Dirk Hoogendam facts for kids

Dirk Hoogendam, also known as Dieter Hohendamm, was a Dutch man born on May 18, 1922, in Vlaardingen, Netherlands. He passed away on August 8, 2003, in Ringgau, Germany. During World War II, he was involved in serious actions that led to him being considered a war criminal.

Who Was Dirk Hoogendam?

Dirk Hoogendam was a person who committed very serious wrongs during wartime. He was also known by the name Dieter Hohendamm. He was born in the Netherlands and later moved to Germany.

Early Life and Wartime Actions

In 1940, Hoogendam joined a military group called the Waffen-SS. This group was part of the German forces during World War II. Later, he moved to a Dutch police unit that was working under German command.

In 1944, Hoogendam was involved in tracking down people in the Dutch province of Drenthe. These were people who were seen as enemies by the German forces, including those who were helping others or fighting back against the government at the time. Eyewitnesses said that he treated prisoners very badly, and some even died because of it.

Escape and Life in Germany

After the war ended, Dirk Hoogendam was arrested. However, in 1946, he managed to escape from custody and fled to Germany. He was later judged by a court in the Netherlands even though he was not there. This is called being "tried in absentia." He was found guilty and given a very serious punishment, which was later changed to life in prison.

Discovery and Final Years

In 2001, when Hoogendam was 78 years old, a Dutch newspaper called De Telegraaf found out that he was living in Ringgau, Germany. He was using the name Dieter Hohendamm.

Just before he died, the Netherlands asked the German government to put Hoogendam on trial. They also asked for five other people who had committed similar wartime wrongs and were living in Germany. However, Dirk Hoogendam died of heart failure at his home in Ringgau on August 8, 2003. This happened before a final decision was made about whether he would be put on trial.