The Woman of Putten - Putten

This mourning lady in traditional costume, made of sandstone, is a reminder of the darkest page in Putten's history. The Putten raid of 2 October 1944.

On the night of 30 September to 1 October, members of the Putten resistance committed an attack on a car of the German Wehrmacht. A German officer is killed in the process. The Germans take revenge; by order of General Friederich Christiansen, Putten is surrounded by German troops. The men were separated from the women and children. 659 men, aged between 15 and 50, were taken away to Camp Amersfoort and transported to various German concentration camps. The women and children were driven to church, while their houses were set on fire. After liberation, only 48 men returned to Putten.

The Little Woman of Putten symbolises this great sorrow. She holds a handkerchief in her hand and looks in the direction of the Old Church, from where the men were taken at the time.