In the polder near Standdaarbuiten, American soldiers crossed the River Mark in boats on Thursday. The Germans were waiting for them on the other side. And they shot at each other, just like in October 1944, but now reenacted. 101-year-old veteran Frank Fabianski looked on. He’s the only one who experienced it in real life.
Shots ring out in the fog. Dozens of German soldiers walk in the polder near the Barlaaksedijk. They jump on a heavy armored car, a ‘Stummel’, and race across the swampy, recently cleared potato field to the river dike.
Timberwolves
And then suddenly the gunfire increases. Machine guns rattle. American soldiers emerge from the reeds among the mist. The Germans retreat, some remain lying down and pretend to be dead or wounded. They are overrun by about 75 Americans from the Timberwolves.
It looks lifelike, but the warring parties are actors. They are enthusiasts from all over Europe. They wear original uniforms and shoot blanks. Local residents, mayors and students watch the special spectacle.
Watch the footage of the battle reenactment here:
Oldest liberator
It was the 104th American Infantry Division, the Timberwolves, that liberated this area in October 1944, including Achtmaal, Oudenbosch and Zevenbergen. “I can barely remember all this,” says Frank Fabianski.
At 101 years old, he is perhaps the oldest liberator of Brabant who ever returned here. He had only been to Europe once before. “On holiday in Italy”.
Soldier
As a young soldier he provided communications in the signal company of the 413th regiment. He landed at Cherbourg, Normandy and then received orders to advance to Cologne. “But along the way we had to divert to this place, because of the problems that were here at the time.”
Market Garden had failed and the Allies tried to take control of the port of Antwerp. A force of Canadians, British, Americans, Poles and Dutch managed to chase the German occupier from most of Brabant at the end of October.
Atomic bombs
Frank made it out alive. After the end of the war in Europe, May 1945, he trained for the war in the Pacific. But due to the two atomic bombs on Japan, it ended faster than expected. “Peace at last,” says the veteran. He is nice and warm under a blanket in a van.
Frank had only been home in Chicago a day before he went back to work. “As a manager at a department store”. There he remained until his retirement.
Now he decided to travel to the battlefields with his family. “He didn’t talk about the war that much,” says his daughter. She is impressed by the reception. “Certainly when playing the national anthem, I notice that it means something to him. And all those people who thank him.”
Everywhere he is received as a hero. For example, the mayor of Moerdijk made Fabianski an honorary citizen on Thursday afternoon.
Wars
Frank is concerned about the wars in Ukraine and Israel and Palestine. “It could happen again. I don’t understand it. We are all human, but unfortunately we don’t all think the same,” he says seriously.
His son-in-law sits next to him and hopes that future generations will be spared war. “He has 21 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.” Frank responds proudly. “A big family!”
American and German ‘soldiers’ walk out of the polder together. They greet Frank, some salute. Even today he is widely thanked for what he did almost 80 years ago. Frank remains modest and repeats: “I was just one of many.”