大象传媒

Friends of the family had kept an illegal radio in their house, under the upstairs floorboards. It was used sparingly to avoid its location being discovered.
We had heard about D - Day on the 6th June. I remember that word was whispered to people as they passed by the house. Gradually, we heard about the Allies' progress, especially Arnhem. Later, we were told that if anyone met an allied soldier wearing a red beret, we were to shake them by the hand. Near the end of the war, they had to take great care of the radio's use. You could not afford to trust anyone. If the SS had found it, you would, at least, have been sent to Germany, more likely shot.
On the Saturday evening, the 14th, the bells in the Oldehove, a well known tower in the town, rang. This was an underground signal for people to stay indoors because some sort of military action was going to take place locally.
About 8.00 p.m, the headquarters of the SS was deliberately set on fire. It had been an orphanage before the war. But now, with the SS watching, this fire destroyed their records. Aside from the buildings belonging to the Jews, this was, I believe, the only other building destroyed throughout the war.
When we awoke on the Sunday morning, it was cold and sunny. Mr. Swart, a friend of the family, told us that the Canadians were on their way from the south. We never realised, that throughout the war, he had been a member of the underground network.
Some German soldiers left on the railway, others stayed to be taken prisoner, glad that the war for them was over.
About 2.00 in the afternoon, we were allowed to go out. Everybody headed for the town centre of Leeuwarden where Canadian soldiers form the Manitoba Regiment met us, with their tanks and cars and weapons. They recieved a tremendous welcome.
We were so happy, that with their liberation, the war, for us, was over.

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