Jan van Hoof

Infobox Person
name = Jan van Hoof
birth_name = Jan Jozef Lambert van Hoof
birth_date = 7 August 1922
birth_place = Nijmegen, the Netherlands
death_date = 19 September 1944
death_place = Nijmegen, the Netherlands
death_cause = executed by German military
resting_place = Algemene begraafplaats Vredehof, Nijmegen
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nationality = Dutch
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known_for = Operation Market Garden
education = Catholic University of Nijmegen
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Jan Jozef Lambert van Hoof (Nijmegen, 7 August 1922 - Nijmegen, 19 September 1944) was a member of the Dutch resistance in World War II, where he co-operated with Allied Forces during Operation Market Garden, and was executed in action. Before and during the war, Van Hoof was a Rover Scout, and to his honour the honorary medal of the Nationale Padvindersraad was named after him.

Story of Jan van Hoof

Before the war he was a Boy Scout with the Katholieke Verkenners (Catholic Scouts). But during World War II Scouting was forbidden in most occupied countries. All the Scouting organization would be integrated in the Nationale Jeugdstorm (NJS) the Dutch version of the Hitler Youth. But the Dutch Scouting organisations did not agree with the terms of the NJS and went underground and some even into resistance.

So did Jan van Hoof. Shortly after the start of the occupation of the Netherlands by the Nazis, he became member of a Rover crew and in the spring of 1943 he was secretly installed as full Rover Scout. During the occupation he made observations and drawings of his environment, especially the Waal Bridges. With the coming of the Allies during Operation Market Garden in September 1944 he used his expertise by guiding the Allies through the city of Nijmegen. [http://www.kelpin.nl/fred/artikelen/hoof.pdf]

It was said that he disarmed the explosives that were attached to the Waal Bridge during the fighting, though no-one saw him do it. After this heroic deed he went home and told his sister 'the bridge is saved'; then he returned to the American unit and resumed guiding them through the city.

In these days Dutch resistance members wore distinguished clothing so they could be recognised as soldiers. The Germans however saw this as a provocation and didn't see them as soldiers but as traitors.

On the 19th of September van Hoof was again guiding American soldiers through the city, when Germans opened fire on the his vehicle. After the attack the Germans came to the scene which revealed the member of the Dutch resistance. The American soldiers were already dead, but van Hoof was still alive. They took his gun, identity papers and his armband which made him officially an allied soldier. He was beaten and then shot through the head.

Decorations

Because of his deeds he was posthumously awarded:
* 1945: The Medal for Freedom with bronze Palm (USA),
* 1946: Order of William Knight 4th Class (Netherlands),
* 1947: The King's Commendation for Brave Conduct with silver laurel (UK),

After the war the Honor Medal for bravery of the Nationale Padvindersraad, the Dutch Boy Scouts umbrella organisation before 1973, was renamed to "Jan van Hoof-kruis" in his remembrance. [ [http://www.onderscheidingen.nl/nl/medailles/dapperheid/jvhk.html Jan van Hoofkruis van de Nationale Padvindersraad ] at www.onderscheidingen.nl]

Monuments dedicated to Jan van Hoof

These monuments and graves are dedicated to Jan van Hoof.
* [http://www.4en5mei.nl/oorlogsmonumenten/zoeken/monument-detail/_rp_main_elementId/1_10182 Nijmegen, monument for Jan van Hoof]
* [http://www.4en5mei.nl/oorlogsmonumenten/zoeken/monument-detail/_rp_main_elementId/1_17028 Nijmegen, 'honour grave' of Jan van Hoof]
* [http://www.4en5mei.nl/oorlogsmonumenten/zoeken/monument-detail/_rp_main_elementId/1_10002 Nijmegen, monument on the Waal Bridge]
* [http://www.4en5mei.nl/oorlogsmonumenten/zoeken/monument-detail/_rp_main_elementId/1_9978 Nijmegen, monument at Lange Hezelstraat]
* [http://www.4en5mei.nl/oorlogsmonumenten/zoeken/monument-detail/_rp_main_elementId/1_10188 Nijmegen, Dutch War Cemetry] (All Dutch)

See also

*Scouting memorials
*5th World Scout Jamboree

References

External links

* [http://www.pinetreeweb.com/left1.htm Left Handshake] by Hilary Saint George Saunders, about Scouting during WWII
* [http://www.kelpin.nl/fred/artikelen/hoof.pdf Jan van Hoof] Article about Jan van Hoof, by Piet J. Kroonenberg (Dutch)

Persondata
NAME = Hooft, Jan van
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION =
DATE OF BIRTH = 1922
PLACE OF BIRTH = Nijmegen, The Netherlands
DATE OF DEATH = 1944
PLACE OF DEATH = Nijmegen, The Netherlands