C.F.J. Boers

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C.F.J Boers (October 24, 1889 The Hague- May 5, 1942) was a captain of the Royal Netherlands Army during World War II. During the Battle of The Afsluitdijk, he rallied his men to successfully push back the German attackers. This was one of the few victories of the Allied forces on the Western Front in 1940.

After the surrender of all Dutch forces on May 15, 1940, Boers joined the Dutch resistance. He was executed by the Germans in the concentration camp Oranienburg in 1942. [1] He was a professional officer, who was considered a natural born leader.[2] It was said that his men would follow him blindly into battle. Following the Dutch defeat in WWII, he joined an illegal orginizatoin called the OD (Orde Dienst). [3] Today there is a monument in memory of him on the Afsluitdijk.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ War over Holland - May 1940: the Dutch struggle
  2. ^ War over Holland - May 1940: the Dutch struggle
  3. ^ War over Holland - May 1940: the Dutch struggle

[edit] References

http://www.frieschdagblad.nl/index.asp?artID=24540 (Dutch)
http://www.strijdbewijs.nl/kornwerderzand/afsluitdijk.htm (Dutch)