Labor Camp "'t Wijde Veld"

In March 1935, a labor camp was opened on the edge of the Ginkel Heath for youthful unemployed. The labor camp, 't Wijde Veld, had six barracks. The residents worked on road maintenance and the construction of bicycle paths for the Heidemaatschappij.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the camp was abandoned, but in March 1944 it was reoccupied by 109 evacuees (18 families) from Stavenisse. Their island of Tholen had been flooded by the German occupiers. A small Zealand community was formed where the men worked for the Heidemaatschappij and there was a school for the children.

With the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, the liberation of Europe began. After fierce fighting in the summer, most of France and Belgium were liberated at lightning speed in early September. On Sunday, September 17, 1944, Operation Market Garden began. The Allies wanted to enter Germany from the Belgian border through the middle of the Netherlands. As part of this grand plan, the bridges over the Rhine at Arnhem were to be captured by British airborne units. This part of the operation became known as the Battle of Arnhem.

The Zeelanders saw British paratroopers near Renkum and British gliders land near Wolfheze that Sunday afternoon. A Scottish unit, which had landed with gliders, had to occupy the Ginkel Heath. This was intended as a drop zone for the 4th Parachute Brigade who would arrive the next day. The Scots occupied the moor and also the work camp where they found the civilians.

During the night, units of the SS Wachbataillon 3 (about 750 men, mostly Dutch soldiers in German military service) made frantic attempts to capture the moor. The next morning they approached the Scots' positions at the eastern edge of the woods and the work camp. A firefight ensued with shots being fired right through the barracks. Seven Scots were killed in the fighting and six were wounded. Two Zeeland citizens were also killed, another was seriously wounded. Twenty-three soldiers were made prisoners of war and taken to Ede. The Zeeland residents were also sent to Ede by the Germans.

In the afternoon of September 18 the 4th Parachute Brigade, almost 1900 men, landed on the Ginkelse Heath. They were received with heavy German anti-aircraft fire. About 300 British soldiers were killed, wounded, missing or made prisoners of war.