Farmers' Revolt: Difference between revisions
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== The revolt ==
“Week of Barricades (August 1979) was the name given to the most violent week of the so-called “Achterhoek opstand”. It was during this week when no progress was achieved the farmers turned from simple civil disobedience, towards full-on disobedience. Farmers made barricades on major roads and highways and paralyzed transportation in the eastern Netherlands, which was planned to last for 2 days, but unexpectedly extended indefinitely. Government buildings in the eastern provinces were stormed by farmers and occupied. This was carried out by the radicals within the farmer's protest movement. The situation only stabilized after the government finally authorized the use of deadly force to remove the barricades and free the government buildings and the hostages.
Wednesday
It was on the 8th of August that a group of radicalsed farmers, tired by the government her lack of concessions in regards to land sales, stormed the police station in 's-Heerenberg. The police station at the time was lightly guarded and while tensions had been high nobody had suspected that this would happen.
Thus the cops were surprised and taken off guard, which resulted in the capture of the station and the looting of the munitions. This in turn had another effect in that the farmers were becoming better and better armed, it resulted in the taking of the city of S-Heerenberg a city that would be at the center of the week of barricades.
The news of what was transpiring in S-Heerenberg and the Achterhoek in general reached Den Haag. It was here that Prime Minister Koen Haverman with the consent of the emergency cabinet ordered the military to take action. It was a controversion decision even at the time, for the military even after being reduced due to demobilization and taking in a lower amount of conscripts, was still considered a massive effective fighting force. A force that had an intentional knowledge and tendency to be ruthless. It was hoped that this would be lessened due to it being in the homeland.
Friday (10th of August)
After the order had been given the military (Krijgsmacht) commanded by Kapitein Generaal Klaas Donkervoort, a veteran of the EIC who had commanded numerous units and was a man that Soenda was accused of committing crimes against humanity. Kapitein-Generaal Donkervoort ordered the 5th Limburgse Jagers Brigade stationed in Arnhem and the 18th Pantser brigade to roll out. These were units where much of their upper echelons were EIC veterans.
Weekend van bloed
The deployment of these two brigades happened rapidly, the units where in heavy armour and could easily be deployed. They easily dispatched the barricades along the road but once they reached S-Heerenberg the trouble started.d It appeared that the radicals had entrenched themselves and what followed was a weekend full of blood, where they had to forcefully take them out of their houses.
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