Hotel de Wereld
Encyclopedia
Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen
was the site of the capitulation of the German
troops in the Netherlands
on 5 and 6 May 1945, and the end of German occupation during World War II
.
On 6 May 1945, the German general Blaskowitz
surrendered to the Canadian general Charles Foulkes
, which ended the Second World War in the Netherlands. The Generals negotiated the terms of surrender in the Hotel de Wereld.
This fact is remembered annually.
and Arnhem
. The inn appears on a map of Gerard Passevant (thithe map) in 1676. In 1814 the oldest painting of the hotel was made, this painting was commissiond by Gerrit Steuk when he became the owner of the inn. In 1852 a new hotel was built (current building) on the foundations of the old inn. In 1872 a new extension of three storeys was build.
and the Baltic Sea in the beginning of May 1945, the German troops in Denmark and part of The Netherlands were isolated from their homebase. Without major fights, they surrendereed to Montgomery on May 4 at Lüneburg Heath
. On 5 May 1945 the negotiation for the surrender of the Germans in The Netherlands took place in the hotel. The Canadian general Charles Foulkes
, Canadian general George Kitching
, Prince Bernhard, German general Johannes Blaskowitz
and German general Paul Reichel were present at the negotiation. On 6 May 1945 the official signing of the capitulation act took place in the Aula of the Landbouwhogeschool
next to the hotel. Photos can be seen here. The pen used to sign can be seen in the local museum the Casteelse poort (English: Castles gate)
By 1975 the Hotel was fully restored. The opening of the restored Hotel was done by H.R.H. Prince Bernhard
, who represented the Netherlands at the capitulation in 1945. Since 2004 it is again a hotel and restaurant.
On 8 July 1945 the bronze plaque was attached to the wall of the Hotel by the Canadians. On 9 July Prince Bernhard unveiled the plaque which was given by General Foulkes to remember the capitulation act signed in Wageningen.
Wageningen
' is a municipality and a historical town in the central Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland. It is famous for Wageningen University, which specializes in life sciences. The city has 37,414 inhabitants , of which many thousands are students...
was the site of the capitulation of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
troops in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
on 5 and 6 May 1945, and the end of German occupation during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
On 6 May 1945, the German general Blaskowitz
Johannes Blaskowitz
Johannes Albrecht Blaskowitz was a German general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
surrendered to the Canadian general Charles Foulkes
Charles Foulkes (Canadian)
Charles Foulkes, was a Canadian soldier, and an officer of The Royal Canadian Regiment.-Military career:Foulkes was born in Stockton-on-Tees, England and joined the Canadian Army in 1926...
, which ended the Second World War in the Netherlands. The Generals negotiated the terms of surrender in the Hotel de Wereld.
This fact is remembered annually.
History
In 1669 Jacob Meijnsen had a hotel outsite the city gates of Wageningen. This is the first historical fact of the hotel "De Waerelt". It was a stopping place between UtrechtUtrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
and Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
. The inn appears on a map of Gerard Passevant (thithe map) in 1676. In 1814 the oldest painting of the hotel was made, this painting was commissiond by Gerrit Steuk when he became the owner of the inn. In 1852 a new hotel was built (current building) on the foundations of the old inn. In 1872 a new extension of three storeys was build.
World war II background
When Mongomery reached LübeckLübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
and the Baltic Sea in the beginning of May 1945, the German troops in Denmark and part of The Netherlands were isolated from their homebase. Without major fights, they surrendereed to Montgomery on May 4 at Lüneburg Heath
Lüneburg Heath
The Lüneburg Heath is a large area of heath, geest and woodland in northeastern part of the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany. It forms part of the hinterland for the cities of Hamburg, Hanover, and Bremen and is named after the town of Lüneburg. Most of the area is a nature reserve...
. On 5 May 1945 the negotiation for the surrender of the Germans in The Netherlands took place in the hotel. The Canadian general Charles Foulkes
Charles Foulkes
Charles Foulkes may refer to:*Charles Foulkes , British general, adviser on gas warfare in World War I, and field hockey player...
, Canadian general George Kitching
George Kitching
George Kitching CBE, DSO, CD was a Canadian general active in World War II.George Kitching was born on 9 September 1910 in Guangzhou , China. He died on 15 June 1999 in Victoria, Canada. He was the guest of Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld a couple of days before when he fell ill...
, Prince Bernhard, German general Johannes Blaskowitz
Johannes Blaskowitz
Johannes Albrecht Blaskowitz was a German general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
and German general Paul Reichel were present at the negotiation. On 6 May 1945 the official signing of the capitulation act took place in the Aula of the Landbouwhogeschool
Wageningen University
Wageningen University and Research Centre is a Dutch public university in Wageningen, The Netherlands. It consists of Wageningen University, the Van Hall-Larenstein School of Higher Professional Education, and the former agricultural research institutes of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture...
next to the hotel. Photos can be seen here. The pen used to sign can be seen in the local museum the Casteelse poort (English: Castles gate)
By 1975 the Hotel was fully restored. The opening of the restored Hotel was done by H.R.H. Prince Bernhard
Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld , later Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, was prince consort of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and father of six children, including the current monarch Queen Beatrix....
, who represented the Netherlands at the capitulation in 1945. Since 2004 it is again a hotel and restaurant.
On 8 July 1945 the bronze plaque was attached to the wall of the Hotel by the Canadians. On 9 July Prince Bernhard unveiled the plaque which was given by General Foulkes to remember the capitulation act signed in Wageningen.