you’, they smiled and sort of flicked back their heads in an unfamiliar but friendly way and kept on walking with their weapons and gear that they carried. It was a sight that stays with you. An event like that makes a lasting impression."
"That is how it happened on September 18th, 1944, liberation had arrived. It was not with a bang, no, there was not any shooting to speak of. They came quietly, their boots made no noise. (Not like the Germans with their hobnailed boots). They arrived in single file and kept on walking. They did not march. No, they just walked. The file was as long as the street and you could see more of them coming. When we went up to them and said, “Happy to see you’, they smiled and sort of flicked back their heads in an unfamiliar but friendly way and kept on walking with their weapons and gear that they carried. It was a sight that stays with you. An event like that makes a lasting impression."
Cor joined the Interior Military Forces of the Netherlands and moved his transmitter to the wooden watch tower at the "Van Abbemuseum".
"Cor maakte gebruik van dit houten torentje naast de echte toren om te kunnen uitzenden. Het bereik was van hieruit veel beter."
Rose-Marij Hoogenbosch This wooden watchtower was built end 1941 and was in use by the Air Raid protection service to keep an eye on incoming low flying airplanes. Their office was in the tower of the "Van Abbe museum", see the door under the clock.
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In the first quarter of 1945, Cor resigned from his activities for the "Bureau of Intelligence of the Dutch Government" because he was requested by the "Military Command, section Public Health", to take command of Food Supplies. In this new role, Cor was under command of the Dutch Red Cross Auxiliary Corps.
In the letter it’s written that Cor has been of great service, during the occupation and before the liberation of the South of the Netherlands.
In the letter it’s written that Cor has been of great service, during the occupation and before the liberation of the South of the Netherlands.
The winter of '44-'45 was very severe. In the still occupied part of the Netherlands, there wasn't enough food anymore. By April 1945 people started to die of hunger. The Allied forces and the Germans negotiated about food aid.
By the beginning of May, Dutch truckdrivers could pass the demarcation line and bring food to distribution points spread over the country.
By the beginning of May, Dutch truckdrivers could pass the demarcation line and bring food to distribution points spread over the country.
17.4.45 Tandarts Hoogenbosch is door mij belast met de leiding van de Voedingsploegen die in Breda gecon centreerd moeten worden. Voor medische aangelegenheden heeft hij zich in contact te stellen met ... |
17.4.45 Dentist Hoogenbosch is charged by me, with the management of the Food Supply Teams who will be concentrated in Breda. For medical matters he has to contact ..... |
In August 1951, Cor Hoogenbosch received the "Remembrance Cross 1940-1945, of the Dutch Red Cross.