[TVARC] History of Holland’s Liberation

[Rich Erlichman]

Hi Pim,

Thanks very very much for sharing that story with us. I happen to be a member of the WWII history club, and have for many years been fascinated with learning and studying as much as possible about the war. Not only would I be especially interested in hearing more, but I wouldn't be surprised if the WWII History Club would love to have you as a speaker and share your stories with them.
I would be glad to give you the contact information for the club if you wish.

73, Rich, ND4G 

-----Original Message-----
From: tvarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:tvarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of William De Miranda
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2019 1:25 PM
To: tvarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TVARC] History of Holland’s Liberation

Dear TVARC members,
I am very interested in the upcoming DX Ops with the Netherlands, to commemorate its liberation in WWII.
Some of you know, that I grew up in the Netherlands (Holland). What you may not know, is that I witnessed a number of these events as a 10 year old boy, growing upon the city of Eindhoven, during the German occupation. 
When Montgomery started to execute the ill-fated operation Market Garden (better known as “A Bridge Too Far” from the well-known movie of that name), on September 17, 1944, Eindhoven was the first major city in Holland to be liberated. It is located only about 20 miles from the Belgian border. Market Garden designated British and Canadian ground forces to push north into Eindhoven from Belgium, while the US 101st Airborne dropped its paratroopers a couple of miles just north of Eindhoven, in order to secure several canal bridges there. I watched as the skies over Eindhoven filled with hundreds of C-47s pulling gliders. After that I witnessed thousands of parachutes literally fill the whole sky. On the 18th the British and American troops met in the center of Eindhoven. I was there to admire tired and dusty GIs as they were resting against the doorways and on the curbs, eating their rations and drinking from their canteens. While the population cheered, I was one of those skinny kids from other movies,  begging for “cigarettes for papa, and chocolate for mama”.
The British parked their tanks, halftracks, trucks, and other vehicles in driveways, alleyways, streets and parks, wherever they could find a place for them. Meanwhile the Germans, who still held an airfield several miles outside town, assembled a fleet of 76 bombers, and on the evening of the 19th indiscriminately bombed our town, hoping to wipe out as many of the British vehicles as possible. We were literally dancing in the street in front of our house, when the first three bombers came low over the rooftops. The first bombs exploded only one block away, and everyone ran for shelter. I spent the forty minute raid in a corner on the stairway of our neighbor with about 10 other people. That night I thought for sure I was going to die, as the bombs continued to whistle down and explode all around us. The next morning I was surprised to see that most of the city was still standing, but a house across the street went up in flames, and another one down the row had it’s roof blown off. More than 200 people died in that air raid, mostly civilians.
Some 10 years ago, while I was visiting Holland, I made a pilgrimage to Normandy, and visited all the places the allies landed and fought.
If anyone would like to hear more of my occupation and war stories, just contact me by email.
I have had many SSB Phone QSOs with Holland in the past years, but it will be a challenge now with the current propagation and my limited antennas. But I will surely try.
Pim Miranda

Sent from my iPad
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