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Object of the Month – April 2026
Accuracy in Times of War
This compass bearing instrument was used to calibrate a German 5 cm Wurfgranatwerfer 36 (Wgr. 36). It is a technically refined device that was essential for the precise alignment of mortar fire. The sight was mounted on a sturdy tripod and could be adjusted in both elevation and direction using finely calibrated scales. For artillery crews, this instrument played a crucial role: without a properly calibrated aiming device, effective fire was impossible. As such, this object is key to understanding German combat tactics during the attack on Zuid-Beveland.
Found amidst the chaos of the advance
The compass bearing instrument was found in May 1940 by Mr Stoffel-Bakker (18 April 1896), a resident of Yerseke. After German troops — including units of the SS Division Deutschland — had completed their crossing of the Canal through Zuid-Beveland, he made his way to the hamlet of Vlake. In a meadow behind a house, he discovered this aiming instrument, left behind by troops who had advanced rapidly towards Walcheren. The find provides a striking insight into the speed and chaos of the German advance: equipment was sometimes simply abandoned.
War on the Home Front
For civilians in Zuid-Beveland, the May days of 1940 were deeply impactful. Fighting, destruction, and the movement of troops shaped daily life in villages such as Yerseke, Kruiningen, and Hansweert. The discovery of this aiming instrument illustrates how close the conflict came to the civilian population: military equipment was sometimes found literally in the fields where people worked. As such, this object is not only a military instrument, but also a tangible witness to the sudden and disruptive reality of war in Zeeland.
Preserved for the Future
Mr Stoffel-Bakker took the instrument home and kept it for many years as a reminder of the events that affected his village and the wider region. Thanks to his care, the object has been preserved in its entirety, including the tripod and original leather carrying cases. Today, it forms part of the collection of the Liberation Museum Zeeland. The instrument offers visitors a valuable insight into both the military technology of 1940 and the personal stories connected to it.
