Photo's en film footage of German troops in Oisterwijk
Obergefreiter Franz Anton Kolb perished on October 26 1944 during the defence of Oisterwijk. His sanctuary card reads he was buried (by the British) on “the cemetery for heroes” St. Petrus in Oisterwijk. Remarkable choice of words!
Your Grave in Enemy territory far away
Is very Painful for us,
But take our Word for It:
Your Grave will not be abandoned.
For during the evening when the Bells are ringing,
Our loving Spirit will Travel there
And will Sprinkle you praying, Flowers of devotion
On your Heroes grave with a religious Spirit.
My Lord, Mercy!
Our Father... Ave Maria...
Kosel-Print, Kempten
Peace and Quiet
Our loving brother, brother in law and uncle
Franz Anton Kolb
Corporal in an Infantry-Regiment
holder of the Eastern Front Medal
born on May 30, 1915 in Obereiberg
fallen Oct. 26, 1944 at Oisterwijk/Holland
He rests on the German cemetery for Heroes
St. Petrus in Oisterwijk/Holland
German troops at Oisterwijk train station. It is presumed these troops were photographed during a short stop at Oisterwijk. The train followed the rail line to Tilburg from the direction of the town of Boxtel. (date unknown)
German officers visit Oisterwijk and the leather company.
Two Ostlegion soldiers pose for the camera. Ostlegion troop were eastern troops that were conscripts and volunteers from the occupied eastern territories recruited into the military of the Third Reich during the Second World War.
This RAF reconnaissance photograph from September 13 1944 clearly shows red cross markings painted on the roofs of the buildings in use for the German field dressing station. This was done deliberately to prevent an aerial bombardment on the school building. The arrow shows the convent itself. To the right the St.Petrus church and its cemetery. The arrow marks the area were the Germans buried their dead.
Hotel Bos en Ven at moor klompven in Oisterwijk. Here the German Luftwaffe Staff of Airbase Gilze-Rijen resided. Just after the liberation several members of the Dutch government in exile returned to the Netherlands and stayed at this hotel after arriving by plane from London at the Eindhoven aerodrome.