Eyewitness Testimony Eduardus Geysen

Testimony of Mr. GEYSEN, Eduard. I had received my papers to be forced to work in Germany. Our mother had said that I should stay at home. On July 9, 1944, I went bowling in the village of Schoterheide, when I was noticed by the Germans, in the presence of some collaborators. Unfortunately, my bike was locked and I could not escape in time. I was arrested and placed on a truck, heading to Herentals. From Herentals, I was then taken to Antwerp to a gathering place for all those who were arrested. A few days later, I was put on a train via Etterbeek heading to Weimar. We stayed in Weimar for a few days and later arrived in Gross-Purschütz. I remember a good friend of mine who also came to Gross-Purschütz, namely Jozef Geeraerts from Averbode. The building was an old barn at an inn. I shared a wooden bunk with Jozef with only a blanket to protect us. Immediately upon arrival, we had to start working. We moved as a group to the REIMAHG factory. I had to work in the tunnels. I did have a pneumatic drill to dig. I also had to work for a few days on the runway. To protect myself from the cold, I tied empty cement bags around me. I do remember that one day I saw a jet fighter take off. Sometimes, when returning from work, the column passed through the village where there was a baker. Some of us had some tobacco and we could then trade it for some bread. I remember there was a young girl standing at the counter. There was a line waiting... I passed them all and got my bread from her. At New Year 1944, we moved from the camp. I then came to Lager E. Everyone from our camp moved to Lager E. I no longer know the reason for this... The work I had to do at Lager E included working above the runway. I don’t remember how long, but I do know it was very cold until March. A comrade of mine, Gust Dierckx, died in Lager E. I do not remember any names of German guards or others... Regarding the liberation, I remember that four of us escaped from Lager E and hid in the woods to wait until the Americans arrived. To my great surprise, it was not Americans but Belgian soldiers we encountered. They took us to another camp. I no longer know which camp this was, but we were taken there on foot. We were deloused in the camp and given food... We were later repatriated by trucks across the Rhine to finally end up in Belgium in Jambes. I then took the train via Tienen and finally arrived home at the end of April 1945. My parents did not know I was coming back home...