Jan Verleun: Dutch Soldier and Resistance Hero Against the Nazis

Jan Verleun was a Dutch resistance hero who was executed by the Nazis at the age of 24 for his role in the underground resistance during World War II. Born into a devout Catholic family in Amsterdam, Verleun dreamed of becoming a priest and later a soldier. During World War II when Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, he was serving at a casemate near Arnhem. Wounded during the battle, he made a vow to God: if he survived, he would devote his life to fighting for his country’s liberation. This promise led Verleun into the heart of the Dutch underground, where he operated under aliases such as George Devage. He joined CS-6, a resistance group composed of students and intellectuals. Alongside figures like Pam Pooters and Gerrit Kastein, he forged documents, helped Jews hide, and sabotaged Nazi infrastructure. He also supported the February Strike of 1941, one of the first mass protests against the deportation of Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe. Verleun took part in several high-risk missions, including the assassination of General Hendrik Seyffardt, a prominent Nazi collaborator, and later of Folkert Posthuma. These actions made him a major target for German authorities. In November 1943, after a betrayal, he was arrested and tortured by the SD (SS intelligence) in Amsterdam. Despite this, he managed to write farewell letters from his cell, maintaining his faith and dignity to the end. On 7 January 1944, Jan Verleun was executed at Waalsdorpervlakte, a site where many resistance fighters were killed. His body was buried in an unmarked grave. After the war, his family and fellow parishioners honored his memory with a sculpture in Boomkerk, symbolizing the struggle against tyranny. This film tells the story of a young man who, driven by faith and conviction, became a symbol of resistance in Nazi-occupied Holland. Through his sacrifice, Jan Verleun reminds us of the cost of courage—and the enduring value of standing up against oppression.This episode is part of the series The Anti-Fascist Heroes.Watch the full documentary and explore hundreds of historical films at:WorldHistory.tv