Patients informed of increased risk of vCJD contact

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7468.702-c

BMJ 2004;329:702 (25 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7468.702-c

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Dutch commemorate doctor shot by Nazis for helping injured soldiers

Tony Sheldon

Utrecht

Credit: ANP PHOTO

Elderly residents of Arnhem gathered this week to honour thememory of a local doctor who, 60 years ago, was shot by theNazis for helping injured British soldiers as fierce fightingraged in the Dutch city.

The handful of remaining witnesses met at a small plaque inBakker Straat that reads: "In remembrance of J Zwolle, doctor,shot 19 September 1944."

They met as part of the larger and last official commemorationof the Battle of Arnhem. Testimony to the doctor's courage isshown in a diary of a teacher of English, Wilhelmina Schouten,that remains in a local archive. Miss Schouten recalls how twoseverely wounded soldiers were carried into the school whereshe was based as a volunteer with the air protection service.Staff decided to summon a respected local GP, Jan Zwolle, aged50, who operated on both patients, one of whom died but oneof whom is thought to have survived.

When the Germans arrived the next day, Dr Zwolle and four othermen were shot in a nearby building, allegedly for "terrorism"and "cooperating with the British."

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