War Damage Mooksebaan 10

The building at Mooksebaan 10, built in 1926 in interbellum style, originally served as a home for the headmaster of the local school. During the war it was damaged by shelling, traces of which are still visible on the facade. Today the building is a municipal monument and serves as office space.

Groesbeek during the war: evacuation and destruction
After the Allied airborne landings on 17 September 1944, as part of Operation Market Garden, Groesbeek found itself on the front line between Allied and German troops. The situation became untenable, and on 1 October 1944 an official evacuation order was issued. Approximately 10,000 residents had to leave the village, often after weeks in shelters. When they returned in the spring of 1945, they found a largely destroyed village.

A tangible reminder of this evacuation is the 'Evacuation' monument on the Mooksebaan. This bronze statue, designed by Greet Norp-Nieuwhof and unveiled in 1995, shows people walking with a cart, pram and suitcase. It commemorates the suffering of the citizens of Groesbeek during the war.

The 'Bommenbos': German ammunition depot near the Mooksebaan
During the war, a secret German ammunition depot, known as the 'Bommenbos', was located in the woods near the Mooksebaan. This depot, officially Feldmunitionslager 15/VI, was used between 1942 and 1944 to store ammunition for the German air force. It was so well camouflaged that the Allies were unaware of it. After the war, materials from the depot were reused for the reconstruction of Groesbeek.

Commemoration and remembrance
The events surrounding the Mooksebaan and Groesbeek are still commemorated. On February 8, 2023, a plaque was unveiled at De Wolfsberg on the Mooksebaan in memory of the Rhineland Offensive. This commemoration emphasizes the importance of the area during the liberation of the Netherlands.

Mooksebaan 10 and the surrounding area thus form an important part of the historical memory of Groesbeek and the impact of the Second World War on the village.

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Source

• Text: RJArmy.nl
• Photos: RJArmy.nl