Bullet Impacts Prinsenhof

During the liberation of the city of Groningen in April 1945, there was heavy fighting to expel the occupying forces. Traces of this are still visible.

On Friday, April 13, 23 members will be present to protect the Prinsenhof if a fire breaks out. The gate of the Prinsenhof was closed to prevent strangers from entering.
On Saturday, April 14, the Germans withdraw to the State Archives. They also occupied the Martinikerkhof. A German emergency hospital has been set up in the Hofstraat. Saturday morning they are called to keep the Gold Office wet as the surrounding buildings are on fire. Due to the strong action by the members, the Gold Office was spared. The phone rang again on Saturday afternoon, this time the Canadians are calling from the Emmasingel. They found it amusing to speak to occupied territory.
Sunday night a German officer comes in and orders some
wounded Germans to grab a Pantserfaust and go to the Martinikerkhof. The Martinikerkhof is being prepared for the defense. The main management of the air protection service was located in the Prinsenhof.
In the course of Sunday evening, the Martinikerkhof is teeming with Germans. Due to the fires in the city center, more and more refugees came in, so that they ended up with 64 men in the basement of the Prinsenhof. Suddenly two German officers enter and hesitantly ask for a hiding place. One was crying, wailing that he would never see his family again. On the advice of the leader, they are allowed to hide behind the vaults in the cellar. Just as these Germans were hiding, a Hauptmann entered. He asked for a civilian suit for sale for 1000 guilders. No one responded and the man left again. After this, two German officers entered and seized two rooms in the Prinsenhof. Because the Prinsenhof was put on defense, the refugees were transferred to the Martini Church. Everyone was searched to see if there were any terrorists among them. The rooms were also checked for terrorists, the basement was also examined with a flashlight. Fortunately, they did not find the two hidden Germans, otherwise it would have ended differently.
Monday around 11:00 am the Germans surrender at the Prinsenhof and even go over to move others to come out of the houses on the Hofstraat and surroundings to surrender.

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Source

• Text: Bert Deelman, Joël Stoppels
• Photos: Bert Deelman