The Netherlands

Local historical association in Grebberberg-Wageningen, the Netherlands. They supported the development of the Grebberberg-Wageningen route

Stichting de Greb

Grebberberg hiking route

Trenches ran directly through the front part of the park, and the building of the former animal feed factory on the grounds was requisitioned. Originally used as a warehouse, it was now repurposed to prepare meals for the thousands of soldiers stationed around the park. Additionally, military horses were stabled there.In the eight years since its opening, the park had grown into a full-fledged zoo, home to all the major animal species, preferably in large numbers. However, the presence of so many predators was considered a life-threatening risk by the Dutch military leadership. In the event of a German attack, the animal enclosures would likely be hit by shelling, and the risk of the animals escaping was too great. Therefore, they had to be preemptively euthanized.With a heavy heart, director Cornelis Ouwehand himself carried out the order. He preferred to euthanize the animals himself rather than have the military do it. The only exceptions were the polar bears—a mother with her two cubs—whom he managed to save. In his book Fatherland Speaks to the Youth, published after the war, Cor Ouwehand wrote:"Amid the roar of German planes still flying overhead, accompanied by the thunderous anti-aircraft fire, I make the heavy journey past the predator enclosures, controlling my nerves as best I can to avoid causing the animals unnecessary suffering. One by one, my lions, tigers, and bears fall..."Major Landzaat and the PavilionOn May 10, 1940, Ouwehand and his staff were ordered to evacuate the park. The bunker beneath the residential house was requisitioned by the local military commander. The intense battles in the days that followed resulted in most of the zoo being destroyed, despite the brave efforts of Major Willem Pieter Landzaat (1892–1940), commander of the 1st Battalion of the 8th Infantry Regiment. During the Battle of the Grebbeberg, he and his men defended the last defensive point: the so-called "pavilion" at the entrance of Ouwehands Dierenpark. Under heavy fire, he held his ground, even as the situation became hopeless. Ultimately, he was fatally struck while continuing to issue orders until the very end.After the surrender, Ouwehand began rebuilding his park. It reopened in 1942, but when the Allied forces approached in 1944, German soldiers wanted to shoot the newly acquired predators and slaughter the other animals for food. To save as many animals as possible, the keepers moved them in a caravan from Rhenen to Veenendaal. By the end of the war, a significant number of animals had survived the battles, allowing Ouwehand to rebuild his park for the third time.The widow of Major Willem Pieter Landzaat later had a small white house built on the site in his memory. This house still stands today. Major Landzaat was posthumously awarded for his bravery and self-sacrifice. He is buried at the Military Cemetery of Honor Grebbeberg.

Zoo Ouwehands during the may days

The mobilization period in 1939–1940 did offer an opportunity to improve training standards, but those eight months were primarily spent on constructing defenses rather than on exercises, physical preparation, or mental readiness for a potential war. Additionally, the military failed to realistically simulate modern warfare during the few and inadequate training exercises that did take place.Poorly EquippedAnother issue was that neutrality in the pre-war period forced military leadership to avoid publicly acknowledging the German threat, which led many soldiers to deny the danger entirely. Thus, when the German army crossed the Dutch border on May 10, 1940, the shock was immense. Dutch soldiers found themselves fighting in a war for which their army was woefully unprepared. Nevertheless, the soldiers at the Grebbeberg would offer more resistance to the German forces than their intelligence services had anticipated.Der Teufelsberg (The Devil’s Mountain)The Germans had planned to reach Rhenen from the German border via the Grebbeberg in one day. In reality, it took them four days. This significant delay was a remarkable achievement by the Dutch field army. The Germans spoke of the Berg with awe, and after the battle, the occupying forces gave it the nickname "Der Teufelsberg" (The Devil’s Mountain)—a covert tribute to the Dutch soldiers who defended the Grebbeberg against an overwhelming enemy.Fighting at the Stop LineHere, between Heimersteinselaan and the N225 provincial road, two sections—70 to 80 soldiers (from 2-III-8 R.I.)—were stationed under the command of Lieutenant Van den Boom on May 13. He wrote vividly about the battles at the stop line, battles for which the Dutch soldiers were so poorly prepared. A quote from his account:"I also receive cries for help from the 1st section through Sergeant Landman and Sergeant Spijker. I send them back. Then Ensign van der Stam (from the 2nd section) arrives with the message that Sergeant Muetstege has been killed... but moments later, Muetstege himself appears. From his helmet down to his boots, he is covered in blood, and a set of teeth lies on his shoulder. A 3.7 cm shell had struck the machine gun nest of his group, taking the gunner’s head with it. Muetstege changes his clothes. Meanwhile, the helper has taken the machine gun and is preparing to fire from a position a few meters away behind the parapet. But before he can fire, his jaw is shattered. He still manages to reach the group’s first aid post on foot."Retreat as the Only OptionThe battle in this part of the stop line became increasingly hopeless. Ammunition supplies stagnated, artillery support could not be requested due to broken communications, and even their own mortars—located about 50 meters behind both sections—had fallen silent for various reasons. Continuing the fight was pointless; retreat was the only option. Lieutenant Van den Boom did not escape the German enemy during the withdrawal. He was captured and taken to Germany as a prisoner of war.

Poorly equipped and hardly prepared

Due to the foreground in front of the Grebbeberg being too high to flood, outposts were established there—a limited number of soldiers positioned in the flat land between Wageningen and the Grebbeberg, about 1.5 to 2 kilometers ahead of the front line. The outposts, consisting of over 500 soldiers, were intended to absorb the initial impact of the German attack. However, they were quickly overrun when the enemy arrived.The front line was designed to conduct a stubborn defense to halt the enemy advance definitively. It was formed by the Hoornwerk, an ancient defensive structure at the foot of the Grebbeberg, the Grift River, and the eastern edge of the Grebbeberg.The stop line, which ran across the mountain west of the cemetery and had a relatively weak occupation, would only be activated if small groups of German soldiers broke through the front line. The task of the soldiers in the stop line was to drive the German enemy back off the Berg.The Absence of Connecting TrenchesA weak point in the defense setup on the Grebbeberg was the lack of connecting trenches between the stop line and the front line. As a result, the supply of reserve troops, ammunition, and food had to take place above ground, exposing them to significant danger. The same applied to the evacuation of the wounded.Additionally, connecting trenches would have played a crucial role in communication, relaying orders and information—a role that became even more important when telephone lines were completely destroyed by the continuous artillery bombardments.A critical task for the connecting trenches would have been in the event of an enemy breakthrough of the front line. By connecting the stop line to the front line with a connecting trench every 200 meters, a block pattern would have been created: each block consisting of a section of the stop line, a section of the front line, and two connecting trenches.If the enemy broke through the front line anywhere, they could have been contained within one or two blocks. The advantage would have been that Dutch soldiers could have engaged the enemy not only from the stop line but also from the connecting trenches. The enemy, attacked from three sides, would have faced extreme difficulty and might have been forced to retreat.However, this never happened. The absence of connecting trenches deprived the Dutch army of the ability to contain the German enemy after a breakthrough in the front line and gave the German troops the opportunity to spread freely across the Berg after such a breakthrough.On 12 May, Major Jacometti launched the first counterattack from the stop line with about 35 men and two malfunctioning machine guns to drive the enemy off the Berg. The group stood no chance against the overwhelming German forces. During this counterattack, the major was killed, along with a significant number of the soldiers he led. In the afternoon of 13 May, the stop line collapsed under the pressure of the enemy attack, marking the definitive loss of the Battle of the Grebbeberg for the Netherlands.

In the trench

The Advisory Office for Archaeology and Cultural History (in Dutch: RAAP) used a metal detector to examine these trees and found that iron and copper fragments had deeply penetrated the wood up to human height. These remnants can be traced back to the intense German rifle and artillery fire directed at this sector. Even now, it seems as though the trees are bleeding from the holes that were struck into their bark at the time.Just north of the beech trees, you can see a shallow pit. During the May Days of 1940, an old cannon, known as the "6-veld", was positioned there. From a casemate made of wood and earth, this cannon could fire across the forward stop line to cover the Heimersteinse Laan. Approximately 200 6-veld cannons were introduced into the Dutch army starting in 1894. In 1939–1940, due to a lack of better options, they were added to the defense as anti-tank guns, a role for which they were actually unsuitable.For the men operating the 6-veld cannon here, the war ended disastrously. The section commander, Cornet Mignot, was shot dead by the Germans during the retreat in the afternoon of May 13, as were the gunners Hengeveld and Hoefsmid. The third gunner, Van Grinsven, was shot in the leg, and only the piece commander, Van Rhijn, emerged from the battle unscathed.) used a metal detector to examine these trees and found that iron and copper fragments had deeply penetrated the wood up to human height. These remnants can be traced back to the intense German rifle and artillery fire directed at this sector. Even now, it seems as though the trees are bleeding from the holes that were struck into their bark at the time.

Bleeding trees

On 11 May, the Battle of the Grebbeberg began with an intensifying artillery barrage. Dutch soldiers in the outposts—the first line of defense in front of the Grebbeberg—were severely hindered by limited fields of fire and failed communications. Despite their stubborn resistance, by the late afternoon, the outpost zone was entirely in German hands.Breaking Through the Front Line at the HoornwerkOn 12 May, the SS launched an attack on the Grebbeberg itself. Around noon, they broke through the front line at the Hoornwerk, an ancient defensive structure at the foot of the Grebbeberg. From there, they advanced uphill, attacking the Dutch positions from the rear at the eastern edge of the Berg. In the afternoon and evening, several Dutch counterattacks were launched from the stop line—the last defensive line on the Grebbeberg—with hastily deployed reserve troops playing a role. However, due to the chaos and the overwhelming German forces, these counterattacks stood no chance.Exhausted and HungryOn 13 May, the military leadership made its final attempt to hold the Grebbeberg. Four battalions, originating from the Land van Maas en Waal and the area around Woudenberg, had been directed toward the Grebbeberg during the previous night. From the Achterberg area, they were to march to the stop line, fight their way to the Grift, and reoccupy the front line.Exhausted and hungry, the men set out around 7:00 AM, unfamiliar with the terrain, the barbed wire obstacles, and the minefields. They lacked staff maps, had not been issued hand grenades, and could not rely on artillery support due to the lack of communications. As they advanced, they faced increasing German artillery fire and were also hindered by Dutch machine guns that, unaware of the counterattack, mistook the Dutch soldiers for Germans.The Final BlowGerman resistance grew, and by 12:00 PM, the Dutch advance stalled. An hour later, the final blow came: 27 Stuka dive bombers descended almost vertically from the sky, dropping heavy bombs and strafing the Dutch attack area with their onboard weapons. This marked the definitive end of the counterattack, resulting in a chaotic retreat.After the failed counterattack, the stop line on the Grebbeberg came under increasing pressure. More and more gaps appeared in this last line of defense, which ceased to exist by the afternoon of May 13. When the German army marched into the partially destroyed Rhenen, it was clear that the Grebbeberg—and with it, the Grebbe Line—had fallen.During this battle, over 420 Dutch and more than 165 German military personnel lost their lives.

The Battle of the Grebbeberg: 11–13 May 1940

This was precisely the fate of G-18. While the dome casemate could have been equipped with a rotatable dome, this option came with a higher price tag. As a result, the cheaper, fixed variant was chosen.After the battle at Grebbeberg, this casemate—like almost all other G-casemates—was blown up by the Germans so they could reuse the recovered cast steel in their own war industry. The imprint of the dome is still clearly visible in the remaining concrete of G-18.In the Grebbe Line, there were 144 G-casemates, with 30 of them located around the Grebbeberg, from the Rhine to Achterberg. If you’d like to see an intact G-casemate, you can visit Fort Vechten or Fort Everdingen.

Casemate G-18: cast steel for the war industry

There are different types of casemates, such as S-casemates, G-casemates, B-casemates, and Pag-casemates.In total, nearly 300 casemates were built in the Grebbe Line, with the vast majority constructed between 1939 and 1940.The S-casemate is also known as the "porcupine," which explains its type designation "S." The comparison to a porcupine comes from the iron wire ends protruding from the concrete, intended for attaching camouflage material. All casemates on the Grebbeberg have a number and type designation—this one is S-17.Normally, this casemate would have housed one heavy machine gun, but for unclear reasons, during the May Days of 1940, two machine guns were placed in S-17. Originally, the Grebbe Line was intended as a forward defense for the New Dutch Water Line. This explains the relatively light construction of many casemates in the Grebbe Line. Walls of 80 centimeters of concrete, like those of S-17, do not meet the minimum requirements for a casemate and are certainly not resistant to the average German shell.When, in February 1940, the change in high command took place—General Reynders was replaced by General Winkelman—and the Grebbe Line was designated as the main defense, plans were made to build heavier casemates between the Grebbeberg and the IJsselmeer. However, these plans never progressed beyond the drawing board.Casemate S-17 was built in November 1939. On 12 May 1940, the crew of this casemate had a clear view of a group of SS soldiers who, from the vicinity of Kruiponder Farm, managed to reach the other side of the Grift. The heavy machine guns of S-17 were able to prevent further German advancement there.Increasingly, the occupants of S-17 heard bullets striking the back of the casemate. At first, the soldiers thought it was friendly fire. But when it became clear that the enemy was approaching from the rear, the situation became hopeless. "Turning our machine guns around was not possible, and the single rifleman and carbine shooter stationed against the parapet was powerless against them."Ultimately, surrender was inevitable, and the white flag was raised. Shortly afterward, the crew of S-17 marched with their hands raised toward their captivity.

Casemate S-17, the Porcupine

The exhibition is not limited to the battle at Grebbeberg—it also tells the stories of victims who fought in May 1940 above South Holland, at the Peel-Raam Line, at Ockenburg Airfield, and on the IJsselmeer. The exhibition also pays some attention to 320 Squadron, particularly through the story of Felix Bloemgarten, a Jewish man who managed to escape the Netherlands in 1941. After many travels, he ended up in England, joining the Dutch squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF). In 1944, at the age of 24, he lost his life when his plane was shot down above Dreux, about 70 kilometers west of Paris. Felix Bloemgarten is also buried at Grebbeberg.

 Visitor center Cemetery of Honor - the May Days of 1940

Als im September 1944 der Vormarsch der Alliierten am Rhein zum Stillstand kam, lag Rhenen in der Frontlinie. Die Stadt wurde von den Alliierten schwer beschossen, daher mussten im Oktober die meisten Bewohner ihre Häuser verlassen. Einige Menschen durften die im Zoo "Ouwehands Dierenpark" zurückgelassenen Tiere versorgen. Im November erschossen die Deutschen alle Raubtiere, weil sie Angst hatten, dass diese sich befreien könnten.Am 16. Februar 1945 musste der Tierpark geräumt werden. Am folgenden Tag zog ein bunter Umzug nach Veenendaal. Unterwegs entwischten verschiedene Tiere. In Veenendaal wurden alle in der "Panter"-Zigarrenfabrik untergebracht. Die zurückgebliebenen Elefanten und das Nilpferd wurden von den Deutschen erschossen. Von Veenendaal zog man im Februar nach Doorn, wo die übrigen Tiere bis Mai 1945 unterkamen. Erst im Juni 1945 konnten die Bewohner des schwer getroffenen Rhenen in ihre Häuser zurückkehren. Fast alle leerstehenden Häuser waren geplündert worden. Ein großer Teil der südlichen Innenstadt lag in Schutt und Asche, darunter die Bahnbrücke über den Rhein und die Cunera-Kirche, das Symbol der Stadt.

Tierpark geräumt!

Immediately after the Netherlands surrendered, a cemetery was laid out at the battle site for both Dutch and German military personnel who died during the Battle of the Grebbeberg.

Following the war, the remains of German soldiers were relocated to the German War Cemetery in Ysselsteyn (Limburg). Since 1946, the remains of Dutch war casualties have been reinterred regularly at Grebbeberg Military War Cemetery. This resting place also includes soldiers who died elsewhere in the Netherlands during the invasion in May 1940 and had originally been buried in family graves. Today, there are over 850 military graves in the cemetery.

There is a permanent exhibition at the cemetery’s information centre, ‘We have never spoken about it’. The exhibition affords special attention to three Dutch soldiers: Corporal J.A. Vermeer and Private D.J. Heinen, who both died on 12 May 1940 and are buried in the cemetery, and Lieutenant N.W. Lingen, a veteran who survived the battle.

The Grebbeberg played an important role in defending the Netherlands from German forces. It was part of the defensive position taken up in the ‘Valleistelling’ (Valley Strongpoint), better known as the Grebbe Line.