Machiel van den Heuvel

Machiel van den Heuvel (7 may 1900 - 29 june 1946) was the Dutch escape-officer in oflag IV-C Colditz for Dutch POW's held in Germany during world war two. Its a similar role that captain Pat Reid, the author of Colditz 40-42, had for the British POW's. Van den Heuvel played a key factor in most dutch officer escapes (such as Hans Larive, Francis Steinmetz and Anthony Luteyn) from the Germans during the war.

POW

Machiel (Jim) van den Heuvel, known as "Vandy" by the British POW's, was a captain in the Royal Dutch East Indies Army(KNIL) who happened to be in Holland at the outbreak of world war 2 in may 1940. After the Dutch capitulation he refused to give his word of honour not to harm German interest and was sent to German POW camps. Here van den Heuvel was quickly appointed as escape officer. Together with lieutenant Gerrit Dames the two KNIL officers were a main factor for most Dutch escape successes during the war. He discovered the escape route in the park where two men could be hidden in a manhole in the park, lieutenants Hans Larive, Francis Steinmetz, O.Drijber and major C.Giebel escaped using this route. Vandy worked together with the other escape officers notably captain Patrick Reid.In June 1943 all Dutch officers were transferred to stalag 371 in Stanislau to join other Dutch officer POW's. Vandy also claimed many more escapes from this camp. Finally Vandy was transferred to an oflag at Tittmoning where the Germans thought he could do no more harm because most prisoners were older generals. From Tittmoning Vandy helped Giles Romilly escape. Romilly was a prominent prisoner in Colditz because he was Winston Churchill's nephew.

After the war

After the war, Machiel van den Heuvel was made a major and sent to Java, Indonesia to fight in the Indonesian war of independence also known as politionele acties. He was a battalion commander when he was killed in action at Padalarang, Java 29 june 1946. He was awarded the bronze cross for his actions.

Trivia

In the film "The Colditz Story" 1955, directed by Guy Hamilton, the role of Vandy was played by actor Theodore Bikel.

External links

1. http://www.colditzcastle.net/british-pows/dutch/
2. http://www.onderscheidingen.nl/decorandi/wo2/dec_h03.html
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colditz_Castle/List_of_Colditz_Castle_escape_attempts
4. http://www.museumverbindingsdienst.nl/leven2.html
5. http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/pOf_4C.htm
6. http://geschiedenis.vpro.nl/programmas/2899536/afleveringen/20883752/items/20982228/
7. http://nieuws.hetkontakt.nl/lek/271/de-nederlandse-veteranen-van-colditz
8. http://www.majordickwinters.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=1549
9. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047945/fullcredits#cast

References

books:
1. Leo de Hartog; officieren achter prikkeldraaf 1940-1945; publisher Hollandia 1983 (officers behind barbed wire 1940-1945)
2. Major P.R.Reid MBE, MC; Colditz the full story; Pan Books London 1984 ISBN 0-330-49000-1
3. Reinhold Eggers; Colditz the German story