User:Unentsegeschiedenis/Biezenmortel hostage crisis

The Biezenmortel hostage crisis (Dutch: Biezenmortelse Gijzelingscrisis) was a hostage-taking of about 16 inhabitants of Biezenmortel during the Second World War. It was a German reprisal for the demolition of the trucks that the Germans had left behind when fleeing Biezenmortel on Mad Tuesday, September 5th 1944.

After Willem van der Loo, a blacksmith from Udenhout, became involved, he managed to strike a deal with the German hostage-takers. In exchange for the reparation of all trucks that had been dismantled by the inhabitants of Biezenmortel - to be carried out by himself and his company, Smederij Van der Loo - the Germans agreed to release all hostages. After Willem van der Loo kept his promise, the Germans stuck to theirs and all hostages were released without any bloodshed.