Aaike (Arie) van Driel (Werkendam, June 22, 1905 - Fort De Bilt, April 30, 1945) was a Dutch resistance warrior during the Second World War. The Biesbosch MWO
Biesbosch has played a lot in the war years. The Dutch felt safe in this maze, the Germans did not. Spy group Albrecht was founded and sent until September 1944 messages from the Biesbosch to London. Then they moved to Rotterdam, which was better accessible.
As of November 6, 1944, the Biesbosch fell between the lines of the Germans and the Allies, and 21 people were involved as 'line-crosser'. On two different routes, people, goods, information and medicine were transported from occupied to the liberated Netherlands, and, in total, approximately 370 crossings were made.
To transfer three agents from the Information Office, Van Driel made his 54th crossing on March 18, 1945. Rowing at the collapse of the New Merwede and Amer, its partly leaky boat was grafted by a German stormboat; The occupants were detained and taken to the jail of Rotterdam. Later Van Driel was transported to prison at Wolvenplein in Utrecht where he was interviewed and abused with Kees van de Sande, who was arrested on March 30 in his house in Sleeuwijk. They were fired by a drunk German on April 30, 1945. Their digging is at the Protestant Cemetery of Werkendam. Distinguished
On August 30, 1948, Van Driel posthumously received the Military Willems Order (MWO.4), on the same day, Kees van de Sande was also awarded posthumously. Monument
A monument was established in Werkendam in memory of Arie van Driel and Kees van de Sande. Both men are in bronze on a natural stone shelf. On the plaque is:
"DE LINE-CROSSER" In memory of the resistance fighters those via the Biesbosch and Merwede from 6 November 1944 to 5 May 1945 Booted the connection between occupied and liberated the Netherlands. Two of them gave their lives: A.V.Driel and K.P.v.d.Sande, fired April 30, 1945.
Near Hank (on the A27), on October 5, 1960, Prince Bernhard unveiled a memorial depicting a depiction of the two resistance heroes.
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