This memorial page is dedicated to Henricus Klerks, one of more than 725 war victims connected to the municipality of Deurne documented by Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers. The municipality of Deurne and the surrounding villages of Liessel, Vlierden, Helenaveen, Neerkant and Zeilberg were liberated in the autumn of 1944 during heavy fighting. Victims fell on all sides: Allied soldiers from countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and New Zealand, and German soldiers.

But the archive covers more than just the combat victims on Deurne soil. Residents of Deurne who lost their lives elsewhere are also commemorated: civilians who were murdered in concentration camps, forced labourers who died in Germany, people who were executed or succumbed to the effects of persecution and oppression. In addition, residents of Deurne who entered German military service and were killed elsewhere are also included.

Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers has been documenting the story of all these people since 1995, without distinction of nationality, side or background. The goal is to give every person a name and a face, and to keep their memory alive.

 

Name: Klerks: Klerks
First names: Henricus
Nickname: Harry
Date of birth: 15 November 1921
Place of birth: Belfeld
Residence: 2 Bolenbergweg, Belfeld
Rank / Occupation: Tremmer
Identity tag: –
Unit: –
Date of death: 21 February 1945
Place of death: Salzgitter-Watenstedt (Germany), Camp 24
Cause of death: as a result of tuberculosis
Cemetery: Dutch War Cemetery in Hanover (Germany)
Memorial site: –



Additional information
Grave location: Section G / Grave 3

Before fleeing the ravages of war in his home town to the relatively peaceful Helenaveen, Henricus Klerks worked from 16 October 1942 to 18 May 1943 as a ‘Hilsfarbeiter’ at the ‘Friedrich Krupp’ company in Essen.

On Sunday 8 October 1944, during the 7.00 am Mass, German paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger) surrounded the two Reich labour camps I and II in Mariaveen. The people were driven out of the chapel during Mass. The Germans cordoned off the roads and searched the church and all the houses. All the men and boys were herded together and taken away in a long, sombre procession. Without food or drink, without extra clothing. Some are still in their nightclothes. According to the Germans, they are to go to work in Maasbree or Helden, but in reality they are being deported to Germany for labour deployment (Arbeitseinsatz).

Henricus Klerks ended up in the Reppner death camp (Camp 24), where he also died; this camp housed, amongst others, sick and unfit-for-work prisoners. Most died due to inadequate care or were given a lethal injection. The official cause of death for Henricus Klerks is listed as ‘Lungen TBC’, or tuberculosis; he was buried on 1 March 1945 at Jammertal Cemetery, grave section IV (row 12, grave number I).

Friedhofskarteikarte
cemetery index card

View all persons in the category: Died in concentration camps and as a result of forced labour