User:Samueldekorte/Berend IJzerman

Berend Jan IJzerman (Kampen,14 January 1911 - Zwolle, 31 March 1945) was a member of the Dutch Resistance during the Second World War.

Berend Jan IJzerman was born on 14 January 1911 as the oldest son of Willem IJzerman and Femmigje Smit. He was named after his grandfather. He grew up in Kampen and fulfilled his army-service in Harderwijk. In 1937 he married Gerritdina Hanekamp.

Resistance
In September 1944 the factory where IJzerman worked, was closed due to a lack of resources and the employees were directed towards digging for the Germans. New defensive lines were built along the river IJssel and trenches and defense works needed to be prepared against a possible Allied attack. At first IJzerman refused to work for the Germans, but later decided to do this anyway. After his work, he drew the lay-out of the defenses on the maps, which he passed along through an intermediate to Johannes Muller.

Arrest and execution
On 26 February 1945 Berend Jan IJzerman was arrested after he had been betrayed. Johannes Muller was also arrested. After they were detained, they were questioned by the SD.

After an attack on a railway bridge, a reprisal was needed. Five men were ordered to be shot: Wilhelmus van Dijk, Willem Sebel, Hermanus Bosch, Johannes Muller and IJzerman. They were taken from the local prison and executed at the Meppelerstraatweg. Their corpses were left at the location to serve as a warning against the local population.

Memorial
Currently, there's a monument at the Meppelerstraatweg, Zwolle, in the vicinty of the place where the men were executed. The monument contains a plaque with the names of the five casualties. After the war IJzerman was decoraed with the Resistance Memorial Cross.