Vector: Liberation battle in Hoeven
During the liberation of the village of Hoeven there was heavy fighting and resistance resulting in civilian casualties.
By 29 October 1944, the American Timberwolves had advanced from the south to roughly where Rijksweg 58 (State Highway 58) is today. Nearby Sint Willebrord was liberated that day, and the Timberwolves' objective was to advance as quickly as possible to the River Mark. To get there, Hoeven and Oudenbosch had to be liberated first.
To reach Hoeven, the Timberwolves had to cross the area of De Heul. Halfway across, German troops had set up mobile artillery to delay the passage of the American forces. On 29 October, the area around De Heul was heavily shelled, resulting in a total of eight civilian casualties. There were also two more casualties that day on the Moleneind (Mill's End) when a shell hit their shelter. In his eyewitness account, C. van Meer describes what it was like in the shelter during the shelling:
"And then suddenly a huge bang …
By 29 October 1944, the American Timberwolves had advanced from the south to roughly where Rijksweg 58 (State Highway 58) is today. Nearby Sint Willebrord was liberated that day, and the Timberwolves' objective was to advance as quickly as possible to the River Mark. To get there, Hoeven and Oudenbosch had to be liberated first.
To reach Hoeven, the Timberwolves had to cross the area of De Heul. Halfway across, German troops had set up mobile artillery to delay the passage of the American forces. On 29 October, the area around De Heul was heavily shelled, resulting in a total of eight civilian casualties. There were also two more casualties that day on the Moleneind (Mill's End) when a shell hit their shelter. In his eyewitness account, C. van Meer describes what it was like in the shelter during the shelling:
"And then suddenly a huge bang and stones and wood falling. The house was hit. A piece of the wall at the front of the house was knocked away, and the debris fell into the living room. And against the basement door. And then panic broke out. There was shouting and screaming. The house could be on fire! Debris was falling loudly against the basement door, and someone shouted that we wouldn't be able to get out if more shells exploded in the house. Janus van de Riet shouted that we had to get out. He had built a shelter on his land behind the farm and he said we should run there. The door to the cellar was opened and in complete confusion we ran out through the kitchen. In a flash I saw that pieces of stone and lime had fallen into the pan of pudding. What you pay attention to at a time like that!"
It was not only German troops who caused civilian casualties; Martinus de Rooij was shot by the American forces because they thought he was a German soldier left behind.
There were no military casualties, and material damage was limited to the tower of the old church, which was blown up by the German forces, and the rectory of the new church, which was set on fire. Some houses were badly damaged.