Ede, Holland 1945

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I did a bit of research and Ronald van Riet of the Platform Military History Ede told me these photos were taken at hotel-restaurant De Langenberg. A quick search in the internet yielded some more info.

Shortly after the war ended, around the time Jon's father was there, a small military museum was established. The association "Oorlogsherinnering - Museum Ede" (War remembrance - Museum Ede) was selling ashtrays made from the tins in which food was distributed in April-May 1945 (see Operation Faust). By selling 40,000 ashtrays they hoped to make a profit of 20,000 Guilders to buy De Langenberg and the terrain next to it. Before the war, the owner had built some barracks to house groups for school holidays. A Scouting group also was housed there, but they could not return after the war because of the plans for the museum. During the war, these barracks were used to house NSB (Dutch national-socialist party) youth, horses, and then the roofing material was used for defense trenches. The remains were sold off and Canadian Army had levelled the terrain with bulldozers. Note: in Jon's first and second photo the buildings in the background seem to be in a reasonable condition. So these are other buildings than the barracks next to De Langenberg? I think De Langenberg itself can be seen in the background of the third picture.

Somehow the museum association managed to collect the Panther, Sherman Crab and Char B1 they even managed to source a small submarine. No doubt the transportation was done by a Canadian Army unit, probably the same one which did the levelling of the terrain. Reportedly, the Panther's gun was still live - and loaded - and kids often played in it. (I doubt the gun was really still loaded as no doubt the playing kids would have found a way to fire it.)

In September 1946 the Association decided not to proceed with their plans for the museum, as the local government wanted only one war museum in the region and Arnhem (approx. 20 kms. away) was deemed a more appropriate location. The intention of the Association was to support the formation of the regional museum by donating all the artefacts they had collected, but it is unknown where the artefacts ended up. None of the tanks nor the submarine went to what would become the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek, though possibly smaller artefacts went there. Ronald van Riet assumes they went to the Overloon War Museum. I am not sure about the Panther, but the Sherman Crab is not the one in the Overloon museum and the Overloon museum has never had a Char B1. I reckon they were scrapped as there was an enormous need for scrap metal in the early postwar years.

De Langenberg is still a restaurant today. In 1990, a Sherman M4(105) was placed on the other side of the road as a memorial for the Canadian liberators - see Google streetview for a current view of the location.


References (accessed on 17 December 2020):

1. Hotel-restaurant De Langenberg: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Langenberg
2. Langenberg Scouting group: https://www.langenberggroep.nl/about...ggroep-deel-2/
3. Ashtray made from food tins (photo attached): https://www.goedgevonden.info/verzam...logsmuseum-ede
4. Google streetview: https://goo.gl/maps/Yv5sh79oTC4vVAyL7
5. Pre-war photo of De Langenberg (attached) in Gemeentearchief Ede: https://www.archieval.nl/detail.php?...394&id=1370031
6. Edese Courant newspaper (attached), 13 November 1946: https://www.archieval.nl/detail.php?...5&id=244005339

GA31318.jpg c1e56ded-3c34-4b2f-b717-6a8d9220d485.jpg

Edese Courant 13-Nov-1946.jpg

Edese Courant 13-Nov-1946_1.jpg Edese Courant 13-Nov-1946_2.jpg

[Alex van de Wetering]

Nice piece of research Hanno!

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

It is unknown where the artefacts went to. One assumption is they went to the Overloon War Museum. I am not sure about the Panther, but the Sherman Crab is not the one in the Overloon museum and the Overloon museum has never had a Char B1. I reckon they were scrapped as there was an enormous need for scrap metal in the early postwar years.

I agree; most likely ended up as scrap. I think the history of the Overloon Panther is well documented and I don't think it came from Ede, even though it's also a Panther Ausf. G.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I agree; most likely ended up as scrap. I think the history of the Overloon Panther is well documented and I don't think it came from Ede, even though it's also a Panther Ausf. G.

I've amended the text after finding a newspaper article. A more likely destination is what what later became the Airborne museum, though I am sure the large artefacts did not end up there. The cost to transport them there was probably prohibitive and I reckon they were cut up for scrap in-situ.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

I've amended the text after finding a newspaper article. A more likely destination is what what later became the Airborne museum, though I am sure the large artefacts did not end up there. The cost to transport them there was probably prohibitive and I reckon they were cut up for scrap in-situ.

or used for the filming of "Theirs is the Glory" ???

Edit: the 2 Panthers in "Theirs is the Glory" are Ausf. D's......so not the one in Jon's picture.

[David Herbert]

Nice piece of research Hanno !

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

Nice piece of research Hanno !

Thanks David and Alex. Thanks to Ronald van Riet's heads-up the pieces quickly fell into place.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Now, where did the tanks come from?

The German Army used the French Char B1 in flame-thrower guise. At least four of them were used during the battle for Arnhem. See one below which was put out of action by the British Airborne troops at the Van Borsseleweg in Oosterbeek. Oosterbeek is approx. 17 kms. away from Ede.

renault-tank.jpg


Personally, I am more interested in finding out where the Sherman Crab came from. Jon, is it possible to make a better scan so we can read the census number? We may be able to find it back in Kevin's WW2 database of tank, carrier and vehicle names.

Sherman Crab Ede 1945.jpg

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Another possible search direction might be to determine what unit was using Sherman Flails in Ede and if Regimental Diaries list any fatal casualties, when and where. As for time, I would think 17 - 24 April 1944 would be a likely start point.

I have found a reference to a possible identity. One Sherman Crab was put out of action by mines at Doorwerth on 16 April. Doorwerth is approx. 15 kms. from Ede. I have to check which of the three regiments of the 30th Armoured Brigade operating Sherman Crabs were involved in this operation: 22nd Dragoons, 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons) or 1st Lothians and Border Horse.

ref. https://www.edestad.nl/lokaal/histor...bevrijd-698466

"On April 16, the Essex Battalion left Velp to relieve the Leicester Battalion of the 147th Brigade in the front line on the western edge of Arnhem. The next day, the two other battalions of the 56th Brigade first left for Wageningen. The Gloucestershire Battalion advanced with four mine-sweeping "Crab" Sherman tanks and eight Churchill "crocodile" tanks (flamethrower) via Utrechtseweg (N225) through Oosterbeek to Doorwerth.

The South Wales Borderer Battalion with four "Crab" flail tanks and three flamethrower Churchill tanks (tanks of the 79th British Tank Division) drove to Doorwerth via Benedendorpseweg and Heveadorp. On the way, both battalions were busy clearing mines and blockades, where a tank was damaged. From Doorwerth, the South Wales Borderers Battalion ran via Heelsum to Bennekom to occupy a front line on the west side of the village. These British soldiers stayed there for weeks." [Google translate]

[Jon McGrath]

Hanno, thank you so much for your research. I find it quite amazing and fascinating what the MLU members can determine from such old photos.

Yes, I will try to get a better scan that shows census numbers, but it might not be for a few days. The original photos are in 3"x5" format and have become quite faded.

You mention a small submarine. I am quite certain that I have a picture of a picture of a small submarine. As I recall it is placed on two supports, one fore and one aft. I will try to find that photo, as well. However, I think I am in the photo and that it was taken sometime between late 1960 and early 1964, when my family was stationed with the Canadian army in the Ruhr (Hemer specifically) and during which time we made several trips to the Netherlands. I will see what more photos I can find, but it will take a few days.

Cheers
Jon

[Wout Jansen]

When I edit the photo with Lightroom, I come across the following number: T148187. Hopefully this can solve the question.

Wout Jansen (Veenendaal 12 km from Ede).