In March 1935, work camp ‘t Wijde Veld was opened on the edge of the Ginkelse Heide for young unemployed people.
In March 1935, a work camp was opened on the edge of the Ginkelse Heide for young unemployed people. The labor camp, ‘t Wijde Veld, had six barracks. The residents worked on road maintenance and the construction of cycle paths for the Heidemaatschappij.
In March 1935, work camp ‘t Wijde Veld was opened on the edge of the Ginkelse Heide for young unemployed people. At the beginning of the Second World War, the camp was abandoned, but in March 1944 it was re-inhabited by 109 evacuees (18 families) from Stavenisse, Zeeland. For six months they find themselves in the middle of the bitter fighting between British and German troops. Their island Tholen was flooded by the German occupiers. A small Zeeland community formed where the men worked for the Heidemaatschappij and there was a school for the children.
The liberation of Europe began with the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. After fierce fighting in the summer, most of France and Belgium were liberated at lightning speed in early September. Operation Market Garden began on Sunday, September 17, 1944. The Allies wanted to enter Germany from the Belgian border via the center of the Netherlands. As part of this grand plan, the bridges over the Rhine at Arnhem had to be captured by British airborne units. This part of the operation became known as ‘the Battle of Arnhem’.
That Sunday afternoon, the Zeelanders saw British paratroopers land near Renkum and British gliders near Wolfheze. A Scottish unit, which had landed with gliders, had to occupy the Ginkelse Heide. This was intended as a drop zone for the 4th Parachute Brigade that would arrive the next day. The Scots occupy the heath and also the labor camp where they find the civilians.
During the night, units of the SS Wachbataillon 3 (approximately 750 men, mainly Dutch soldiers in German military service) made frantic attempts to conquer the heath. The next morning they approached the Scots positions on the eastern edge of the forest and the labor camp. A firefight ensued in which shots were fired straight through the barracks. Seven Scots were killed and six were injured in the fighting. Two Zeeland citizens were also killed and another was seriously injured. Twenty-three soldiers were taken prisoner and taken to Ede. The residents of Zeeland were also sent to Ede by the Germans.
In the afternoon of September 18, the 4th Parachute Brigade, almost 1,900 men, landed on the Ginkelse Heide. They were met with heavy German anti-aircraft fire. About 300 British soldiers were killed, wounded, missing or taken prisoner of war.
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