TYPED MANUSCRIPT OF A WORLD WAR II ESCAPE ATTEMPT FROM HOLLAND

ZAAIJER, MARINUS

Published by Privately published, 1993., Crugers, New York, 1993

About this Item

First edition. 4to. Inked presentation inscription from the author and dated 12-3-93. Printed wraps. 81 (20) pgs including 3 appendix. Appendix I: Court Martial Papers (in German). Appendix II: Letters re-execution. Appendix III: Original German Text. Also included are photostate illustrations including one of the Concentration Camp Vught and a Map of the Nederland plus a Map of Dutch and English Coast Bordering the North Sea. The manuscript written after Zaaijer was released as a German prisoner of war begins with Zaaijer's attempted escape from the Netherlands and captured by the German navy. (P.13) "Among the goods which went overboard was the package with intelligence papers, the compass and the Dutch flag. When the ship came closer, we saw that it was a German navy corvette (a small destroyer). That was the type of ship normally used for the protection of convoys. The crew was standing at the railing on our side, and an officer on the bridge with a megaphone called, "Was machen Sie da?" (What are you doing here?). Our captain answered "We wanted to go to England but we have had engine trouble." "The officer on the after deck said. "You had bad luck". We knew that already. Furthermore he said, "You were stupid when you wanted to go to England because there is enough work in Germany." We considered that to be a typical German remark." (P.14) "The Germans searched us to see if we had any weapons. Some pocket knives and scissors were confiscated. Thereafter they brought us to the forward deck and told us to sit down in front of the bow cannon. This happened after there had been a difference of opinion between the officers about what they should do with us. The one who had "received" us on the after deck wanted to bring us forward. Another one who came down from the bridge, and was apparently the "party member" on board, said they should shoot us right away and throw us overboard. The captain ultimately gave the order to bring us forward. On both sides of the bow cannon a sailor was posted with a bayonet on his rifle to guard us." The manuscript continues with detailed descriptions of prison life, rations (pg. 16) "Then four successive times three slices of bread were pushed through it so fast that we barely had enough time to grab them. We were told to put the mugs on the hatch in a washbasin - they was part of the inventory- which we did. These were filled with brown liquid. The hatch was then closed. Though we did not get any butter or other spread that morning, the bread tasted great and was downed with the "tea" in a jiffy."and provisions." This was followed by being put into a detention house at the Weteringschans in Amsterdam. (pg. 17) "The cell we occupied was six feet wide and eight feet long. In the corner, to the right of the door, there was a corner cabinet, and to the left, a two piece wooden screen that kept the "ton" out of sight. Next to it stood a wooden seat to be used on the "ton". On one side of the corner closet hung a soap disk and on the other side was a nail which held pieces of paper for use with the "ton". Apart from a bed and a folding table, the furniture also included an armchair and a stool. The ceiling was arched and there was a window in the outer wall. This window was five feet high and four feet wide. There were four rows of panes in it, of which only the second from the top was transparent. The entire window was made out of iron and slanted a bit inward, which left a four inch gap at the top. That opening could be closed with a metal flap. There was also a piece of board on the wall with a set of rules for the prisoner written on it. It came down to the fact that he was not allowed to do anything and had to omit almost everything." Communication with other prisoners was done (pg. 19) "by talking with one's mouth close to the valves of the central heating system about the cell door." "With one of us listening at the door to make sure there was no one on the walkway near our cell, another one c. Seller Inventory # 44732

Bibliographic Details

Title: TYPED MANUSCRIPT OF A WORLD WAR II ESCAPE ...

Publisher: Privately published, 1993., Crugers, New York

Publication Date: 1993

Binding: Soft cover

Edition: First edition.