GROUP ALBRECHT
The failure of Operation Market Garden in September 1944 dashed the hopes of many that the Netherlands would be liberated after almost four and a half years of oppression. Although the Allies had fought their way to the south bank of the major rivers, the front stagnated there. The Biesbosch, a difficult-to-access freshwater tidal area between South Holland and Brabant, would form the dividing line between freedom and occupation until 5 May 1945.
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For information about food supplies, the resistance, German troop movements and defences, and intelligence about the welfare of the population, the Dutch government in exile depended on illegal espionage organisations in occupied Netherlands. The so-called Albrecht Group was the most important of these organisations. Founded by secret agent Henk de Jonge, the Albrecht Group developed from 1943 onwards into a national espionage organisation with over 800 employees. The intelligence gathered by these spies was delivered daily by train and bicycle couriers to the Albrecht Group's headquarters in Rotterdam.
On 6 November 1944, Albrecht employees from Werkendam, Sleeuwijk and Lage Zwaluwe joined forces with colleagues from the Alblasserwaard in the resistance group “de Linecrossers”. The Linecrossers were tasked with transporting intelligence gathered in Rotterdam to liberated Brabant by rowing boats and canoes, right through the Biesbosch. Between 6 November 1944 and 5 May 1945, the Linecrossers completed at least 370 trips between occupied and liberated territory. During these “crossings”, they transported enormous amounts of intelligence as well as dozens of Allied pilots, airborne troops and resistance fighters to the liberated South. In the opposite direction, the Linecrossers transported millions of units of insulin and other medicines to occupied Netherlands. From their bases in Werkendam and Sliedrecht, these medicines were distributed to hospitals and pharmacies in all parts of occupied Netherlands. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Dutch people survived the war thanks to the efforts of the Linecrossers of Group Albrecht.
Two Linecrossers, Aaike van Driel and Kees van de Sande, paid for their involvement in the work of the Linecrossers with their lives. Both were arrested and shot on 30 April 1945.
Lest we forget.
