Christiaan Lindemans
Encyclopedia
Christiaan Antonius Lindemans (Rotterdam
, 24 October 1912 - Scheveningen, 18 July 1946) was a Dutch
double agent
during the Second World War. He is better known under his nickname "King Kong".
. This was not known to the Allies, who in September 1944 sent him from Brussels
to the still occupied Netherlands to inform Dutch resistance fighters about Operation Market-Garden. In the night of 14/15 September, he crossed the frontlines, and betrayed the secret plan to the German HQs in the Netherlands: according to Lindemans, the Allies wanted to attack Eindhoven. As the real aim was Arnhem
, Lindemans' information was irrelevant to the outcome of the military operation, which was launched on 17 September.
It is not known why Lindemans betrayed what he believed to be the Allied plan. He was arrested on 28 October 1944, kept in prison, and committed suicide before his case could be judged.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, 24 October 1912 - Scheveningen, 18 July 1946) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
double agent
Double agent
A double agent, commonly abbreviated referral of double secret agent, is a counterintelligence term used to designate an employee of a secret service or organization, whose primary aim is to spy on the target organization, but who in fact is a member of that same target organization oneself. They...
during the Second World War. He is better known under his nickname "King Kong".
Biography
Lindemans was active in the Dutch resistance, but crossed over to the GermansGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. This was not known to the Allies, who in September 1944 sent him from Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
to the still occupied Netherlands to inform Dutch resistance fighters about Operation Market-Garden. In the night of 14/15 September, he crossed the frontlines, and betrayed the secret plan to the German HQs in the Netherlands: according to Lindemans, the Allies wanted to attack Eindhoven. As the real aim was Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
, Lindemans' information was irrelevant to the outcome of the military operation, which was launched on 17 September.
It is not known why Lindemans betrayed what he believed to be the Allied plan. He was arrested on 28 October 1944, kept in prison, and committed suicide before his case could be judged.