Museum

Museum Stoottroepen

The Netherlands

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A special museum has been established at the Johan Willem Friso Barracks in Assen: the Stoottroepen Museum displays the Historical Collection of the Prince Bernhard Stoottroepen Regiment. It depicts the history that started with the resistance in World War II. The 'Stoters' are currently widely used in peacekeeping missions as part of the Air Mobile Brigade.

The RSPB Stoottroepen Regiment originated from the landelijke knokploegen (national assault squad (LKP)) and the Raad Van Verzet (Resistance Council (RVV)) in World War II, who were then known as Stoottroepers or 'Stoters'.  

In the year after its establishment, around 600 resistance fighters operated in dozens of assault squads. LKP thereby managed to ensure a more or less regular supply of voucher cards for the benefit of people in hiding. Raids were also sometimes carried out for identity cards, but most of them were obtained through forgery. 

The Internal Armed Forces (Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten - BS) were created in part to keep the armed resistance movement manageable, as it would be widely supplied with weapons. The BS was bound by all sorts of rules. They were only allowed, for instance, to emerge as an 'army' if the commander Prince Bernhard gave the signal to do so.  

In September 1944, Prince Bernhard formally ordered the formation of a military alliance consisting of people who were actively involved in the armed resistance. The BS wore blue overalls as its uniform. 

As the end of the war approached, the assault squad prepared for active participation in the expected invasion through sabotage of compounds, railway lines and the like. However, many of them did not live to see this phase. During the course of the war, many dozens of KP members were rounded up and executed. 

During her tour of liberated Netherlands, Queen Wilhelmina made the following proclamation on 18 March 1945: "And this regiment will live on!" With that, the Stoottroepen Regiment was born.  

The current regiment consists of four companies, stationed at this barracks. They can be deployed with helicopters and with armoured vehicles, as happened in Uruzgan. One of the companies is trained for deployment with parachutes, as is the case with all three battalions of the air mobile brigade.  

On 29 June 2002, Prince Bernhard's name was attached to the Stoottroepen Regiment by Royal Decree. From that point onwards, the regiment was officially known as the Prince Bernhard Stoottroepen Regiment. 

Address

Balkenweg 3, 9405 CC Assen