Stumbling Stone: former mayor’s residence

This Stumbling Stone, located in front of the former mayor’s residence, was placed there to mark the release of the film ‘The Mayor’s Murder’. It was unveiled on 15 August 2024, 80 years after the murder of former Mayor Wijnen.

When standing in front of the house, look at the pavement, beneath the first window on the left next to the door. 

During the night of 14 to 15 August 1944, Mayors Willem Wijnen (Asten) and Piet Smulders (Someren) were dragged from their beds by a Sonderkommando of the German SS. The mayors had previously refused to designate ‘volunteers’ in their municipalities for the Arbeitseinsatz in Germany or for the construction of the Atlantic Wall on the coast. “That is not in the Dutch interest,” they had agreed with their colleagues in the Geldrop mayors’ association. Initially, the Germans arrested the two mayors to lead teams of forced labourers from Asten and Someren who were to drive piles in Zeeland. Back at their posts, they thought they were safe.

When the resistance in Gemert executed several members of the Landwacht, Willem Wijnen and Piet Smulders were once again arrested, abducted and cowardly murdered on the quiet Kanaaldijk-Zuid in Someren as part of Operation Silbertanne. The third victim of the abduction, Frans Eijsbouts from Someren, survived the attack. On the basis of his testimony, the perpetrators were brought to trial after the war. The other uncooperative mayors were also arrested and perished in concentration camps after enduring horrific hardships. Near the site of the murders, along the Someren-Eind-Sluis XIII service road, stands a monument commemorating the Silbertanne murders.