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Aart Hendrik Alblas, aka Klaas de Waard (20 September 1918, in
Aart Hendrik Alblas, aka Klaas de Waard (20 September 1918, in Middelharnis
Middelharnis () is a town and former municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee. The town had a population of about 6,800 in 2012. On 1 January 2013, Middelharnis merged with Goe ...
– 7 September 1944, in Mauthausen concentration camp
Mauthausen was a Nazi concentration camp on a hill above the market town of Mauthausen, Upper Austria, Mauthausen (roughly east of Linz), Upper Austria. It was the main camp of a group with List of subcamps of Mauthausen, nearly 100 further ...
), was a Dutch navy officer, resistance member and Engelandvaarder. He participated in several resistance operations and is one of the most highly decorated Dutch resistance members.
From 1940, Alblas collected information, often with John A. Idema. On the night of 18/19 March 1941, Alblas, with A.M. Westerhout, dressed in stolen German uniforms, travelled by motor boat to England to deliver the collection of information. For this exploit he received the Bronze Cross.
Alblas was eventually captured and subsequently executed at Mauthausen concentration camp
Mauthausen was a Nazi concentration camp on a hill above the market town of Mauthausen, Upper Austria, Mauthausen (roughly east of Linz), Upper Austria. It was the main camp of a group with List of subcamps of Mauthausen, nearly 100 further ...
on 7 September 1944.
Awards and decorations
In recognition of his actions, he was posthumously made a Knight 4th class in theMilitary William Order
The Military William Order, or often named Military Order of William (Dutch: , abbreviation: MWO), is the oldest and highest honour of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is named after St. William of Gellone (755–814), the first Prince of Oran ...
. He also received the Bronze Lion
The Bronze Lion ( nl, Bronzen Leeuw) is a high Royal Dutch award, intended for servicemen who have shown extreme bravery and leadership in battle favouring The Netherlands; in some special cases it can be awarded to Dutch or foreign civilians. It ...
, the War Commemorative Cross and the Resistance Commemorative Cross. One of the sixteen minesweepers
A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping.
History
The earliest known usage of ...
, commissioned by Royal Netherlands Navy between 1960 and 1962, was named the KRM Aart H. Alblas in his honour.
References