War Memorial Elst

On the square opposite the town hall of Overbetuwe, there are four monuments in the south-east corner, including the new War Memorial, which was unveiled in 2025. This monument commemorates all the residents of Elst who died during the Second World War and afterwards in the former Dutch East Indies.

Text on this monument:

‘Lest we forget 1940-1945’ with the names and ages of the victims listed below.

The text on the second monument reads:

IN MEMORY
OF:
W.L. VAN DIJK
G. DE KONING
A.M.M. PUTHAAR
WHO WERE EXECUTED ON 14 SEPTEMBER 1944
THIS PLACE AND
ALL RESIDENTS OF THE MUNICIPALITY
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
DUE TO THE VIOLENCE OF THE OCCUPIERS.

The three victims mentioned were shot in retaliation after an attack on the Arnhem-Nijmegen railway line in Elst. Van Dijk and De Koning are buried in the cemetery of honour at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Elst. Puthaar is also buried here in a private grave.

A plaque has been placed on the war memorial for the victims who fell in the Dutch East Indies between 1946 and 1950.

The liberation monument commemorates the liberation of Elst from the Second World War. Text on this monument:

Elst liberated on 25-09-1944 by
7 Somerset L.I. Regt.
1 Worcester Regt.
4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards

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Source

• Text: Dick de Bruijne
• Photos: Jesse de Groot (1), Dick de Bruijne (2, 4), Arjan Vrieze (3, 5, 6)

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