Geuzenveld-Slotermeer in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Jan Postma
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 25, 2022
1. Jan Postma Marker
Jan Postma Amsterdam, 18 februari 1895 - Vught, 31 juli 1944
Jan Postma raakte tijdens de oorlog al snel betrokken bij steeds meer illegale werkzaamheden. Hij kreeg in 1943 de leiding over de Communistische Partij Nederland (CPN). Daarnaast was hij betrokken bij de vorming van de Raad van Verzet.
Eind 1943 werd Postma samen met andere CPN-kopstukken opgepakt. Tijdens zijn. gevangenschap hield hij contact met de CPN en gaf hij informatie door die hij tijdens zijn verhoren verzamelde. Bezorgd was hij over zijn kameraden en niet over zichzelf.
Diverse pogingen om hem te bevrijden, mislukten. Zijn proces eindigde in een doodvonnis. In de afscheidsbrief aan zijn vrouw schreef Postma: 'Het was misschien meer in overeenstemming met mijn aard geweest een rustig huisvader en goed vakman met vaste betrekking te worden, maar het is anders gegaan'.
During the war, Jan Postma quickly became involved in an increasing number of illegal activities. In 1943 he was put in charge of the Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN). He was also involved in the formation of the Council of Resistance.
At the end of 1943, Postma was arrested, together with other CPN leaders. During his captivity he kept in touch with the CPN and passed on the information that he collected from his interrogations. He was concerned about his comrades and not about himself.
Various attempts to liberate him were made, but they failed. His trial ended in a death sentence. In his farewell letter to his wife Postma wrote: 'It would maybe have been more in line with my nature to have become a quiet family man and good professional with a permanent job, but things have turned out differently'.
Erected by Geef
this page online
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Give Streets a Face / Geef Straten Een Gezicht, and the Heroes of the Dutch Resistance (GSEG) series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is July 31, 1944.
Location. 52° 22.832′ N, 4° 49.898′ E. Memorial is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Geuzenveld-Slotermeer. It is at the intersection of De Tourton Bruynsstraat and Jan Postmahof, on the right when traveling east on De Tourton Bruynsstraat. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1063 XL, Netherlands. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Benelux Low Countries, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Titus de Tourton Bruijns (within shouting distance of this marker); Frans Duwaer (about 90 meters away, measured
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 25, 2022
2. Jan Postma Marker - wide view
Also see . . . Jan Postma (CPN) (Wikipedia, in Dutch).
Excerpt (in translation):" At the beginning of the Second World War , Postma withdrew from the CPN by order of the party leadership, to concentrate on his old work as a chemigrapher. In that position he could forge identity cards. He also occasionally carried out secret assignments for the Comintern. From 1942 he became involved in the party again, when he regularly had to replace the Amsterdam leader Jan Janzen. After his arrest in 1943, Postma was put in charge of the Amsterdam branch. When, a few months later, part of the party leadership was arrested and Paul de Groot went into hiding, Postma was put in charge. He sought more connection with social-democratic groups, among others, and argued for a parliamentary-democratic path to socialism in the Netherlands after the war. Postma took an active part in an attempt to unite the armed resistance by forming the Council of Resistance. However, on November 11, 1943, Postma, along with other CPN leaders, was arrested by the Sicherheitsdienst. He was imprisoned in the House of Detention in Amsterdam, and in Camp Vught. On April 20, 1944, Postma was sentenced to death. He was executed in Scheveningen on July 31 of that year."(Submitted on August 22, 2022.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 254 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 22, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
