Ambushing An SS Monster - Himmler's Henchman in Holland

In March 1945, resistance members in German-occupied Netherlands accidentally ambushed and badly wounded one of the most powerful men in the Nazi occupation regime, SS General Hanns Rauter, who was responsible for terrorising the Dutch population for years. The attack would have terrible consequences for the Dutch people. Find out the full story here...

Help support my channels:

Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.

Primary Sources:
- 'The Ambushing of SS-General Hanns Rauter', by Karel Margry, After The Battle No. 56, 1987

Credits: Collective Overijssel; Quickload; The Full 9; DKamm; Grzegorz Pictrzak

[hankgs]

My Uncle was a Dutch Resistance operator who was "turned in" by a Dutch NSB'er Dentist in A'dam. He was in a interogation prison in Amsterdam and escaped out a barred window to Ijmuiden (Port City on North Sea). He and another Dutch Underground member got into a rowboat and were eventually picked up by a British Navy patrol boat and interogated. He was then sent BACK to Holland via parachute for a specific mission, then picked up off the coast of Holland and debriefed by the British. He was then sent to RAF Spitfire training and became a pilot for the 322nd RAF Dutch Spitfire Squadron. He was shot down and killed over Holland 3 weeks before the end of the war in April 1945.

[S.D._Amersfoort]

Being Dutch, I want to thank you for doing an item on this monster Hanns Albin Rauter or, as one Dutch historian named him, "the Vulture from the Alps"!

[jimomaha]

For many years one of the victims shot at the Woeste Hoeve was unidentified. A Dutch journalsit found out that this unknown person was a Polish pilot, Czesław Oberdak, Flying Officer of 306 Squadron. He was caught when trying to reach liberated Dutch area together with an other airman he met when hidden by the resistance. December 1944, both wearing civilian cloathing were regarded by the Germans as terrorists and locked up in a prison. Shot march 1945 and buried as a unknown Dutchman. His sister Ludmila kept looking for him many years after the war. She wrote a letter 1990 to a local newspaper when she learned her brother had crashlanded in that area. After the use of DNA it was possible to identify him. In 2008 His sister received his watch he was wearing. The shoes he wore, found in his grave, were rubber soled RAF issue for ground crew, rubber soled to prevent damage when walking on the wings of aircraft. These shoes were quite popular with pilots who at times wore them for flying duties. In December 2009 he was reburied in the family grave in Krakow with military honours in the presence of his siter Ludmila. 60 years after he had left Poland.

[briangraham]

Thirty five years ago I was on a Canadian hockey team playing at an international tournament in Hertogenbosch Holland. We had great fun while over there and the Dutch women we met were just wonderful. One such sweetheart wanted me to meet with her grandparents. Apparently they had survived the brutal treatment by the Nazis during the war and they never forgot the Canadian soldiers that liberated them. It was a wonderful experience and made me so proud not only of my country but of all the allies who served their countries. They were truly special.

[drewpooters]

Among the SS victims was a cousin of mine, Peter Pooters, who was with the CS-6 Resistance Group In Amsterdam. His sister Nel Pooters survived the war to tell me before she died in 2000 about life under the Nazis, their groups activities, and by that time I was a USAF Security Policeman. I was third in the family here to serve in the U.S. miltary, soon to have a daughter go the same way in miltary law enforcement. Thanks for this, Dr. Felton!

[will]

As a Canadian whose parents are Dutch I can't how much I appreciate your coverage of nazi atrocities in Holland during the war. My parents and grandparents well remember those times when one of my grandfathers was one of the 500 000 shipped to Germany. Only he escaped by jumping the train that was carrying to the slave labour factories in Germany. My mum remembers the day the Canadians liberated her town in Holland. It was early one morning when she, my grandparents, aunts and uncles were awakened by someone banging on their door. It was one of mum's yelling "The tommies are here!" That was a day my mum will never forget!

[davidcarr]

My uncle wrote many, many letters home to my mom. They range from training camps, on board train to dispersal camp, on board ship to England, from Sicily, and Italy. But the most heartfelt and, in some ways, most terrible were the letters from the Netherlands. A beautiful country destroyed, it's people defeated and subject to a horrible tyranny, starved, tortured, humiliated, and murdered. There was deep-seated hatred for the NAZI oppressors by the liberating Canadian troops for what they did, but no amount of care, food, medicine, or anything else needed by the Dutch population was spared and gladly shared by the Canadian liberators. The Canadians never forgot the welcome they received, and the Dutch never forgot the Canadians.
I will be there next year to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the liberation.

[kesterschipper]

Thank you for making this video. My great grandfather was one of the prisoners killed at the Woeste Hoeve as a result of the ambush on Rauter. He was a dentist and member of the resistance. It is really a tragedy that my grandfather and his two brothers had to grow up without their father because of these senseless reprisals. To honor him a street in Hoogeveen is named after him.

[timdebruijne]

Amazing, I'm Dutch, and have very good knowledge of WWII, but you caught me completely off guard with this story Mark. You keep pulling unique stories out of your bag! Big thanks for all your efforts.

[renelogtenberg]

I was born in that area. At "de Woeste Hoeve" there is an Inn. It was one of the first things I learned from my parents about WW2. Three years ago I had a coffee at the Inn with my wife. It is a peaceful place but I always remember that a monster was almost executed there and a lot of innocent people died instead. After the war he did not regret anything. Rauter was a demon.

[Nukubu]

Also one German victim, Oberwachtmeister der Ordnungspolizei Helmut Seijffards refused to execute 116 dutch hostages at the "De Woeste Hoeve" who had to die after the attemp to kill Hanns Albin Rauter. He was taken prisoner and was executed at the same spot as the 116 dutch hostages. He was burried with them in one grave.

[ILikeDoritos]

I love reading everyone's personal stories in the comments and especially hearing about stores people heard from their parents and grandparents. Passing down family oral traditions is one of humanity's most fascinating activities.

[nieuwegeljo]

As a Dutch, born after WWII, I thank you for your contribution to clearing up this part of history. As always your channel provides great insight on many issues regarding WWII.
A BIG THANK YOU FOR THAT!

[ronquiring]

Many thanks.
You have shed light on an area of not only my family history but my wife's family history as well. Our roots are buried deep in exactly that area of the Netherlands.
Your good work is much appreciated.

[AFCAUltra]

My grandfather who lived in Amsterdam North was arrested by German officers when he walked in the street minding he's business. Was deported to Köln and forced to work as a firemen together with Russian POW's and lived in a labor camp. He got sick with pleurisy and nearly did not survive. Luckily he lived to be 91 and died in 2014.

[step]

Reading some of these amazing comments left by people telling us about their brave, heroic relatives is so touching. Thank you for sharing what amount to family stories. What a great job you do Mark.

[paulgillard]

My dad was a young child in Holland at this time. In his later years I only learnt a small amount of what his family endured with the occupation and lack of food. He moved to NZ in the fifties. Thank you Mark for providing this information and keeping this history alive. I really appreciate your efforts.

[WaltANelsonPHD]

To hear him stridently defend himself! Thank you for posting that clip.

[HistoryHustle]

I prefer 'Netherlands' but I understand with Himmler and henchman in the title you say 'Holland'. Thanks for bringing attention to my country in WW2.

[justinvanstaden]

Wow. I am a South African but my mom was born in Rotterdam. My grandmother told me stories about WWII that will live with me forever. Amstelveen close to Amsterdam, my grandmother told me of her jewish neighbors taken away, never to be seen again. German soldiers demanding food, blankets, pots and pans. She saw an American bomber crash into the last house in the row of her street of houses aiming to crash in an open field missing, just short killing all in the house plus the crew. My great-grandfather was taken by the Germans and worked in a Nazi labour camp until the wars end. The Dutch went through so much and is not well documented. Thank you Mark! This video struck a chord with me!