Jan Verleun: Dutch Soldier and Resistance Hero Against the Nazis

World History: True Stories of the 20th Century · Jul 13, 2026 · 12m

Jan Verleun was a Dutch resistance hero who was executed by the Nazis at the age of 24 for his role in the underground resistance during World War II. Born into a devout Catholic family in Amsterdam, Verleun dreamed of becoming a priest and later a soldier. During World War II when Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, he was serving at a casemate near Arnhem. Wounded during the battle, he made a vow to God: if he survived, he would devote his life to fighting for his country’s liberation. This promise led Verleun into the heart of the Dutch underground, where he operated under aliases…