The residents of Reuver on the west side of Pastoor Vranckenlaan had to leave their homes at that time and were relocated to the east side of the Rijksweg. The Teeuwen factory served as a shelter for these people. They stayed in large, brick factory ovens, which provided protection against artillery attacks due to their thick walls. 

In November 1944, the Allies reached the west bank of the Meuse, including Kessel. They continuously targeted the east bank (which included Beesel and Reuver) with artillery fire because that’s where the Germans were positioned.

One of Teeuwen’s ovens provided shelter for several families, totaling around 30 people. The priests and nuns, who were forced to leave the monastery, were also accommodated in ovens 8 and 10. 

After the bombardement of Rotterdam a group of Rotterdam orphaned children cared for by the nuns stayed in oven 1. Daily well-attended holy masses were also held in the ovens. 

Due to the danger posed by shelling and artillery fire, it was too risky to transport the sick and wounded to the hospital in Tegelen. Therefore, an emergency infirmary was set up in the factory, with medical care provided by the nuns from the monastery. On Teeuwen’s factory grounds, known as “het Lager” in Reuver, an emergency cemetery was established. The regular cemetery was off-limits due to the risk of shelling. Several deceased individuals were buried here during the final months of the war.

In late November 1944, when the male population was compelled to work for the Germans, many defied this order. The Germans conducted raids to apprehend these men. To evade capture, some went into hiding, including in the smoke channels that led from the ovens to the factory chimneys.