Statue of George Maduro

The statue of George Maduro was made by artist Jikke van Loon.

George Maduro was born in Willemstad, Curaçao, on July 15, 1916 and died in Dachau on February 8, 1945.

George Maduro came to Leiden to study law.
He was appointed reserve second lieutenant in the Cavalry on November 21, 1939. During the May days of 1940 he was stationed in The Hague as a reserve officer with the Hussars. Under his leadership, the German-occupied "Villa Leeuwenbergh", also known as Villa Dorrepaal, near Leidschendam was conquered, and German paratroopers were taken prisoner of war.

After the capitulation of the Dutch army, George Maduro was imprisoned. He was released, but was arrested again and imprisoned in the Oranjehotel, Scheveningen. After his release, the Germans had made it mandatory to wear the Jewish star. George Maduro refused this and joined the resistance. In 1943 he wanted to escape with Oncko Wttewaall van Stoetwegen via Spain to the United Kingdom. He was betrayed and imprisoned. He made two escape attempts, but both failed. He was later transferred to the Dachau concentration camp. Just before the liberation of the camp by American troops, he died at the age of 28 from typhus. He was buried in the cemetery of the concentration camp.

On May 9, 1946, George Maduro was posthumously awarded the title of Knight 4th class of the Military William Order, because he had distinguished himself during the May Days with the attack on a German position at Villa Leeuwenbergh in Leidschendam. He is the only Dutchman of Antillean descent to have received this award.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Martin Damen (1, 2, 3), RJ Army (4, 5, 6, 7)