In early September 1944, the building was requisitioned by the Germans. Just four days later, the feared Sicherheitsdienst took control of the complex. They imprisoned hundreds of resistance fighters from across the country, along with Allied soldiers. Many were declared Todeskandidaten without any form of trial. Seventy-one men spent their final hours here: on 2 March 1945, 46 of them were executed, followed by another 25 six days later.

A month earlier, on 1 February, 94 men had been transported to Neuengamme concentration camp. Of these, only seven returned alive. Seventeen others survived by jumping from the train en route.

As the Allies approached the Dutch border, Hitler’s orders called for the execution of the remaining prisoners. However, on 27 March 1945, 57 women and six men were deported to Westerbork instead. Two weeks later, the women were forced to walk the infamous Women’s March. After the war, it became clear that 80% of their husbands or partners had not survived.

Following the liberation, De Kruisberg was used to detain 1,300 members of the NSB and others from the Achterhoek region suspected of collaboration.

The prison pavilion contains 34 single cells, each measuring 3 by 5 metres. During the war, however, four, five, or even six people were often crammed into a single cell. The oldest prisoner was allowed to sleep on the bed; the others had to make do with straw sacks on the floor. The windows on the canal side were painted white to prevent prisoners from seeing outside. Today, the Doetinchem Remembers Foundation shares the stories of resistance fighters and Allied soldiers who were held at De Kruisberg. The stories of (alleged) NSB members and collaborators are also told. To visit during opening hours, please register via the website: www.doetinchemherdenkt.nl/Bezoek-kruisberg