Together with many other men, Piet van den Nieuwenhof and Jack van Gorkom left Switzerland on Thursday 21 December 1944 to travel to France. Their destination was Paris, where they would report for military service. Alice van den Nieuwenhof is quoted writing that they did this voluntary, and this will have been how it was actually perceived by everyone. Officially though military service was mandatory for all young Dutch men living abroad. At the same time the Dutch government in exile had no means to enforce this regulation, and so the vast majority of conscripts never showed up.
From a study by historian Agnes Dessing ("Tulpen voor Wilhelmina") can be learned that 480 men in total reported in Paris. 300 of them were selected to travel on to the battle front. The other 180 went to London. Jack belonged to the group of 300. His story is told on page 8 of this section. As Piet wanted to serve in the Dutch East or West Indies, he went to England. Soon after his departure from Switzerland, he started keeping a diary.
The Diary of Piet van den Nieuwenhof
Fournès-en-Weppes is a little village near Lille, close to the French-Belgium border. More or less by coincidence this is also close to where Piet, Jack, Alice and Li crossed the border in November 1942. Jack was in Fournès on the same day and was officially enlisted that day. It seems that Piet and Jack were already in different units then. Piet probably refers to Jack's unit in his entry of 7th January.
From a study by historian Agnes Dessing ("Tulpen voor Wilhelmina") can be learned that 480 men in total reported in Paris. 300 of them were selected to travel on to the battle front. The other 180 went to London. Jack belonged to the group of 300. His story is told on page 8 of this section. As Piet wanted to serve in the Dutch East or West Indies, he went to England. Soon after his departure from Switzerland, he started keeping a diary.
The Diary of Piet van den Nieuwenhof
"Thursday 21st December 1944. Departure from Zürich to Les Verrières.
Arrival in Pontarlier via Verrières 21st Dec. 16.45.
Friday 22nd December 1944. Depart Pontarlier 16.30.
Saturday 23rd December 1944. 9.30 in Dijon, 18.30 depart Dijon, arrive at night in Chagny.
Sunday 24th December 1944. 23.45 arrive Paris.
Monday 25th December 1944. At 11 o'clock finally in bed.
Monday 1st January 1945. Glenn Miller in the Olympia theatre in Paris. Missed the last metro, so 'walked in' the New Year. Walked for one and a half hours along the Seine to the Bois de Boulogne.
Tuesday 2nd January 1945. Went to the New Year ball of the socialists in the back streets of Paris. Marigny theatre. The Merchant of Venice.
Wednesday 3rd January 1945. Depart Paris at 22.00. Train derailed.
Thursday 4th January 1945. 10.00 arrive in Lille. By freight truck through to Fournès. Sleep on straw with one blanket. The camp was only set up four days ago. Everything badly organised. Shocking cold."
Arrival in Pontarlier via Verrières 21st Dec. 16.45.
Friday 22nd December 1944. Depart Pontarlier 16.30.
Saturday 23rd December 1944. 9.30 in Dijon, 18.30 depart Dijon, arrive at night in Chagny.
Sunday 24th December 1944. 23.45 arrive Paris.
Monday 25th December 1944. At 11 o'clock finally in bed.
Monday 1st January 1945. Glenn Miller in the Olympia theatre in Paris. Missed the last metro, so 'walked in' the New Year. Walked for one and a half hours along the Seine to the Bois de Boulogne.
Tuesday 2nd January 1945. Went to the New Year ball of the socialists in the back streets of Paris. Marigny theatre. The Merchant of Venice.
Wednesday 3rd January 1945. Depart Paris at 22.00. Train derailed.
Thursday 4th January 1945. 10.00 arrive in Lille. By freight truck through to Fournès. Sleep on straw with one blanket. The camp was only set up four days ago. Everything badly organised. Shocking cold."
Fournès-en-Weppes is a little village near Lille, close to the French-Belgium border. More or less by coincidence this is also close to where Piet, Jack, Alice and Li crossed the border in November 1942. Jack was in Fournès on the same day and was officially enlisted that day. It seems that Piet and Jack were already in different units then. Piet probably refers to Jack's unit in his entry of 7th January.
"Friday 5th January 1945. We spend the day doing exercises. Went to sick parade in the morning. 400 men from Nijmegen, Eindhoven and Den Bosch arrive. Foundation of the new Dutch army. Cabaret with [Max] Tailleur. We receive the information that the "Indies"-group will go back to Paris on Monday.
Saturday 6th January 1945. Back to sick parade for injury since Zurich.
Exercises. Excellent food but little to eat. Lose my trusty nail scissors and suitcase key. In Fournès the business is absolutely unorganised. Kitchen task excellent work.
Sunday 7th January 1945. Exercises. 11.00 visit the church. Again wait in the cold to collect food and wash tins. Like every other day. Afternoon free. Bored and hungry. One contingent from Switzerland travel through to Holland to the training camps. We have to prepare for the return to Paris. Wake at 5 o'clock.
Monday 8th January 1945. Wake at 5am. Don't leave from Fournès for Lille until 8 o'clock by lorries. Arrived just too late. Train left at 8.05. Must wait until 13.00. Walk from pillar to post.
15.45 leave Lille. Make the trip in the baggage net.
Tuesday 9th January 1945. Arrive at Gare du Nord in Paris at 4am. I feel sick, wait a long time for the baggage (the goods wagon was decoupled) and on the bus.
5.30 leave Gare du Nord for Hôtel-Dieu. Fall in bed totally exhausted. Splitting headache. Ted examined me and gave me an aspirin.
Heavy snowfall. Paris all white."
Saturday 6th January 1945. Back to sick parade for injury since Zurich.
Exercises. Excellent food but little to eat. Lose my trusty nail scissors and suitcase key. In Fournès the business is absolutely unorganised. Kitchen task excellent work.
Sunday 7th January 1945. Exercises. 11.00 visit the church. Again wait in the cold to collect food and wash tins. Like every other day. Afternoon free. Bored and hungry. One contingent from Switzerland travel through to Holland to the training camps. We have to prepare for the return to Paris. Wake at 5 o'clock.
Monday 8th January 1945. Wake at 5am. Don't leave from Fournès for Lille until 8 o'clock by lorries. Arrived just too late. Train left at 8.05. Must wait until 13.00. Walk from pillar to post.
15.45 leave Lille. Make the trip in the baggage net.
Tuesday 9th January 1945. Arrive at Gare du Nord in Paris at 4am. I feel sick, wait a long time for the baggage (the goods wagon was decoupled) and on the bus.
5.30 leave Gare du Nord for Hôtel-Dieu. Fall in bed totally exhausted. Splitting headache. Ted examined me and gave me an aspirin.
Heavy snowfall. Paris all white."
