|
PTT RCD OD Ton van Schendel
Post-war report about wartime OD activities
- under construction
This page holds a transcript of a report, written by
Ton van Schendel
for his wartime commander jhr. Pieter Jacob Six [1], about his work for the
Dutch resistance — the Ordedienst (OD) — during
World War II (WWII).
The report was written in the Dutch language, shortly after the war
(at an unknown date), and gives a detailed account of his wartime clandestine
activities, his arrest by the Germans, the interrogations, his time in prison,
and his deportation to Germany.
➤ About Ton van Schendel
|
Below is a literal English translation of the
original report (in Dutch)
as filed by Anton van Schendel shortly after the war.
Codenames, or cover names, are all written in upper case, e.g. KAREL.
When available, the real name and further details can be revealed by
moving the mouse over the codename.
Annotations are added as grey boxes and as footnotes.
Handwritten additions to the original document are shown in red.
Redactional additions in are shown square brackets in red,
and additional headings are also in red.
Furthermore, some typos were corrected, such as the names
Haubrok (Haubrock) and Haren (Haaren).
➤ Original report
Dutch version →
My work and activities as Chief Wireless Operator of the O.D., and my experiences in prison.
Dedicated to the Chief of Staff, Colonel Jhr. P. J. Six.
CMC "Ton"
|
Background
As early as September 1940 there was, through HENK, some contact with
the O.D., although at that stage there was no question of actual
cooperation. Such cooperation as existed consisted mainly of giving
advice and carrying out minor repairs to radio receiving and transmitting
equipment.
At the beginning of 1941 this contact became closer, initially
primarily with Vrij Nederland, and later with the O.D.
KAREL had devised a plan to provide the Netherlands with a radio network,
so that in the event of an invasion or other emergencies, should the
interlocal telephone network fail, communication would nevertheless exist
between all important locations in the country.
It was by no means impossible that this network might render important
services in the transmission of intelligence reports and the like.
The plan was conceived in such a way that in every important town there
would be a radio commander, a technician, and several wireless operators,
while the organisation under which the service was to be placed would be
responsible for providing a number of code officers and a liaison officer
between the radio commander and the local or regional commander.
The technical side – the construction of the required equipment, the
establishment of the transmitting stations, and the overall leadership –
was entrusted to KAREL, with the title Chief of the Radio Service (CRD).
To me, as Chief Wireless Operator (CMC), was assigned the task of recruiting
and training the necessary personnel, organising test transmissions, compiling
the required regulations, and similar duties.
In the meantime, a few experimental transmissions had been carried out with
rather modest results, using existing equipment in a school building in
the vicinity of the Leidseplein in Amsterdam. After various discussions,
a transmitting and receiving set was designed which was expected to provide
a reasonable connection between the various locations under all circumstances.
It was decided to operate on a wavelength of 100 metres, with the equipment
arranged so that operation would be possible between 95 and 105 metres
(3100 - 2900 kHz short wave). In practice, the 100-metre wavelength did
not entirely meet expectations, and on my advice the wavelength was
shortened to 85 - 90 metres. Later, the transmitters were also crystal-controlled.
KAREL, who possessed a very large number of contacts – of which grateful
and frequent use was made in the years that followed – also had, through
SJOERD, contacts in
Eindhoven,
from where a considerable quantity of radio
equipment and valves was obtained.
|
During WWII, Philips was forced to produce components for the German
war machine, such as termionic valves (vacuum tubes). As the same time,
miniature valves were also provided clandestinely to the Dutch resistance.
Meanwhile, I had begun to scour the country in search of collaborators,
with the greatest possible caution. A supposedly three-month illness at
the PTT proved to be of excellent service in this regard. From the
outset I turned to radio amateurs, of whom I personally knew many, and
who were sufficiently technically skilled and generally possessed ample
experience in sending and receiving Morse. This was all the more suitable
because I had set the transmission speed at 12 words per minute, so that
traffic could be handled smoothly without excessive requests for repetition.
I received a great deal of assistance and support in the "sorting" of
amateurs from my friend Th. C. van Braak from Varsseveld (PA0GA),
who was very well acquainted with the political views of many amateurs.
I consider it my duty to express a heartfelt word of thanks to Van Braak
and his wife for their help, friendship, and hospitality.
At the moment of writing these lines, nothing is yet known of Van Braak's
fate; rumours speak of imprisonment in the Oranienburg concentration camp.
May he soon return safely and in good health to his wife.
He rendered highly meritorious service to the cause in many different fields.
|
Theodoor Christaan (Theo) van Braak, born 1898 in Wisch,
was a teacher and was married to Willemina Everdina Raterink.
Already before the war he was a licenced amateur radio operator
with call sign PA0GA. For this reason he is identiefied in this
report by van Schendel also as 'GA'. When van Schendel wrote the
above paragraph, he was not yet aware of the fact that van Braak had
passed away on 31 December 1944 at Gross Rosen concentration camp in
Breslau (Germany).
Before continuing my account of the construction of this domestic network,
I wish first to draw attention to the countless Dutch radio amateurs who
fulfilled their duty to their fatherland, many of whom did not hesitate
to make the greatest sacrifice they could – their lives – in the common
struggle against our oppressors and for the liberation of our afflicted
country.
The Dutch PTT, under whose authority the radio amateurs fell, may rightly
be proud of the achievements of this corps and will undoubtedly continue
to honour the memory of the men who fell for our freedom.
Naturally, my account will be very incomplete, as my work allowed me to
oversee only part of this corps, while many rendered valuable service in
other fields and within other underground organisations. I hope in due
course to be able to compile a complete record of their achievements,
though I sincerely hope that the number of those who have fallen will not
grow any further.
And when I let the ranks of my collaborators pass before my mind's eye,
I think with deep emotion first and foremost of one of my most loyal
– and also one of my earliest – collaborators: my friend DICK Reijns
(G. B. Reijns, The Hague).
He was one of the first to make himself available, at my request, to act
as a radio commander. He selected two amateurs known to me personally
– namely Ir. A. A. van Mansum from Delft (ADRI) and J. H. Ketting from
The Hague – as wireless operators for his transmitting group. Several
times a week the trio could be seen at DICK's home, diligently practising
sending and receiving Morse.
He was among the first to carry out trial transmissions with his transmitter,
and during a 24-hour test he was received clearly and continuously in both
Groningen and Breda. He was a man of few words, but a man of action.
One could rely on DICK without interruption; an appeal to him was never
made in vain.
When much later, again in The Hague, I needed someone to assist me with
the connection to England, DICK immediately made himself available.
It was therefore entirely understandable that I made the arrangement with
this man that, should I ever fall, he would continue the connection with London.
Of his activities during the almost two years that I spent in prison I
cannot, of course, say very much. That task rests with those who worked
with him during that period. What is certain, however, is that after my
arrest he calmly continued his important work.
Our domestic network functioned well in The Hague. In the months preceding
our liberation there was a regular connection with the Government in
Eindhoven,
and it was DICK and his wireless operators who maintained this vital link.
Without doubt the code officers also carried out excellent work. They too
stood ready day and night for the cause – men such as BART (de la Houssaye),
BOB (van Dijl), JAAP (de Groot), JAN, the auxiliary wireless operator
HANS, and finally FRITS were men of quality – yet the dangerous and
vulnerable work inevitably had to be carried out by DICK and his men.
On Sunday, 18 February 1945, the blow fell. During a transmission with
Eindhoven,
the Torenstraat and its surroundings were sealed off and a large group
of S.D. men forced their way into DICK's house. DICK and
Adri van Mansum, who had been conducting the transmission, fell into
their hands. The Hague, too, was rolled up.
They were taken to Scheveningen. I shall remain silent about the
ill-treatment they were subjected to in DICK's house itself.
The methods of these brutes are only too well known to us.
It yielded little result. They kept silent; none of their collaborators
received a "visit" from the gentlemen. That was DICK's way.
On Good Friday, 30 March, both were murdered – so shortly before the
liberation of our Fatherland, for which they had fought and sacrificed
for so many years. They were not permitted to witness the outcome,
including that of their own work. They were denied the sight of the
rout and retreat of those hordes. But we, who were granted that sight,
we who now live in a liberated Netherlands, must show that their
sacrifice was not made in vain.
And now comes the devastating news that my loyal friend GA
(Van Braak of Varsseveld) has also fallen. On 31 December 1944
he died in the Gross-Rosen concentration camp near Breslau.
Yet another of the many heroes from our Dutch amateur corps.
Again and again I ask myself: why him, why them, and why not me?
Why did they all have to fall? Why was I spared? I know only one
answer: God wished to spare me and had not yet called me to Himself.
I cannot imagine that when the radio amateurs once again take to
the air, the familiar voice of the man from the Achterhoek (GA)
will no longer be heard. Only those in the know are aware of all
that Van Braak did underground for our cause. It will be a solemn
duty of the hundreds of former VUKA members – of whom Van Braak
was the tireless and inspiring secretary – to ensure that his name
is never forgotten and continues to live on in memory with the
deepest respect.
May God also grant him the rest he so richly deserves.
I personally shall never forget his loyalty, his friendship,
his practical help, and his hospitality.
I continue with my sombre roll of honour.
In October 1943, in Dachau, the likeable Meertens from Zwolle
(PA0MO) died as a result of total exhaustion. He had already
been arrested at the end of 1941 together with Feitsma from
Zwolle in connection with a transmission to England. Feitsma
fortunately survived the German hell; Meertens had to fall and
now rests in one of the many mass graves with which the hated
Germany has littered the land.
On several occasions prior to my arrest I discussed Meertens'
prospects with Mrs Meertens, and we always cherished the hope
that he might survive. Sadly, this was not to be.
C. L. J. van Lent Jr. from Heemstede (PA0XI), a highly deserving
amateur who, together with his group, worked to establish a
connection with England, was sentenced to death, granted clemency,
then condemned to life imprisonment, and finally lost his life in
1942 in the penitentiary of Lüttringhausen near Remscheid,
through total exhaustion.
|
|
What follows is a list of radio amateurs who carried out important
work in the field of what may be called "combative amateur radio"
and whom we can never thank enough for their splendid efforts.
I am fully aware that this list is very incomplete, but I hope
in time to be able to supplement it. Several of these amateurs
will be mentioned again later in my account. I list them in
alphabetical order according to their call signs:
|
PA0ALO C. Valkhof, Renkum PA0APX G. Werkema, Huizum PA0BC H.J. Beenen, Groningen PA0BF F. Boelens, Hoogezand - transmitting station PA0BG R. Bolhuis, Groningen PA0BN J. Lourens, Oosterbeek PA0BU M.J. Burgerhoff, 's Hertogenbosch PA0DD Ir. W.J.L. Dalmijn, Arnhem PA0DR D.S. Rustema, Middelstum - transmitting station PA0GE G.H. Pietersen, Doetichem PA0GI Ing. J. van Gent, Nijmegen PA0JHK J. Ketting, Den Haag PA0J. A.H.A. Rawie, Rotterdam PA0KR H. Kranenburg, Heerlen PA0LF F.A. Krant, Heerlen PA0MS G.A. Meerhof, Apeldoorn PA0MR K. Vermaat, Apeldoorn PA0MU G.J. Meijer, Apeldoorn PA0MV H.J. van Merrebacht, Apeldoorn PA0MW D. Neuteboom, Amsterdam PA0MY P.J. ten Haaft, Apeldoorn PA0NWS C.J. van Dam, Noordwijk binnen PA0PN P. Neve, Middelburg PA0OZ J.H. op den Velde, Zaandam PA0QB C.L.F. van den Maagenberg, Breda PA0QQ C.A. Gehrels, Eindhoven PA0SS P.J. Meertens, Terneuzen PA0TA A.G. Teunissen, Venlo PA0TM Ch. J. Tijdgat, Groningen - transmitting station PA0VL J. de Vries, Leiden PA0VM Frater Martinus, 's Hertogenbosch PA0WO W.H. Welgraven, Oosterbeek PA0XN A.F. van Aggelen, Haarlem PA0YM A.M.E.Th. Engers, Amsterdam PA0ZB H.A. Touw, Princenhage
|
Even this highly incomplete list is an ornament to Dutch amateur radio.
May they receive the appreciation – including from the Dutch PTT –
to which they are unquestionably entitled.
Let me now resume my account of the establishment of the radio network.
It goes without saying that the recruitment of suitable collaborators
was a very time-consuming and cautious undertaking, and sometimes several
journeys were required before a reliable point of contact could be
established in a particular town.
Disappointments were, of course, unavoidable. People on whom I had
confidently relied proved to lack sufficient courage; others, who
did possess courage, proved unsuitable or insufficiently trustworthy
for the work and had to be carefully transferred to another function.
Yet slowly but surely the desired organisation took shape.
|
|
In The Hague, DICK Reijns worked with ADRI van Mansum and
JOOP Ketting. In Groningen, FRED Tijdgat served as radio commander,
with KOOS Rijkeboer – who later also acted as code officer – HARRY
Beenen, BOL (Rem Bolhuis), JOOP Rustema from Middelstum, and Boelens
from Hoogezand. FRED would later become one of my most active
collaborators and would play an important role in the connection with
England.
|
|
In Arnhem, KEES – later DRIES Graafhuis – acted as radio commander.
He formed an excellent core group together with Ir. Dalmijn,
Lourens Valkhof, and Welgraven as collaborators. On several
occasions I had the privilege of attending an evening practice
session of this group at Graafhuis's home, and I admired the
serious and intensive manner in which they trained.
|
In Venlo, W. G. Teunissen, chief fitter of the PTT, assumed
leadership and immediately began training several wireless
operators. This group gained considerable inner strength when
the seemingly calm, but in reality resolute, electro-technical
official of the PTT, Rommelse, joined the effort. Together
with Teunissen, Rommelse became one of my closest friends in
the South.
Valuable service in the South was also rendered by J. Talens,
referendary of the PTT in Venlo, who, as chief liaison officer
to Major-General J. R. L. Jans, carried out important work.
Together with Eta Rommelse he was arrested on 26 September 1944
(Teunissen had been able to escape in time).
Fortunately, they were liberated from the prison in Assen
during the night of 14 - 15 April 1945.
Meanwhile, the radio groups had acquired a new roof over their
heads. For practical reasons, and in order to make the full
development of the radio service possible, KAREL - insofar as
the radio service was concerned - disengaged from Vrij Nederland
and placed himself under the O.D.
The O.D. would assume responsibility for appointing liaison
officers (VBOs), who were to maintain contact between the
local radio commander and the local or regional O.D. commander;
for locating suitable transmitting sites; for providing the
necessary funds for the acquisition and maintenance of equipment;
for appointing and training code officers (COs); and for other
measures falling outside the technical domain of the radio service.
In practice, the implementation of these measures often fell short,
which is understandable in hindsight.
The frequently changing commands in various locations sometimes
made the establishment of contact practically impossible.
The designation of "suitable" transmitting sites often foundered
on the understandable lack of technical knowledge of local or
regional commanders. Given the dangers associated with the work,
some of these officials wished to remain completely unknown,
which resulted in considerable operational friction.
Ultimately, it therefore came about that our radio group itself
undertook the task of locating suitable transmitting sites and of
recommending competent individuals for appointment as code officers
to the Chief of Staff. By making use of the well-known recipe
frappez toujours - constant complaining and repeated representations
to the Staff - the desired contact was eventually established
everywhere.
In the meantime, internal contact within the radio leadership group
had also been established. On several occasions, brief meetings
took place in the tram café at Amersfoort station between the CRD,
the CMC, FRED (radio commander North), DRIES (radio commander
South), ANDRIES (radio commander West), and CHRIS, the special
courier of the Chief of Staff. At these meetings, the broad outlines
were discussed and laid down.
As this publicly accessible café was unsuitable for lengthy discussions,
was too vulnerable, and moreover saw an increasing number of participants,
a more appropriate venue was sought - and, thanks to KAREL's connections,
found. Thereafter meetings were held at JOHAN's. Initially, JOHAN acted
merely as a generous host. His excellent cigars and cigarettes will not
soon be forgotten. Before long, however, he became an important
collaborator of the group.
Every fortnight, on Saturdays, one could find gathered there: KAREL,
TON, CHRIS, FRED, KEES, ANDRIES, OOM BEREND, OOM PIET,
JOHAN, and occasionally a guest.
On behalf of the CRD, I had drafted a comprehensive instruction
governing the operation of the radio stations. This laid down the
call signs to be assigned to the various stations; the order and
manner in which a call from the controlling station was to be answered;
how message traffic was to be conducted; how acknowledgements were
to be given; and finally how test traffic was to be handled. The
entire instruction aimed at achieving a uniform and as efficient
a method of operation as possible.
This instruction was approved by the Chief of Staff and subsequently
distributed to the various radio commanders. In a convenient booklet
format, KAREL had a telegram form designed by me printed, on which
all messages were to be recorded. The practical column layout ensured
that each five-letter code group was clearly represented and enabled
the wireless operator to quickly verify whether the number of received
groups corresponded with the introduction. These forms later proved of
outstanding value in traffic with England.
After months of work and preparation, it was finally possible to inform
the Chief of Staff that our organisation had been completed in most
of the major towns of the Netherlands, namely in the following locations:
Amsterdam, Haarlem, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Middelburg, Breda,
's-Hertogenbosch, Venlo - with Maastricht as a subsidiary station -
Nijmegen, Arnhem, Apeldoorn, Enschede, Zwolle (Hasselt), Leeuwarden,
and Groningen.
Various test transmissions were conducted, all of which I monitored on
a calibrated HRO receiver in order to determine the wavelength and,
in the event of excessive deviation, to bring the station onto the
prescribed frequency. A 24-hour test was also carried out.
The results of these test transmissions varied greatly. Some stations
came through excellently and were heard everywhere; others were less
satisfactory or even inaudible. This necessitated renewed visits to
those transmitting stations: testing and checking the equipment,
readjusting the transmitter, improving or repositioning the antenna,
and so forth. Such visits were often undertaken by KAREL.
Taking into account the possibility that in the event of an invasion
or other violent action the electricity supply might fail, the
transmitting stations were also equipped with converters and car
batteries, so that operation would be possible under all circumstances.
By this time, the chief code officers had been trained by the
Head Code Officer (the Resident from Amsterdam), and these in turn
were responsible for training the code officers under their authority.
Contact between the radio leadership group and the Chief of Staff
was maintained - as already noted - by his courier and representative
CHRIS. Initially, he attended all meetings, but later he formed
the sole link with the Staff together with KAREL and myself.
I retain the most pleasant memories of CHRIS.
He was an agreeable comrade and extraordinarily active.
Naturally, collaborators also had to be provided with the necessary
"papers". Some of the meetings at JOHAN's resembled a veritable
centre for forgery. Counterfeit stamps of all manner of German
authorities and Dutch state enterprises lay on the table.
Photographic enlargements of certain forms were made, from which
clichés were produced, proofs printed, and so forth. Signatures
were expertly forged, and the correct paper - of the right thickness
and precise colour - had to be traced and selected.
In all these matters, KAREL was a specialist, and for every aspect
he knew how to find the right collaborators.
In addition to identity cards, PTT passes were produced, permits
to travel in prohibited provinces, second-class railway passes for
PTT personnel, Ausweise, bicycle permits, permits to be on the
streets during curfew hours, and so on. The results were often so
striking that the documents were indistinguishable from the genuine
article.
Traffic with England
We had progressed this far with the construction of the domestic
network when a telephone message arrived from FRED (Tijdgat),
asking me to come to Groningen immediately in connection with a
matter of the utmost importance.
It emerged that an espionage group in Delfzijl - which later
proved to be under the leadership of ZWAANTJE (Dr Oosterhuis)
- and which maintained intensive contact with England via Sweden,
had received a transmitting and receiving set from England.
This equipment was fitted, among other things, with four crystals
(a day crystal with offset frequency and a night crystal, also with
offset frequency; the day wavelength was approximately 47 metres
and the night wavelength approximately 85 metres).
Up to that point, this espionage group - which later turned out
to be part of the large espionage network in the Netherlands and
Belgium under the leadership of RIENUS (van der Meerschen from Gent)
- had made exclusive use of several small coastal vessels sailing
from Delfzijl to Sweden. A trusted contact in Sweden ensured that
the documents arriving there were forwarded to England by air.
The group led by ZWAANTJE apparently lacked a collaborator
capable of operating the transmitting and receiving installation
and had therefore included a teacher from the nautical college in
their group. This man, using the alias PRINS (Koning), was
nevertheless unable to establish contact with England, despite having
made attempts for almost a week, both by day and by night, from his
home in Delfzijl.
In desperation, he had asked our radio amateur Dirk Rustema from
Middelstum - our JOOP - for advice. In his capacity as liaison
officer (VBO) of the O.D., JOOP informed FRED of the matter,
who considered it so important that he involved me immediately.
FRED and I then paid a visit to PRINS. During this meeting we
pointed out to him the great importance of such a radio connection,
also for our organisation, the O.D., and promised him the full
cooperation of the radio leadership group. As PRINS believed that
the power of the transmitter was insufficient, I promised to discuss
the matter with KAREL, so that a new transmitter of somewhat greater
power could be built as a matter of urgency, and declared our
willingness to help establish the connection.
Already on this occasion I emphatically warned PRINS of the great
danger he ran by transmitting continuously from one fixed address
in Delfzijl. Although I did not consider the Gestapo's
direction-finding capabilities particularly strong, discovery was
bound to follow in the long run with such a method. Sadly, later
events proved me right.
The operating plan belonging to the transmitter
- known as "de Soto" - as well as the code, were also in PRINS's
possession.
In order to investigate whether both the sea route to England via
Sweden and the future radio connection with England, together
with the received equipment, were entirely safe and not a German
provocation, I proposed to PRINS that a short note be sent to
England via Sweden, requesting confirmation from the Dutch authorities
in London. Upon confirmation, Radio Oranje was to broadcast the slogan:
"Geen knollen voor citroenen" ("No turnips for lemons").
PRINS agreed to this proposal, and the letter was prepared and
dispatched.
From that moment on, Radio Oranje was monitored with great interest,
both by Groningen and by myself. It is understandable that I was
somewhat moved when, after ten days, Radio Oranje announced:
"Here is an important message - Geen knollen voor citroenen."
This message was repeated on three consecutive days.
This broadcast confirmed the reliability of the transmitter and its
associated code, as well as the sea route from Delfzijl to Sweden,
while it was established that it took approximately ten days for
documents to travel from Delfzijl to England.
The Chief of Staff - who until then had only had access to the
long route via Switzerland - made grateful and frequent use of this
sea route. Many negatives were sent by boat, including Code 101
of the O.D. In the final months before my arrest,
the Chief of Staff made use of this code for transmitting
important messages.
Persons whom the Government in London wished to receive, or who
for personal safety reasons had to leave the Netherlands, were
also smuggled from Delfzijl to Sweden aboard these coastal vessels.
Despite the presence of German naval guards - who not only thoroughly
searched each ship before departure, but also remained aboard until
Swedish territorial waters were reached - these men succeeded, for
months on end, in carrying out their dangerous yet vitally important
work. They rendered outstanding service to our Fatherland.
While imprisoned in Lüttringhausen, I became acquainted with two
captains from this coastal trade: Wester and Roossien, both from
Delfzijl. They too had been sentenced to death, yet were spared
for incomprehensible reasons. They were young but courageous men,
for whom I developed great respect. Now that we have all been
liberated from the German hell, I hope to meet them often again;
they are men to be proud of.
|
|
