Jan van Hoof

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Jan Jozef Lambert van Hoof

Born 7 August 1922
Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Died 19 September 1944
Nijmegen, the Netherlands;
Cause of death executed in the field by German military
Burial place Algemene begraafplaats Vredehof, Nijmegen
Nationality Dutch
Education Catholic University of Nijmegen
Occupation Student
Known for Operation Market Garden

Jan Jozef Lambert van Hoof (Nijmegen, 7 August 1922 - Nijmegen, 19 September 1944) was a member of the Dutch resistance and died during the Operation Market Garden.


Contents

[edit] Story of Jan van Hoof

Before the war he was a Rover Scout. But during World War II Scouting was forbidden in most occupied countries. All the Scouting organization would be integrated in the Nationale Jeugdstorm (NJS) the Dutch version of the Hitler Youth. But the Dutch Scouting organisations did not agree with the terms of the NJS and went underground and some even into resistance.

So did Jan van Hoof. During the occupation of the Netherlands by the Nazis he made observations and drawings of his environment. With the coming of the Allies during Operation Market Garden in September 1944 he used his expertise by guiding the Allies through the city of Nijmegen.

It was said that he disarmed the explosives that were attached to the Waal Bridge during the fighting, though no-one saw him do it. After this heroic deed he went home and told his sister 'the bridge is saved'; the he returned to the American unit and resumed guiding them through the city.

In these days Dutch resistance members wore distinguished clothing so they could be recognised as soldiers. The Germans however saw this as a provocation and didn't see them as soldiers but as traitors.

On the 19th of September van Hoof was again guiding American soldiers through the city, when Germans opened fire on the his vehicle. After the attack the Germans came to the scene which revealed the member of the Dutch resistance. The American soldiers were already dead, but van Hoof was still alive. They took his gun, identity papers and his armband which made him officially an allied soldier. He was beaten and then shot through the head.

[edit] Decorations

Because of his deeds he was posthumous awarded:

Former grave Jan van Hoof at the Roman Catholic burial site on the Daalseweg, Nijmegen
Former grave Jan van Hoof at the Roman Catholic burial site on the Daalseweg, Nijmegen

[edit] Monuments dedicated to Jan van Hoof

These monuments and graves are dedicated to Jan van Hoof.

(All Dutch)


[edit] See also

Scouting Portal

[edit] External Links

Persondata
NAME Hooft, Jan van
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION
DATE OF BIRTH 1922
PLACE OF BIRTH Nijmegen, The Netherlands
DATE OF DEATH 1944
PLACE OF DEATH Nijmegen, The Netherlands