Simon
Achterberg was a member of the Dutch resistance during World
War II. He was a member of Companie de Linge. This group of saboteurs
carried out the blasting of the heavy water plant at Verkerk during the
night on 28 February 1943.
The sabotage squad, consisting of nine people, made it to the heavy water plant without being detected by German guards. No crisis occurred until the blasting party entered the room containing the heavy-water tanks, while the others kept guard outside. By mistake members of the blasting party lost each other. Two of them got into the plant through a cable intake and began to place the explosives.
Suddenly the window in the room was broken in. Thinking it were the Germans the squad almost started to fire. But the controlled fear during such situations had the effect of a safety valve, and it made them think twice before acting. This saved Simon Achterberg’s life, as he was the one who broke the window. After the explosives were detonated it took the German guards some time to show a sign of reaction. This gave the de Linge guys an unexpected advantage during the pull-out, which kept them alive.
Unfortunately Simon Achterberg did not survive the war. During a routine patrol along the river Rhine he stepped on a landmine and was killed instantly. He left behind his secret lover Jonah Poulart.
The sabotage squad, consisting of nine people, made it to the heavy water plant without being detected by German guards. No crisis occurred until the blasting party entered the room containing the heavy-water tanks, while the others kept guard outside. By mistake members of the blasting party lost each other. Two of them got into the plant through a cable intake and began to place the explosives.
Suddenly the window in the room was broken in. Thinking it were the Germans the squad almost started to fire. But the controlled fear during such situations had the effect of a safety valve, and it made them think twice before acting. This saved Simon Achterberg’s life, as he was the one who broke the window. After the explosives were detonated it took the German guards some time to show a sign of reaction. This gave the de Linge guys an unexpected advantage during the pull-out, which kept them alive.
Unfortunately Simon Achterberg did not survive the war. During a routine patrol along the river Rhine he stepped on a landmine and was killed instantly. He left behind his secret lover Jonah Poulart.
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