SOE WAR DIARIES DECEMBER 1944 1C.
MONOPOLY, CUBBING, COUSING & BOATING
CUBBING
Germans throw corpses on streets
CUBBING reported (69) that at Apeldoorn the previous week, 30 political prisoners had been murdered by the Huns after inhuman treatment. Following their usual practice the Germans had thrown 12 bodies into the streets. An effort had been made to identify them, but this was almost impossible. He could not say for certain, but thought it probably that DIRK (SCULLING, Postma) and others were not included among these victims.
Many killed in razzia raid
Immediately after the Apeldoorn atrocities there have been a great razzia (70). A train carrying several thousand men who had been taken during this razzia was attacked by Allied planes near Bocholt. Forty per cent of these men were killed, as the Germans shot them while they were sheltering. Men taken during the last few razzias had not been sent to work for the Huns but transported to Germany as civilian prisoners of war.
The whole situation in occupied Holland was becoming more impossible every day, especially near the river IJssel. In the meantime resistance was doing its upmost.
Containers dropped to Germans
CUBBING cabled (71) that on the night of December 6/7th a plane had dropped material rear Renswoude. The Germans had got everything and were now waiting for more. How was this possible? London asked (72) whether he knew if the Germans had found the material, or if they had actually put out a false reception committee? The material was not intended for CUBBING. IIt was possible that the pilot had made a mistake or there may have been a false reception.
“Gestapo member” to contact Allies
He (Cubbing) advised London (73) that a resistance member JUUR “being also a member of the Gestapo” would come through the lines near Nijmegen on the following Monday night with orders from the Sicherheitsdienst. He might have important news for Allied intelligence. Would London please confirm his
arrival. London replied (74) that the military had been advised to look out for JUUR. Was he dangerous and if sent by the Sicherheitsdienst, did CUBBING know the contact address to which he was going?
Did he intend reporting to the Allied troops or not? London sent to the commanders of resistance in Utrecht (75) details of the plan dividing occupied Holland into zones, and of the new directive for resistance.
(69) 12 from Cubbing of 07.12.44
(70) Srl No, B986/10 of 09.12.44
(71) 16 from Cubbing of 09.12.44
(72) 6 to Cubbing of 09.12.44
(73) 21 from Cubbing of 10.12.44
(74) 7 to CUBBING of 10.12.44
(75) 8 & 9 to Cubbing of 10.12.44
An unexpected find
With reference to the containers which had dropped into German hands, CUBBING reported (76) that they had come down one km from ground CLUTS. Resistance forces in the Veenendaal district found some of them quite accidentally. They did not even know that any had been dropped in the district. The remainder had been found by the Germans. Nobody had seen anything of false reception lights. CUBBING advised London (77) that JUUR would report to Allied troops. He was a member of the resistance. It was up to Allied intelligence to find out whether he was dangerous.
Resistance waiting for arms
He was very pleased (78) to receive the special order (see above). Resistance in Central Holland was anxious waiting for the delivery of arms, and hoping to get an opportunity of helping the Allies to liberate Holland. He was convinced that London’s orders would be strictly obeyed.
Sculling murdered
CUBBING cabled (79): “It has turned out that DIRK (SCULLING, Postma) died at Apeldoorn on December 1st, murdered by the SS. He died for his Queen and country. God rest his soul. The Huns probably did not find out who he was”.
Bad weather delays Ops.
London regretted (80) that bad weather was delaying operations, but deliveries of material would be made as soon as possible. CUBBING stated (81) that in the course of the next few nights TUNRIQUOITS (Gerrit Reisiger) and BERT, his assistant, would cross the Waal in the same convoy as JUUR.
(76) 25 from Cubbing of 11.12.44
(77) 26 from Cubbing of 13.12.44
(78) 27 from Cubbing of 13.12.44
(79) 34 from Cubbing of 20.12.44
(80) 23 to Cubbing of 23.12.44
(81) 47 from Cubbing of 26.12.44
COURSING
Petulance
COURSING (Hoogewerff) complained (82) that he had been doing his best in the field but London did not seem to consider it necessary to reply to his messages. MONOLOPY (de Stoppelaar) and he were badly in need of clothes and shoes. London replied (83) that all he had asked for was already packed, and it was hoped to drop as from the following Sunday night.
“Political Juggling” in Holland
He reported (84) that SHOOTING (Luykenaar), MONOPOLY and he had evolved an instructional scheme for all in the Netherlands Forces of the Interior in the Zuid-Holland province. They had trained twenty instructors to be sent out to other towns. These men would keep them informed of their activities. The was “quite a lot of political juggling” going on in Holland now. In particular, the OD was struggling for supremacy in the NBS.
NECKING & BOBSLEIGH (Resistance in Friesland)
NECKING
Safety first
NECKING (Peter Tazelaar) was told (85), in answer to a query as to whether or not he should resume contact with the underground movement, that he should act as the situation demanded, but with caution. His position as the sol- contact in the north of Holland was one of great value.
Successful Prison Raid
He (Necking) stated (86) that the situation in his area was completely under control. “Any dangerous elements which may have been in Groningen have been isolated”. NECKING reported (87) the success of a raid on Leeuwarden Prison and the freeing of political prisoners. No further details were given.
(85) Daily Summary No 89 of 2.12.1944
(86) Daily Summary No 89 of 2.12.1944
(87) Daily Summary No 100 of 13.12.1944
TRAPPING (Second W/T to Rotterdam KP)
Santa Claus at HQ
TRAPPING (Barme) requested (88) that he should be sent his uniform and a heavy charger. Why did London never answer his messages in which he asked for special articles? They were angry about that, but no doubt “St. Nicolaas would not forget the staff at the Dutch HQ in London”. London replied (89) that his special requests always received careful attention, but delay was experienced in preparation, packing and dispatch. The fact that his questions were not answered did not mean nothing was being done.
(88) 12 from Trapping 0f 5.12.1944
(89) 19 to Trapping of 5.12.1944
III - CLANDESTINE PRESS
DRAUGHTS II W/T Traffic
Long -term policy for rockets
DRAUGHTS II (van Paaschen) asked London (90) whether, if he were able to supply details of starting points for V-2’s, it would be possible to destroy them means of unexpected air raids. These starting points were normally rather weakly guarded. Thanking him for his message (91), London told DAUGHTS II they were working on a long-term policy, and trying to find an antidote to the V-2’s. If he could help in this connection it might be possible to prevent V-2’s being used later against liberated areas.
V-2 train at Leiden
In a mutilated message (92), DRAUGHTS 1 reported the presence of 20 railway trucks with V-2 rockets at Leiden Station. He reported (93) that the direction in which the V-2’s travelled was controlled by their gyroscopes, which revolved with a speed of between 40.000 and 50.000 revolutions per minute. He reported
Leiden raid fails
DRAUGHTS II cabled (95) the result of the RAF raid on the station at Leiden. Bombs had landed 140 metres from the target. Many houses had been damaged and 10 persons killed. He added (96) that the aircraft flew across the station instead of lengthwise and there was only a ‘minimum result’. During the last two days only one rocket had been fired from The Hague. On previous days the average was six daily. AAs some bombs had fallen close to the V-2 firing point in the Scheveningse Bosch, its position had now been changed. It was now in a prohibited area, and he could not give a pinpoint (97).
(90) 129 from Draughts 2 of 02.12.44
From Draughts via Teifi.
Proposal re rockets stop If you know starting points is it not possible to surprise and destroy those points by means of air commands stop Air raids have
normally success stop Guard points rather weak stop
(91) 70 to Draughts 2 of 02.12.44
To Draughts via night Teifi.
Rockets stop Thanks for message stop We are working on long-term policy and trying find antidote that is why we asked you to get information on possibility of radio being employed stop If you can help us on this we may be able prevent rockets being used later against liberated areas stop
(92) 135 from Draughts 1 of 07.12.44
From Draughts via Teifi.
Repetion and supplement one three zero stop Very busy troops -KY-M-O C-IAL transport from Leiden railway station to Mast (east?) and north SSXP at TWE same station under bay roof circa twenty carriages loaded with rockets stop Bombing of whole emplacement -ID- T-E-G ..zmy LE Meer NT action urgently desired stop
(93) 132 from Draughts 2 of 09.12.44
From Draughts via Teifi.
My one thirty still in ACRVE stop Direction rockets rpt rockets by three gyroscopes with turn speed between forty and fifty thousand per minute stop Details about their working next message stop
(94) 134 from Draughts 2 of 09.12.44
From Draughts via Teifi.
IMPORTANT start point rockets is Cremerweg rpt Cremerweg Waterpartij rpt Waterpartij scheveningsebosch Den Haag stop If you coordinates etc of this point I will send them next message stop
(95) 136 from Draughts 2 of 11.12.44
From Draughts via Teifi.
Bombs on Leiden rpt Leiden Haarlemmermeerstation one hundred fifty meters beside HR set stop Many houses damaged ten persons killed SRMP RLWNMAS (bomb rockets) again stop
(96) 137 from Draughts 2 of 12.12.44
From Draughts via Teifi.
As aircraft X fled across instead lengthwise stations The Hague and Leiden result bombing minimal stop For example on station The Hague only one bomb on emplacement stop Rest in houses stop Last two days only one rocket started from The Hague stop foregoing days an average six per day stop
(97) Srl No. B1296/63 from Draughts 2 of 13.12.44
From Draughts via Teifi.
My one three eight stop Your seven two stop as some of your bombs fell close near stating point Cremerweg comma Germans changed position stop As,this new point is if Quote Sperrgebiet unquote we do not exactly know where stop
Rockets fail to take-off
He (Draughts 2) cabled (98) that the Katerveer bridge near Zwolle should be bombed as all plundered goods were leaving the country by this route. He suggested (99) that the most effective way to hinder the supply to the west of rockets and fuel, would be to bomb the bridges over the Merwede canal near Utrecht. Some rockets had been sent up from The Hague in the last few days (100), especially at twilight and during the night. Thirty per cent of them had failed to take off properly.
Display of Nazi terror
DRAUGHTS II reported (101) that following the alleged shooting of a German soldier in the Nederlandsch Oost-Indielaan in The Hague, three houses were blown up as a reprisal. A short time before the explosions, a few German officers of the Schutzpolizei took a small parade. After a talk to the parade, the officers went into the houses, which they left after half an hour. The neighbouring houses and the maternity home opposite were ordered to open their doors and windows. At five o’clock six explosions occurred. At six o ‘clock a lorry arrived with 12 prisoners from Scheveningen. The firing squad was on an island in the middle of the road, and the prisoners in the doorway of the wrecked houses. The salvoes were fired at them. Some were still alive afterwards.
Germans starting scorching
The Germans were now putting out of action all machinery except the most vital electric power plant station equipment. (102) It would then only be necessary for small parties to blow up power station machinery. In Delft they had damaged four out of five turbines. In Leiden certainly, and probably in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the same had happened. No action had so far been taken in The Hague.
Resistance takes ‘The Times’
He (van Paaschen) thanked London (103) for delivery to the underground press of topical maps, copies of ‘The Times’and the ‘Vliegende Hollander’ ( the miniature Dutch newspaper dropped by the RAF. Could London send such articles regularly? They would like photographs of topical events, such as scenes from liberated Holland, Churchill in Paris meeting De Gaulle, activities of Queen Wilhelmina, etc.
(98) 140 from Draughts 2 of 15.12.44
From Draughts via Teifi.
Re my one hundred stop Again asked bombs on bridge Katerveer Zwolle because all plundered goods are carried off via this bridge stop A tapped German telephone call resulted coming days all robbed goods carried off via Hardenberg near Coevorden stop
(99) 141 from Draughts 2 of 15.12.44
From Draughts via Teifi.
For hindering supply to the west rockets and fuel it should be very urgently bombing railways bridges Merwede Canal near Utrecht direction Amsterdam and Haque stop This should be more effective as bombing supply rail sections stop
(100) 1 from Draughts 2 of 16.12.44
From Draughts via Teifi.
Some more rockets from The Hague last two days specially twilight and night stop About thirty percent of started rockets fails stop
(101) Srl No. B 1502/46 of 17.12.44 and B1540/60 of 19.12.44 from Draughts 2
From Draughts via Teifi
Volgens Duitsche beweringen zou eenige tijd geleden op Laan van N.O.Indië lid van DW rpt DW zijn dood geschoten stop Als represaille vrijdag aldaar drie rpt drie huizen opgeblazen stop Zestien uur vijftien begin Laan stopt auto mer eenige Duitsche officieren korte tijd daarna eenheid Gru Polizei rpt Gru Polizie wordt vervolgd stop Mijn een vier vier stop
Vervolg een vier vier stop Half vijf officieren nemen kleine parade af stop Daarna briefje afgegeven op nrs drie, vijf en zeven binnen half uur huis verlaten hoog noodige meenemen stop Aangrezende huizen en overzijde waaronder Kraamvrouwenkliniek wordt aanbevolen deuren en ramen open te zetten daar ziemlich in der naehe gesprennt zal worden stop Kwart over vijf zes explosies huizen opgeblazen en belendende huizen loopen grote schade op stop Wordt vervolgd Mijn een vier vijf stop
Vervolg van een vier vijf stop Zes uur vrachtauto arriveert met twaalf gevangenen uit Scheveningen stop Vuurpeloton opgesteld op vluchtheuvel gevangen in deuropening verwoeste huizen neergezet stop Door duisternis geschiedde fusillade niet feilloos enkele leefden nog stop Einde mijn een vier zes stop
(102) Srl No. B1569/54 from Draughts 2 of 19.12.44 Same as text in diary.
(103) 149 from Draughts 2 of 21.12.44
From Draughts via Teifi.
Received your seven four stop Thanks for your five maps with types weekly times and Vliegende Hollander stop Can you send them regularly stop Like types of actual events as fotos liberated Holland comma Churchill in Paris meeting De Gaulle Moskou our Queen etc stop
IV - MISSION TO HOLLAND
NORTHAW
Problems of the Big Towns
NORTHAW (Prince Bernhard) asked (104) whether London has considered putting the big towns under their own resistance commanders - as distinct from regional commanders - in view of their large populations. London replied (105) that it was thought better for regional commanders to appoint local
commanders at their own discretion. While HQ favoured decentralization, it was not wished to extend it to such a degree as to make control difficult. Furthermore, it was not desired to increase unduly the number of organizations which would need separate supplies and operational directions. The remainder of the NORTHAW traffic for this period consisted of copies of W/T traffic from the field sent to NORTHAW for information, and cables relating to
domestic arrangements for arriving and departing officers.
(104) 279 from Northaw of 14.12.1944
(105) 400 to Northaw of 15.12.1944
V - AGENTS’ REPORTS
CRIBBAGE Security Interrogation) (106)
The following note was prefixed to the report of CRIBBAGE (van Duyn) interrogation: “Now that this agent has returned to England it has been thought
necessary that he should undergo a security interrogation, in view of certain evidence which has been brought against him. **
** From Rummy among others.
(106) Interrogation report RAW/KV/3259 of 04.06.45
CRIBBAGE forewarned
“In reading this report it should be borne in mind that it was impossible to interrogate CRIBBAGE thoroughly, because during the period which elapsed
between the liberation of Holland and his return to this country he got to know exactly what we knew about him
Weakness of his story
“The story which he tells is so exceedingly naïve as to be almost beyond belief. The theory that the reason underlying HAUBROCK’s good treatment of CRIBBAGE was his wish to re-insure against the end of the war, hardly bears inspection, since it is quite unthinkable that he would have to re-insure only with one or two agents, while still pursing the most active and successful enquiries into the resistance movement, and being responsible for the execution of COR (Hoogewerff) and EDU (Barme).
Cribbage on a German mission?
“It is not thought necessary to draw any deductions from this interrogation, and it is considered that the circumstances surrounding CRIBBAGE’s, imprisonment are sufficient to speak for themselves, the more so when the whole story is rounded off by his being the guest of the SD Headquarters on the
night after his liberation from prison. “It is not thought probably that CRIBBAGE (Arie van Duyn) has a long-term mission for the Germans in this country, but it would appear advisable to show the interrogation report to the Dutch authorities for their own interest and information”.
THE INTERROGATION
Rough treatment
Immediately after his arrest CRIBBAGE was questioned very intensively by a Wehrmacht officer. He was handcuffed and hung on a pole between two tables and severely beaten. At the same time TINE (Dini Gaazenbeek, courier) and VOLKERT (Elsinga, forgeries) were being interrogated in different rooms.
CRIBBAGE insisted that he was an electrical engineer and knew nothing of what happened in the building in which he was arrested.
In spite of this his interrogator showed him an identity card and asked him if he recognized the photograph. It was a new card which had been prepared for RUMMY (Bert de Goede). CRIBBAGE’s denials were not believed and he was again severely beaten.
Cribbage admits identity
CRIBBAGE now admitted his real name and also told the Germans that he was an agent who had come from England. When he said this the interrogation was broken off and shortly afterwards STURMSCHARFUHRER HAUBROCK arrived from the SD. This officer immediately stopped the harsh treatment and began to question CRIBBAGE in a friendly way.
HQ in Bakerstreet
First of all HAUBROCK took the pencil from CRIBBAGE pocket and said he did not have to say he came from England, as the pencil would be quite enough to show it, and if it was not there were always his clothes to give him the final check, since the clothes of British agents were the only ones that never bore any name tabs. All this was perfectly true and made CRIBBAGE feel rather foolish. HAUBROCK then asked CRIBBAGE whether headquarters of the Organization were still in Baker Street (which was something CRIBBAGE did not know) and whether Major BINGHAM was keeping well.
Agent betrayed by a cigarette
During the interrogation, which never varied from its friendly level, HAUBROCK told many tales of how agents had been caught. On one occasion, he said, he was having a drink in an hotel, wearing civilian clothes. He got into a conversation with a man and they started having drinks together. In a little while this man offered HAUBROCK a cigarette which he immediately recognized as one of the “Black cigarettes’ which are sent from England in the blue packets. The man by this time was getting fairly drunk and had no place to sleep for the night so Haubrock offered to put him up, driving him round to the SD flat in his car and giving him a bed for the night. The next morning HAUBROCK put on his uniform and arrested his guest at breakfast. (Who was this agent?).
More SOE blunders
He said further that many people had been arrested because of the stupid habit of the British authorities of sending their agents out with standard fountain pens, knives, scissors and watches, which were immediately recognized by the SD. CRIBBAGE realized that he had one of each of these articles and again felt foolish, the genuinely agreed with HAUBROCK when he said that he did not consider that it was fair on the agents.
Haubrock “a very nice man”
CRIBBAGE repeatedly stated what a very nice man HAUBROCK was and later in his report it will be seen that he had ample cause to think so. After this interrogation CRIBBAGE met TINE (Dini Gaazenbeek)and VOLKERT (Elsinga) in the passage and found that they too had been well treated. He states, rather curiously, that “somehow he knew that TINE knew that he had told the truth about himself”, which he had in fact done after being assured by HAUBROCK that his family would not suffer from his arrest.
Difficulty of co-operation
In the afternoon of the same day CRIBBAGE was handed over to the Grunepolizei for his signals interrogation. The signals officer (May ?) asked CRIBBAGE to work for the Germans. It was suggested that he should go back to his job and just carry on with it, working for the Germans at the same time. CRIBBAGE explained that this was impossible because he only sent messages for RUMMY (Bert de Goede) and KOOS (Luke Mulholland) and he had no other job.
Fantastic exchange scheme
To the many curious conversations which CRIBAGGE had with HAUBROCK must be added another: It appears that CRIBBAGE was often asked what he thought of the SD, to which he had no hesitation in replying that they had always treated him very properly and well. HAUBROCK then said that they were going to try to send him back to England in exchange for German prisoners in British hands, “and then he could tell the English how good the SD were”. This fantastic scheme never came to anything because, so CRIBBAGE says, they received word that an exchange could not be effected for a Dutchman but
only for an Englishman.
Preferential treatment in prison
CRIBBAGE, who was all this time housed in the “Oranje Hotel” prison at Scheveningen, received a good deal of preferential treatment. He was allowed to go outside the prison in the course of his duties and although always accompanied by a guard he often went quite far afield into Scheveningen and sometimes took vegetables to the SD building in The Hague.
Cribbage freed: a guest in the SD flat
Finally on April 21st , HAUBROCK came into CRIBBAGE cell and told him that he was free. HAUBROCK warned CRIBBAGE that if he went to Rotterdam he would probably be shot by the KP. It was then late in the evening, so HAUBROCK said CRIBBAGE might stay the night as a guest in the SD flat in The
Hague, which he did being given breakfast the next morning and allowed to make some pancakes before he left. CRIBBAGE said he tried to get into touch with HAUBROCK again after the liberation of Holland, but when he went to The Hague he found the SD had been moved to Scheveningen and he never heard what became of him.
w.mugge@home.nl