Dutch Agents 1940 – 1945 1
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Dutch Agents 1940 – 1945 1 Dutch agents 1940 – 1945 By Frans Kluiters (New Version, September 2008)1 This is a comprehensive list of secret agents who infiltrated into the Netherlands on behalf of the Allied intelligence and action services during the period 1940 – 1945.2 It results from my research over the past twenty years, and was originally intended to help me find my way in the welter of names, code names and aliases mentioned in the literature on Second World War intelligence. The list is a compilation of material from old and new open sources and archives. Some forty years ago researcher G.P. van der Stroom made a similar list on the basis of secondary sources, which was used by L. de Jong for his official history of the Netherlands during the Second World War. Van der Stroom’s list was incomplete and contained some errors, but, having much of the same source material at my disposal, I started to compile my own list. In the 1990’s part of the archives of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) became available for research. However, these original documents often only contained the code names or aliases of their action agents, which makes it difficult to comprehend the meaning of these papers. That is why Ihave listed all the various code names and aliases of the agents, I have come across. A problem is that MI6 archives are closed to researchers. This means that information on intelligence agents can only be found in secondary sources and some Dutch archives. Therefore names and details of agents who were active in the Netherlands, but do not figure in these sources or in the available archives, may also be lacking in my list.3 There is a reason for assuming this, as major Desmond Morton, Winston Churchill’s personal assistant, wrote to Churchill in October 1941: ‘Various personal dislikes and intrigues figure in the story of which the essential point is whether the Dutch Secret Service has a right to demand particulars of British Secret Agents working in Holland. […] At first glance it would seem to me that neither the Dutch nor any other allied nations should claim a right to know all our Secret Agents in their countries even if in return they give us the names of the agents working for them. There will obviously be occasions when mutual disclosures are necessary to avoid confusion, but friendly cooperation between the Chiefs of the Secret Services concerned should meet all requirements.’ 4 Some agents were called ‘Engelandvaarders’, fleeing the Netherlands by sea, land or air, and succeeding in reaching Great Britain. Some of them were recruited straight away after being 1 Dates are given in accordance with NEN-ISO specification 8601 (2005). 2 Strictly speaking, one agent, Kiek, does not belong here, because he infiltrated into France instead of the Netherlands. He has been listed solely because of his Dutch nationality. Likewise, some Dutch agents who infiltrated on behalf of OSS into Austria, have been recorded. 3 During a discussion with the AIVD, the Dutch intelligence and security service, it became clear that – referring to a recently introduced bill – they believe that the identity of former Dutch intelligence agents should not be revealed. It is of course a noble aspiration for a service to assure their agents and informers eternal anonimity, but the protection of intelligence agents who were active long before the AIVD came into existence seems a holier-than-thou attitude. These agents worked for the Centrale Inlichtingendienst and their successor, Bureau Inlichtingen, and certainly not for any post-war security service (after the war Gerbrands and Pot for example worked for the BVD, the then Dutch security service, but no longer as agents). Furthermore, many of these agents were portrayed – with names, aliases and other personal details – by L. de Jong inhis historyof the Netherlands during the Second World War, and in numerous other publications. 4 TNA PREM, 3/221/13B. Note Morton to Churchill 19411024. Dutch Agents 1940 – 1945 2 interrogated at the Royal Victoria Patriotic School (later called the London Reception Centre) and the Dutch security service.5 Two British services were active in recruiting agents: MI6 (also known as the Secret Intelligence Service or SIS) and SOE, the Special Operations Executive. MI6 wanted agents for collecting information about the military situation on the continent. SOE wanted agents for sabotaging the German war machine. In order to effect this the two services collaborated with various successive Dutch secret services. Since the Dutch influence on policy, planning and carrying out of operations was minimal, and because these agents were only loosely affiliated to the Dutch services, especially in the years 1940-1942, I have simply called them MI6 or SOE agents. Officially, the MI6 agents were first employed by the Centrale Inlichtingendienst (CID), and the non- governmental – strictly speaking even illegal – ‘Contact Holland’, then the Bureau Voorbereiding Terugkeer/Bureau Militaire Voorbereiding Terugkeer, and lastly the Bureau Inlichtingen (BI).6 SOE came to work with the CID too, then with the Bureau Militaire Voorbereiding Terugkeer, but after the the Englandspiel debacle, the Bureau Bijzondere Opdrachten (BBO) took over. It was most fortunate that in May 2008 I was contacted by aviation historian Huub van Sabben, who offered to correct and amplify my list. As a result of his meticulous research into parachute drops above Holland, this list has gained in accuracy.7 Also my checking of a score of files in the National Archives in The Hague contributed to that result. Some questions have now been answered and, although some others remain, I think this list now forms a reliable source for historians. However, this is still an ongoing research project, so make sure that you use the latest version of my list. I hope it may contribute to your own research. On the other hand, I would be grateful for any comments on and/or additions to this list.8 Frans Kluiters February/September 2008. 5 If known, I have mentioned the location of these interrogation reports, along with other reports, in the archives. Some other enthusiastic researcher will have to check the RVPS interrogation reports in TNA WO 208/3663 – WO 208/3748 for reports relating to Dutchmen (unfortunately, this type of research is not financially supported by official Dutch historical institutions). 6 The tasks and functions of these organizations (except for ‘Contact Holland’) are specified in my book De Nederlandse inlichtingen- en veiligheidsdiensten. 7 Most of Van Sabben’s data come from RAF archives in TNA. 8 The NISA webmaster will be pleased to pass on your comments, corrections or additions to me (please specify your sources). www.nisa-intelligence.nl. Dutch Agents 1940 – 1945 3 ‘AART’ WEIJDEN, van der, J.L.9 ‘ABEL’ WIJNGAARDEN, van, L. ‘ABOR’ BAATSEN, A.A. ‘ADAM’ LOON, van, J.E. ‘ADAMS, P.’ BEUKEMA toe WATER, K.W.A. ‘ADMIRAL’ JONGE, de, H.G. ADRIAANSEN,Josephus (Sjef): 19190609 Woensdrecht – 19440808 Vught;10 MI6 agent; wireless operator to Steen; 19440110/11 (Princenhage, Breda, Noord-Brabant); detected by direction finding and arrested 19440714:11 @ training name Willem BOGERS; SEDBURGH; traffic plan12 St DAVID; BI internal code name LEONARDS; Witte BEEREN; field name J. BASTIAANSE.13 ‘AKKEREN, van, Jan’ DIESFELDT, J.H. ‘AKKERMAN’ ANDRINGA, L.T.C. ‘AKKI’ ANDRINGA, L.T.C. ‘ALBERT’ ORTT, F.D. ‘ALBERT’ WAAL, van de, M.W. ALBLAS,Aart Hendrik: 19180920 Middelharnis – 19440907 Mauthausen;14 MI6 agent; 19410704/0515 (near Nieuweschans, Groningen); with W/T set; arrested 19420716: @ code name ARAMIS; code name in the field KLAAS; J. ARNOLD; field name J. WOLTERS; field name Aart de WAARD; field name Klaas de JONG.16 © Oorlogsgravenstichting, ’s-Gravenhage / The Hague 9 Minor variations in the spelling of aliases could not be avoided (like ij y ei, d t, etc). 10 CBG. According to the OGS ‘Josephas’. 11 also http://www.woensdrecht.nl/asp/Actueel/Actueel.asp?nPageID=10663. 12 MI6 used the term ‘traffic plan’ for both the transmitter and the wireless traffic. SOE called it ‘signals plan’. 13 also NA MvO Londen 2745. 14 OGS. According to the CBG Alblas died 19440906 (in Linz). 15 Clark, Agents by moonlight, p. 14. 16 http://www.inghist.nl/Onderzoek/Projecten/BWN/lemmata/bwn1/alblas.\ also NAMvO Londen 2746.\ for Alblas’ telegrams: NA JUSLON 2163; MvO Londen 2159. Dutch Agents 1940 – 1945 4 ‘ALBRECHT’ JONGE, de, H.G. ALEBEEK, van, Joseph Lodewijk Theodorus Maria: 19160323 ’s-Hertogenbosch – 19900513 Heumen;17 MI6 agent; wireless operator; evening of 19431008 (near Malden, Gelderland); arrested 19441205; released 19450421; reported back 19450517:@ training name Van den BOSCH; traffic plan St MARTIN; BI internal code name BOL; ESSER; P. de LEEUW; field name J.L. BASTIAANSE.18 ‘ALEX’ LOENEN, van, H.L. ALTEN, van, Jan Pieter: 19211009 Vlissingen;19 BI agent; observer for the Albrecht group; to gather information in Germany; crossed Biesbosch 19450318/19; overrun20 19450404: @ Jan ZEELAND.21 ‘AMHERST’ RUYSCH van DUGTEREN, C.J.L. ‘ANDREW, St’ BERGMANN, A. ‘ANDRIES’ AUSEMS, A.W.M. ANDRINGA,Leonardus Theodorus Cornelis (Leo): 19131122 The Hague – 19440906 Mauthausen;22 SOE agent; a. to investigate the possibility of opening of a new sea-route for in- and ex-filtration, b. to reconnoitre specified targets in Noord-Brabant and to recruit saboteurs; 19420328/29 (near Holten, Overijssel);23 also under Molenaar; arrested 19420428:24 @ training name Leo AKKERMAN; operational name TURNIP; AKKI; Akki GIELEN; Leo HISTORIAN; code name in the field LEO; field name Willem van GIELEN; J. van ELZEN.25 ‘ANKE’ PALS, M. ‘ANTON’ AULNIS de BOUROUILL, d’, baron, P.-L. ‘ANTONIO’ WAAL, van de, M.W. ‘APOLLO’ SCHELLE, van, J.D.A.