Monument oorlogsslachtoffers Korea en Nederlands-Indië - Smilde - the Netherlands
Posted by: 
eilers1
N 52° 56.907 E 006° 26.817
32U E 328475 N 5869586
Monument for 5 soldiers, born in Smilde, who died in the wars between the Netherlands and their former colony Indonesia and the Korean war.
Waymark Code: WM158MH
Location: Drenthe, Netherlands
Date Posted: 11/09/2021
Views: 6
On June 25, 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea. The United Nations Security Council then adopted Resolution 84 to provide military assistance to South Korea. Ultimately, this support consisted of a force in which, in addition to troops from the United States, another fifteen countries took part: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, the Philippines, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and South Africa. All troops were led by the United States. U.S. General Douglas MacArthur was named commander in chief.
The Dutch government was not immediately motivated to comply with the UN Security Council's call to contribute to the struggle in Korea. Prime Minister Willem Drees feared that an aggressive American response would lead to a global conflict. The government was also afraid that the increasing defense efforts would weigh heavily on the Dutch budget, endangering the post-war reconstruction in its own country. One problem was that people did not want to burden their own international position too much. A solution was found in a contribution from the Royal Netherlands Navy and on 3 July 1950 the destroyer Hr.Ms. Evertsen sent to Korean waters. The Evertsen was the first of a total of six Dutch naval ships that would participate in the Korean conflict in the period 1950-1955. Under the command of the commander of the American naval forces in the Far East, the Dutch navy performed various tasks. She escorted aircraft carriers, conducted patrols and supported ground troops with artillery fire.
After heavy American pressure, the Dutch government decided to send out ground troops and in August 1950 volunteers were called up in the Netherlands to fight against the North Korean aggression. 1670 volunteers registered and in October the Netherlands Detachment United Nations (NDVN) was established. The first group of 636 men, commanded by Lt. Col. M.P.A. den Ouden departed on October 26, 1950 with the transport ship Zuiderkruis. The last detachment left in July 1954. By the end of 1954 all the men of the Dutch detachment had returned. The Dutch army was equipped with American clothing and fell under the 38th Regiment of the 2nd 'Indianhead' Infantry Division (8th Army) of the Americans. In the period 1950-1954, 4,748 Dutch soldiers from the Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Navy and Marine Corps were deployed in the battle in Korea, of whom 122 were killed. Three were missing. The heaviest battles they were involved in were those at Hoengseong, Wonju and Inje. At Hoengseong (February 1951) 15 Dutchmen were killed, including the commander, Superior Den Ouden. At Inje (June 1951) 20 Dutch soldiers were killed.
The monument in Smilde was erected for victims of two wars. Four soldiers from Smilde were killed in the independence struggle of Indonesia, a country that had always been a colony of the Netherlands.
A soldier from Smilde was killed in the Korean War. This soldier, J. Daling, was born on 02/19/1915 in Smilde and died in the battle for Inje on 05/31/1951.
On the monument is written in Dutch:
Zij gaven alles, hun leven
(They gave everything, their lives)
The monument was designed by Onno de Ruijter and consists of a brick base with a bronze sculpture in the shape of an open book.
The monument contains earth from the war cemeteries, in the case of Korea, Pusan.
Official opening: 09/09/1998
Website pertaining to the memorial: [Web Link]
List if there are any visiting hours:
24/7
Entrance fees (if it applies):
None
Type of memorial: Monument
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