House at Fliegerhorst Gilze-Rijen

"Men in striped clothing"
Maria (Mie) Ligtvoet-Maas lives with her husband Thomas (Tommes) in Molenschot, on the west side of Fliegerhorst Gilze-Rijen. Mie is a housewife and Tommes works at the leather factory Noord-Brabander in Rijen. Despite the immense wartime airfield next to their house, the couple’s life continues as usual.

When the airfield is bombed for the umpteenth time, the German guards and airfield personnel flee into the shelters. A few prisoners manage to escape. They crawl under the fence and run towards freedom. Mie is busy with housework when suddenly a few men appear at her door. In striped clothing! She quickly gives the men ordinary clothes; she burns the camp clothing. No one will ever know the men were at Mie’s house. Until suddenly there’s a knock at the door and German guards are standing outside...

This text has been translated using AI.