The Nightmare of Venlo - Wilko A.G.M. Bergmans

The title and the cover illustration (searchlights shining through the darkness over Venlo's recognisable skyline, including the distinctive towers of St. Martin's Church) refer to the severe hardships the city endured at the time.

Venlo was strategically located on the Meuse river, close to the German border, and had an important German airfield (Fliegerhorst Venlo). This made the region a continuous target for Allied bombing raids. The true "nightmare" reached its peak in the autumn of 1944. For months, Venlo was on the front line and was almost daily subjected to bombs and shellfire, destroying large parts of the historic city centre and killing hundreds of civilians. Additionally, Venlo is known in war history for the infamous 'Venlo Incident' of 1939.