(Panel) The end of the war (8 May 1945)

It was not until eight months after the liberation of Aarschot that Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945 and the war ended. On the occasion of this V-day, Aarschot celebrated. In front of the headquarters of the Preventive Air Protection in the Jozef Tielemansstraat, a doll representing Hitler was hung on a flying bomb.

During the war, this was also a room of the Passive Air Protection. Nearby, the PLB rented the cellar of the Tielemans brewery. The PLB worked closely with the Aarschot Red Cross. The service was developed efficiently. In addition to volunteers, there were also paid staff. In September 1941 there were about 25. In fifteen minutes, the men could be ready. During the war, the men were active in the rescue work of the explosion of the munitions factory in Tessenderlo (April 1942), the fire of the abbey of Averbode (December 1942) and especially in the Allied bombing raids in May 1944. The PLB was officially disbanded on 1 June 1945. The tasks were taken over by the Civil Protection.

Toerisme Aarschot