May-45 | Huize Elastiek

in a feverish atmosphere. Thus it happens in Zwaag that landwachters gun down four fine young men. Jan, on the other hand, finishes his secret work, a stately orange -W- with light bulbs.

2.5

A race of good news! Announcements: Hitler and Goebbels are dead!

The German and neo-fascist armies of one million men in Upper Italy and the Western part of Austria capitulate unconditionally. At night we receive the order of the day from Stalin: Berlin defeated, the remaining 120.000 soldiers of the garrison have surrendered.

3.5

The race goes on: Hamburg is declared an open city and surrenders.

Montgomery’s army has united itself, near Wismar, with the Russian army of Rokosopei. The sender Hamburg reports: Prague has been declared a “Lazarettstadt.” 500.000 soldiers in Northern and Middle Germany surrender. The food supplies in occupied Holland get replenished with the help of planes, ships and trucks.

4.5

Innsbrück and Salzburg surrender.

Kiel has been declared an open city and surrenders. The army of Montgomery crosses over into Denmark. The Americans march over the Brenner Pass and unite themselves with the 5th American army from Upper-Italy.

10 o’clock at night: Here is England, here is England, here is England:

The Germans in the Netherlands, Northwest Germany, Denmark, Helgoland, and the Wadden Islands have capitulated unconditionally. The shooting will stop on Saturday at 8 o'clock.

Oom Jan has interrupted the birthday celebration at Tante Trees Engwirda to receive this message personally, together with Mr. Hakewessel.

Indeed, the great moment, for which we have been waiting and craving for so long, has arrived:

THE NETHERLANDS IS FREE AGAIN!

5.5

The wine gets mixed with water in Bovenkarspel.

Oom Jan has received a special message of his district-commissioner that the surrender of weapons by the Germans is not totally complete yet. Oom Jan sends out the town crier to make the announcement, that the people should stay calm and refrain from demonstrations.

The former German Army continues to fall apart. Two German armies with 200-400,000 men surrender in Austria. Daladier, Reynand, Léon Blum, Weygand, Gauvelin, Schusching, and Niemöller have been set free. The former “Reichsjuristen-führer and General-Governor of Poland” Frank is captured in Bavaria, after he tried suicide by cutting his arteries.The Czechs in Prague are revolting.

Once again more innocent victims. The town-treasurer in Wervershoof, a father of 6 children, is shot down by the landwacht.

In the evening, we listen to a liberation broadcast of Radio-Orange from 8:15 to 8:45 PM. A dignified and moving tribute of this great historic moment. Prime-Minister Gerbrandy pays tribute to the freed country. Then Jan Kampen rises from the dead. As a seer, the dead as eyes, he opens

his heart and mouth once again. He sings his last song of the tragic sorrows of the tormented people, but he also sings of the determination, the victory and approaching rays of freedom. After this song everyone is remembered who can not behold this freedom, who will not return to us, who fell on the battlefield or by the hangman. The funeral march of marines in black uniforms with flutes and drums accompany the dead on their last great journey. Then roars the “WILHELMUS,“ joined by the deeply touched listeners.

In the late evening hours, Oom Jan has been called by the Germans to come to the parish hall. The Germans are not willing to surrender their weapons, but they give permission to fly the flags and have celebration gatherings.

6.5

Sunday: Jaap comes out of hiding.

He attends the early Mass at church, the first time in many months. A real Sunday atmosphere. A sea of flags. The “W“ made by Jan is hung above the front door and attracts a lot of attention. The crowds on the street are in a festive mood. Everyone carries large quantities of orange decorations. Groups of children parade in orange colored and dress-up clothing, singing their hearts out on the streets. The shop-windows are adorned with “Trouw“ and “Klaroen.” The members of the underground army appear in their blue overalls and black berets! A High Mass and solemn Benediction take place in the decorated parish church.

In the evening, Huize Elastiek gathers numerous friends for a suitable celebration of the liberation. Pre-war cigars, gin, and delicious cakes etc. Oom Jan is called by the Commandant of the Germans. They will leave tonight yet. Then too Bovenkarspel will be truly free. While the Germans usually steal and plunder, they now have a present for Oom Jan, namely a horse, apparently in appreciation of his widely recognized chivalrous behavior. (But the ones who believe that Oom Jan will make good use of his gift by daily horse-back rides to city hall and Broekerhaven, do not know his unselfishness. He donates the horse to the miller, whose horse had been confiscated by the Germans.)

After Oom Jan returns from his last visit with the Germans, he celebrates the liberation with an enthusiastic speech and thanks especially the members of the underground movement for their excellent work. The Pastor talks about the much beloved personalities of Tante Jo and Oom Jan, about Oom Jan’s activities on behalf of the general well being of the municipality. Deputy Mayor Braakman and Herman Willebrands conclude the row of orators. Twice an enthusiastic crowd in the street calls Oom Jan outside to pay tribute to him and to applaud him. The last Germans pull out. Meanwhile it was 12:30 A.M already when our own “Commandant“ Hakewessel invted the guests to depart.

7.5

Large orange posters announce the liberation and warn the population to stay calm.

Oom Jan becomes the Deputy Mayor of Grootebroek and Lutjebroek. He opens his fourth office with these appointments.

THE WAR IN EUROPE IS AT END!

2:41 PM. In the headquarters of General Eisenhouwer, housed in a schoolbuilding in Reims, the German General-Oberst Jodel signs the capitulation of the whole German military forces on land, sea and in the air.

With this signing, also Norway and Czecho-Slovakia are freed.

Europe will have peace again. The German Nazi beast lays conquered on the ground!

The false prophet will not open his mouth again. The despotism of the inflated hollow words is gone. The monumental structure of lies has crumbled like a house of cards.

The death-dance of the German nation, that in its overpowering majority has blindfolded and deaf followed its “mis-leader“ with oppression, blood, murder, cruelties, tortures and destructions, has ended in fire and ruins. The German culture has disappeared under blood and debris.

8.5

However: The sun shines again on Bovenkarspel and sparkles in the blue sky.

Her brightness gilds the colored bustle on the streets. Red-white-blue and orange colored pennants flutter cheerfully in the air. People, cheers, music. singing, Wilhelmus!

With joy and reverence, Bovenkarspel brings tribute and thanks to its protector, to its wise leader, to its father. Standing in front of the Municipal Clerk with modesty and honor, the glow of joy in his eyes, Mayor Elders stands in front of City Hall, the nobility of soul personified, and next to him his faithful helper, his partner for life. He give thanks with heartfelt words.

This living image will remain a symbol of “deepest gratitude and highest reverence indebted to Tante Jo and Oom Jan.” This diary ends thus far with the same words with which it began. These words characterize, not only the beginning and end, but also the whole period in between and

the time that still will be given to us here on earth.

It will not be long before the residents of Huize Elastiek, one after the other, will find his and her way from Elders to elsewhere. Huize Elastiek shrinks back. But this significance of the house takes into account only its external appearance. That is insufficient and must supplemented. Each home has also an internal life. And this internal life is called, as almost every daily notation in this diary testifies: love of one’s fellowmen. It is the home of unfaltering and continually renewing love. It has its origin in the hearts of Oom Jan and Tante Jo. From there she flows, as a source of warmth, in the hearts of her fellowmen, brings them council and genuine help and fulfills them with never ending gratitude. In a short while, the “evacuees from Limburg” will also leave this home of boundless love. After an unexpectedly long stay, they bid farewell to Tante Jo and Oom Jan, who have treated them always, from their first to their last day, with the same attentiveness, kindness and friendliness and they have opened their hearts to them. In a time of mental agony, of hunger and cold, they have found with them support and a hospitable warm home, a peaceful quiet haven. They leave as their debtors for their whole lives.

God bless house Elders!

Bovenkarspel, 27 Mei 1945

Gerard Faessen †

Dr. Georg Fröhlich Willy Elders

Apr-45