From the moment I started the research for the film and book on the Dutch SS Wachtbataljon at Amersfoort, new stories came to my attention. One of these stories is about Dutchman Herman Struik, born in my hometown Rijssen. He joined the Waffen SS in 1940. Some say he served in Norway and in Russia. In 1943 he changed sides and became one of the leading members of the Dutch resistance in the area around Utrecht in the middle of Holland. In 1944 he was killed by the German Secret Police. After the war a monument was revealed for the Dutch resistance group, but the name Struik is missing. I'm trying to find some information on Herman Struik. First of all, it's a remarkable story and second it shows the Dutch way of thinking about the war. I'm trying to reconstruct the life of Struik. Can anybody help me with information ?
Regrards,
Herman Rolleman
Dutch Freiwilliger Herman Struik
Moderator: Tom Houlihan
Re: Dutch Freiwilliger Herman Struik
Just the other day, I recieved som specifics on Struik. He joined the Waffen SS in 1942 and served in Norway and in Russia. Must be the Wiking Division.
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Re: Dutch Freiwilliger Herman Struik
Wiking was never in Norway. Must have been "SS Kampfgruppe Nord" (later "SS-Gebirgs-div. Nord"). They were deployed in Kirkenes before Barbarossa.
Cheers, Mads
Cheers, Mads
Re: Dutch Freiwilliger Herman Struik
Thanks Mads ! I'll ask mr. Perry Pierik for further information. He studied the Dutch Freiwilliger in the Leningrad siege.
Herman
Herman
Re: Dutch Freiwilliger Herman Struik
A remarkable coincidence occurred ! It seems that Struik joined the Germaansche SS in the Netherlands. He served in Amersfoort, just see my other post ! He was reassigned to the Narva front in Russia. After he broke through the Sovietlines, he recieved the Iron Cross for bravery. In 1944 he was send to Kroatia.