Lochem, Barchem, Zwiep

Lochem played an important role in the Second World War, especially during the liberation and in the run-up to it. The whole country suffered under the yoke of the German occupiers in the four years prior, until the south of the Netherlands was liberated by the Allies in late 1944. The Allies were the cooperating armies consisting of British, American, Canadian and Polish forces. An attempt to liberate the centre and north of the Netherlands failed. Lochem and the rest of the Achterhoek region also remained in great uncertainty at the time. But the resistance and the Allies were not sitting still.

As early as 1944, the resistance organised an arms drop. On the Grote Veld, near the Sluitdijk, outside Lochem, things were arranged in the greatest secrecy between England and the resistance. A plane would drop weapons at night, guided by searchlights and with a parachute, at the drop-off site. After two failed attempts, it managed to deliver the 17 containers of weapons. The resistance was again armed to the teeth. Cycling along the Sluitdijk, one finds only nature as a silent witness to this important event.

At the end of March 1945, a major offensive began in the immediate vicinity of the Rhine. The eastern Achterhoek was liberated, but it did not go smoothly. The liberator then set course for Lochem. This town had a strategically located bridge over the Twente Canal and it had to be captured before the Germans blew it up. The players on the liberator's side were: the English shock troops of the 43rd Wessex Division who formed the vanguard. These consisted of two groups: the cavalrymen of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards with infantrymen of the 4th Bn Somerset Light Infantry. And the cavalrymen of The Sherwood Rangers with infantrymen of the 4th Bn Wiltshire Regiment. These two groups decided to go to Lochem along two routes near Barchem. One group via Zwiep and the other via Barchem. The liberation of Lochem had thus begun.

Near Zwiep, at the foot of the Lochemse Berg, a bloody battle began which came to be known as the Battle of Langense Enk. The first group of cavalrymen lost many fighters, but achieved victory over the Germans. The group, led by commander Peter Mellowes, which advanced across Barchem towards Lochem, had fewer problems. They did lose a Sherman tank, but captured 100 Germans. Lochem was liberated 2 April by the 43rd Wessex Division, for which many British soldiers gave their lives. Because the division was withdrawn fairly immediately after the liberation and were relieved by the Canadians, it was long thought that Lochem was liberated by the Canadians.

On Somerset 1 just outside Lochem, a monument has been erected to commemorate the fighting of the 43rd Wessex Division on Langense Enk. Every year on 1 April, this event is commemorated by pupils of Staring College Lochem.


Old photos: National Archives


This Premium cycle route was compiled by our editor: Martin van Rhee.