Man with fire wood
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1945. Photo: Menno Huizinga

Shortage of firewood

Especially by the final year of the war, everything was in short supply. Adults and even children set out with home-made carts to gather firewood in places like the Scheveningen Woods.

The occupation authorities had already ordered the felling of most of the trees to create clear lines of fire. People often picked up loose branches and twigs, but sometimes they even tried to cut down the remaining trees. This was forbidden, so it was a tense moment if you were spotted by a German soldier. Would you be punished or would he ignore the matter? 

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