Unheard Heroes of World War II: The Van Hall Brothers and the Dutch Resistance
Amidst the chaos of World War II, countless heroes emerged who fought back against adversity. One such story, buried in the annals of history, revolves around the van Hall brothers, Gijs and Wally. Their actions, while rooted in the decaying remnants of a nation under occupation, showcased brilliance and bravery.
The Greatest Banking Fraud in History
One of the most remarkable feats of resistance during World War II is the story of the van Hall brothers' theft from the German-occupied Dutch National Bank. The brothers managed to steal over 500 million Dutch guilders, a sum equivalent to over half a billion dollars today. This extraordinary heist was not merely a robbery; it was a masterful act of resistance and financial acumen during a time of great need.
The Nationwide Railway Strike and Operation Market Garden
In September 1944, the Dutch government-in-exile called for a nationwide railway strike to disrupt German operations. Over 30,000 workers were initially enthusiastic, hoping for a quick end to the conflict. However, when Operation Market Garden failed, the prolonged war led to the German authorities blocking wage payments and restricting withdrawals above 100 guilders, with salaries alone remaining as a form of support.
These actions only strengthened the resolve of the strikers, who refused to back down. Resources quickly became scarce, leading to severe rationing and hardship. It was in this desperate time that Dutch resistance leader Walraven Wally van Hall stepped in. As a banker, he secured loans to finance the strikes, but with German restrictions in place, he needed a new plan.
The Ingenious Plan and Secret Printing Press
Gijs van Hall designed a brilliant, yet daring plan. Dutch resistance had a secret printing press capable of creating forgeries of promissory notes. These notes were short-term bonds that could be exchanged for cash at the bank. However, faking convincing documents was an enormous challenge, and if the forgeries entered general circulation, they would be quickly detected.
The van Halls reached out to Henri Ritter, a cashier at the national bank. Ritter had lost two sons to the Germans and was eager for revenge. Each day, Ritter smuggled genuine promissory notes from the National Bank's vaults to the van Halls, who returned forged versions to be placed back into the vault. This strategy was ingenious because no one would suspect that the genuine promissory notes stored in the vault were fake.
The Execution and Impact of the Plan
The van Halls approached various banks, claiming to represent a fund that had invested in these securities and wished to liquidate them to maintain production. The story was farfetched, and the banks knew it, but seeing the genuine promissory notes, they were willing to help. As a result, the van Halls not only supported the strike but also financed the entire Dutch resistance until the war's end.
A Tragic Conclusion
Sadly, the story takes a tragic turn. In January 1945, Wally was betrayed by a fellow resistance member and was captured just three months before the liberation of the Netherlands. His brother Gijs survived to tell their story, and today, a small monument stands in the place of Wally's ution, with the inscription: “And now abide faith, hope, love; these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Wally van Hall, a true hero, is deserving of all the recognition and admiration we can give him. This Quora post serves as a tribute to him and his brother's incredible achievements during one of history's darkest periods.
Related Keywords
World War II heroes, Dutch resistance, banking fraud