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In May 1940, 'De Ginkel' was the scene of acts of war. Inn De Zuid-Ginkel played a sad role. Here were three hussars (soldiers on horseback or bicycle), shot after they had surrendered.
In the early morning of Friday 10 May 1940, the German army invaded the Netherlands. After German troops crossed the IJssel near Westervoort, they moved through Arnhem and Ede towards the Grebbeline, which is located west of Ede.
The 4th Regiment Huzaren (soldiers on horseback or on bicycles) had to slow the German advance between Arnhem and Ede, so there was time to bring the main defense in the Grebbeline in readiness. The regiment of hussars had to try to eventually retreat behind the Grebbeline with as few losses as possible, where they were redeployed.
Four motorized hussars formed the rearguard of the regiment. This group was under the command of cornet Graaf van Limburg Stirum. They had to protect the retreat of the regiment. They took positions on the upper floor of the Herberg Zuid-Ginkel.
Suddenly in the afternoon of Friday 10 May, a strongly armed motorized SS formation emerged from the woods in the direction of Arnhem on the Rijksweg 24 (now N224). It was a reconnaissance unit of the SS Regiment 'Der Führer'. Immediately the group of Dutch Hussars opened fire on the German troops with their light machine gun. They immediately turned around and disappeared into the woods.
After some time the cornet decided to retreat according to the order. But unexpectedly came German motorcyclists from the Wijde Veldweg along the sheepfold towards the inn. They had driven under the shelter of the row of trees along the sheep pasture to the sheepfold. The cornet himself opened fire with the light machine gun so that his men could get away. His ammunition ran out and he had to surrender. He went downstairs but at the front door he was shot without mercy. His men, Corporal Bonkerk and Hussar Dijkers, were shot in the same way at the side door.
The fourth man, hussar Kuperus, was hidden inside by innkeeper Kramer. Shortly thereafter the area around the inn came under Dutch artillery fire. The German troops withdrew in the direction of the Planken Wambuis. This gives Huzaar Kuperus the opportunity to escape. In civilian clothes and on a borrowed bicycle he managed to reach his own lines via the Kreelseweg.