History of Sorts

The German Reich Commissioner , in the Netherlands, Arthur Seyss-Inquart issued the second metal ordinance (Metallgutverordnung) on July 23, 1942. This meant, among other things, that the church bells would be requisitioned for the benefit of the German war industry. On October 11 of the same year, Seyss-Inquart referred to his decision in a speech. He said, among other things, that it was a “completely natural measure” and that it has “been working that way for centuries.”

The bells would be melted and the metal would be used for armery and war machinery.

The Germans initially left monumental clocks (from before 1600) alone, these clocks were marked with an ‘M’. The population generally watched with resignation as bells were removed from church towers. For many people it was a sign that the Germans were losing; After all, they had to take refuge in a simple church bell. A frequently used expression at that time was ‘bells from the tower, war lost’.

On Thursday, March 11, 1943, the bell was removed from the church tower of Baarn at 3:15 p.m. This bell originated from the 16th century. Showing that nothing was sacred to the Nazis. There must have been Christians among these Nazis, why they didn’t speak up I don’t know.

sources

https://groenegraf.blogspot.com/2023/10/de-geschiedenis-van-de-baarnse-beiaard_9.html

https://mijngelderland.nl/inhoud/verhalen/klokkenroof-tijdens-de-tweede-wereldoorlog