Photo:
Noud Stultiens posing with a SCR-536
handy-talkie transceiver. The same
he used on 18 September 1944.
Noud Stultiens posing with a SCR-
Then, on 10 May 1940, the Germans invaded the Netherlands. The city of Rotterdam was bombarded, leaving it completely flattened. It didn’t take
long for the country to surrender. Pretty quick, Noud got used to see Germans in the towns and villages.
At the outbreak of the war, Noud was studying chemistry in Enschede, a city in the North-East of the Netherlands, close to the German border.
He graduated in 1941 and decided to go back to Eindhoven. He cycled across the land, to find out that all the mayor road bridges over the rivers
were either blown up or bombed. Noud got himself a job at a hosiery in Schijndel, called Jansen en de Wit. He was in charge of the laboratory and
the dye works. After two years of occupation, it was almost impossible to produce anything in the factory. The factory couldn’t import cotton and
wool anymore and all other materials were rationed.
In 1942, Noud decided to move to Schijndel, because the public transportation system became unreliable. Germans were always asking for your
ID (Ausweiss). My Ausweiss read that I was in an important job at ‘Jansen en de Wit’, a job that supported the war effort. Philips personnel in
Eindhoven had a similar line on their Ausweiss.
In 1944 Noud’s father received a letter telling him to do Obligatory Work Service in Zeeland, the coastline had to be reinforced. His father had
pancreas problems so Noud decided to visit the German Orts-Kommandant (mayor) of Eindhoven and tell him his father was unfit for duty.
Noud obviously convinced him, because a few days later his father’s name was removed from the list.
long for the country to surrender. Pretty quick, Noud got used to see Germans in the towns and villages.
At the outbreak of the war, Noud was studying chemistry in Enschede, a city in the North-
were either blown up or bombed. Noud got himself a job at a hosiery in Schijndel, called Jansen en de Wit. He was in charge of the laboratory and
the dye works. After two years of occupation, it was almost impossible to produce anything in the factory. The factory couldn’t import cotton and
wool anymore and all other materials were rationed.
In 1942, Noud decided to move to Schijndel, because the public transportation system became unreliable. Germans were always asking for your
ID (Ausweiss). My Ausweiss read that I was in an important job at ‘Jansen en de Wit’, a job that supported the war effort. Philips personnel in
Eindhoven had a similar line on their Ausweiss.
In 1944 Noud’s father received a letter telling him to do Obligatory Work Service in Zeeland, the coastline had to be reinforced. His father had
pancreas problems so Noud decided to visit the German Orts-
On Sunday 17 September Noud saw the planes flying over Eindhoven
on their way to Son where around 8,700 paratroopers landed on the drop
zone. Opposite his home was a park where the retreating Germans had
parked some of their vehicles. Three enemy soldiers came over to his
house and rang the doorbell. They were slightly drunk and pushed passed
Noud looking for coffee. His Dutch Shepherd dog went for one of the men
but he managed to call him off. The soldier produced a stick grenade and
started to wave it around and one of his colleagues took it from him.
Noud’s mother calmed the situation down and made them several cups of
coffee made from tulip bulbs and they left. Noud met the first American
soldier on the 18th sitting on the corner of Stratumseind and Bilderdijklaan,
elbows on his knees, both hands under his chin, trying to relax.
Noud still remembers the first words he said to him, ‘good afternoon, make
yourself comfortable and welcome to Holland especially Eindhoven’.
He jumped up and took Noud to his captain* because an interpreter was
urgently required. Very few people could speak English and Noud was happy
to be able to help. The captain asked Noud if he could arrange permission
for him to have access to one of the surrounding houses.
Noud quickly arranged a room at his parents house, but this room wasn’t
big enough. He arranged a large room at a house on Stratumseind, owned by
Mietsie Vosters. He was given a ‘walkie talkie’ complete with call sign (K4).
Noud’s job was to communicate civilian reports of enemy troops, movement
and snipers. Noud said: ‘the captain had a lot of maps at his disposal.
I was impressed by the detail on these maps. Almost every house, factory,
and street of Eindhoven was on it, just like blueprints’
on their way to Son where around 8,700 paratroopers landed on the drop
zone. Opposite his home was a park where the retreating Germans had
parked some of their vehicles. Three enemy soldiers came over to his
house and rang the doorbell. They were slightly drunk and pushed passed
Noud looking for coffee. His Dutch Shepherd dog went for one of the men
but he managed to call him off. The soldier produced a stick grenade and
started to wave it around and one of his colleagues took it from him.
Noud’s mother calmed the situation down and made them several cups of
coffee made from tulip bulbs and they left. Noud met the first American
soldier on the 18th sitting on the corner of Stratumseind and Bilderdijklaan,
elbows on his knees, both hands under his chin, trying to relax.
Noud still remembers the first words he said to him, ‘good afternoon, make
yourself comfortable and welcome to Holland especially Eindhoven’.
He jumped up and took Noud to his captain* because an interpreter was
urgently required. Very few people could speak English and Noud was happy
to be able to help. The captain asked Noud if he could arrange permission
for him to have access to one of the surrounding houses.
Noud quickly arranged a room at his parents house, but this room wasn’t
big enough. He arranged a large room at a house on Stratumseind, owned by
Mietsie Vosters. He was given a ‘walkie talkie’ complete with call sign (K4).
Noud’s job was to communicate civilian reports of enemy troops, movement
and snipers. Noud said: ‘the captain had a lot of maps at his disposal.
I was impressed by the detail on these maps. Almost every house, factory,
and street of Eindhoven was on it, just like blueprints’
Photo: Dutch Military police and members of the resistance movement (PAN)
Parade through the Bilderdijklaan on the 18th. On the corner of the building behind
them, bakery A. Coppens, Noud met his first American paratrooper. (Starink)
Parade through the Bilderdijklaan on the 18th. On the corner of the building behind
them, bakery A. Coppens, Noud met his first American paratrooper. (Starink)
Noud had no other contact with the 506 PIR besides the captain. Intelligence
was coming in all the time. He interpreted it and the captain plotted the
information on the map. Valuable information was then sent out via radio to
the other rifle companies. Noud remembers one incident that occured that
afternoon. The captain received intelligence of a German tank approacing
Eindhoven. This was a big problem, especially with all these civilians on the
streets. What could he do to get rid of all the civilians, so if the message was
true, they wouldn’t get harmed. Noud suggested to fire a couple of shots over
the Dommel river closeby. It wouldn’t hurt anyone, cause nobody lived in the
area he suggested. The captain ordered some of his men, to fire rifle grenades
over the Dommel causing some explosions. It worked, the people ran of,
running for cover. It wasn’t a long term solution and the people returned.
Luckily there was no enemy tank approaching.
Later that afternoon, the captain moved his intelligence team to the centre of
Eindhoven. There were numerous occasions when I was asked to speak directly
to a Dutch civilian who had been put on the other end of the line.
This amazing experience of working with the 506 PIR ended, when the British
2nd army entered town at around 7 pm. It was an experience never to forget.
This interview was made possible by Ian Gardner, a talented writer and
researcher for 3-506 PIR. Author of the book: ‘Tonight we die as men’.
was coming in all the time. He interpreted it and the captain plotted the
information on the map. Valuable information was then sent out via radio to
the other rifle companies. Noud remembers one incident that occured that
afternoon. The captain received intelligence of a German tank approacing
Eindhoven. This was a big problem, especially with all these civilians on the
streets. What could he do to get rid of all the civilians, so if the message was
true, they wouldn’t get harmed. Noud suggested to fire a couple of shots over
the Dommel river closeby. It wouldn’t hurt anyone, cause nobody lived in the
area he suggested. The captain ordered some of his men, to fire rifle grenades
over the Dommel causing some explosions. It worked, the people ran of,
running for cover. It wasn’t a long term solution and the people returned.
Luckily there was no enemy tank approaching.
Later that afternoon, the captain moved his intelligence team to the centre of
Eindhoven. There were numerous occasions when I was asked to speak directly
to a Dutch civilian who had been put on the other end of the line.
This amazing experience of working with the 506 PIR ended, when the British
2nd army entered town at around 7 pm. It was an experience never to forget.
This interview was made possible by Ian Gardner, a talented writer and
researcher for 3-
* = This could be Captain Bill Leach of the Regimental S-2 section
Photo: Noud Stultiens talking to Sean M Jenkins, current commander of the 506
PIR, shortly after the ceremony on 20 September 2009 in Son. (F. Derks vd Ven)
PIR, shortly after the ceremony on 20 September 2009 in Son. (F. Derks vd Ven)
His story: Noud Stultiens
On 19 February 2010, my friend Tom Timmermans and I went to visit
Noud Stultiens who resides in Breugel, the Netherlands. We heard via
Ian Gardner that Noud has been a translator for the 101st Airborne
Division during WWII and thought we should pay him a visit. This is
his story.
Noud is born on 23 September 1921 and lived in the town of Eindhoven. He lived on the Catharinastraat
with his father, mother and older brother. Noud graduated from high school in 1939. One of his friends, who
had a connection with an English family, asked Noud if he would join him for a cycling trip in the South of
England. They would be accompanied by the son of the family. Noud thought it was a great opportunity and
accepted the offer. During his time in England, the Germans invaded Poland and Noud and his friend decided
to go back to Eindhoven.
His dad had a shop in Eindhoven, selling handmade clothing. It was hard to stay in business during the war
years because of all the shortages.
On 19 February 2010, my friend Tom Timmermans and I went to visit
Noud Stultiens who resides in Breugel, the Netherlands. We heard via
Ian Gardner that Noud has been a translator for the 101st Airborne
Division during WWII and thought we should pay him a visit. This is
his story.
Noud is born on 23 September 1921 and lived in the town of Eindhoven. He lived on the Catharinastraat
with his father, mother and older brother. Noud graduated from high school in 1939. One of his friends, who
had a connection with an English family, asked Noud if he would join him for a cycling trip in the South of
England. They would be accompanied by the son of the family. Noud thought it was a great opportunity and
accepted the offer. During his time in England, the Germans invaded Poland and Noud and his friend decided
to go back to Eindhoven.
His dad had a shop in Eindhoven, selling handmade clothing. It was hard to stay in business during the war
years because of all the shortages.
