(WWII) Black and white, side by side

During the war, the municipal girls' school was located on the site of the residential care centre. Next to the school was the residence of deputy commissioner Jos Claes. He was a member of the resistance organization, the White Brigade, Sector 0.75 Aarschot.

An important aspect was rescuing the crew of downed planes and putting them on a line to England. On March 3, 1943, the first pilot was taken in. And there were many more to follow. The pilots were hidden in the house of Jos Claes. That was actually almost in the lion's den, because black gendarmes were billeted in the girls' school next door.

In the autumn of 1943, luck turned. In September, the several members were arrested. All those arrested were taken to the Antwerp prison in the Begijnenstraat, one of the most inhumane places. Jos Claes was executed at the end of November in retaliation for terrorist acts. The remaining members were deported to German concentration camps as 'Nacht- und Nebelgefangene' and would die there of illness and deprivation.

Toerisme Aarschot