Resistance in the Town Hall
The monumental building on Raadhuisstraat 14 is the former town hall. In September 1943, four officials, including the town clerk, were arrested for listening to the English radio station in the attic of the town hall. To avoid imprisonment, they went into hiding in November 1943. The new municipal secretary, along with some civil servants, engaged in organised resistance. In January, they fled to liberated territory for fear that the appointed NSB mayor would find out.
On Thursday afternoon, 22 June 1944, the town hall in Didam was surrounded by about 20 Germans to arrest Wim Veugelers, one of the secretarial officers. Fortunately, the bird had already flown and they had to leave without further ado. Veugelers then went into hiding until the liberation.
His activities were taken over by Toon Bus a short time later. He too soon became involved in the organised resistance work that took place from the municipal secretariat in Didam. “Toon was with the underground,” says his brother Harrie. “I sometimes helped Toon with his illegal activities. For example, he gave me distribution vouchers, which I had to deliver to an address. Toon had ‘arranged’ these coupons, which were intended for people in hiding, at the town hall or the distribution office.”