As during World War I, the Germans took up residence in the castle of the Counts de Renesse. In 1941, British bombs destroyed part of the left wing.

Lucky Lady

In the summer of 1943, residents of Oostmalle hid Chester Beasley in the ice cellar in the castle's park. He was the tail gunner of the American B-17 bomber Lucky Lady. After one night, he surrendered to the Germans.

Chester was part of a major US offensive against munitions factories in Schweinfurt as well as an offensive against Messerschmitt aircraft factories in Regensburg. A first fleet left in the morning on 17 August 1943 and was attacked by German fighters in the Kempen region. The Americans thereupon changed their flight path. A second attack force left in the afternoon. They did not change their flight path and consequently lost dozens of aircraft, including Lucky Lady. Eight crew members were able to save themselves with their parachutes. Pilot Weldon L. Simpson was the last to leave the plane and crashed.

British nurses

After the liberation of Malle on 23 September 1944, wounded British and Canadian soldiers were operated on and cared for in the castle. It was a temporary and quickly set up military hospital with wards and operating theatres. Castle and park also served as a warehouse for the Red Cross.

British nurses and Red Cross helpers were in charge of caring for wounded soldiers and civilians. Some soldiers died in the castle. They were buried near the ice cellar. After a few weeks, the Allies re-covered this temporary field hospital.

Tourist information

Cycling routes

Tourism Province of Antwerp has created liberation routes along the cycling network. Cycle and walk past the places where it all happened, such as monuments, military cemeteries and crash sites. For the liberation routes, go to fietsroutes.provincieantwerpen.be