Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
L3
Overasselt
1944

Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!

Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!

The world-famous dancer, singer and actress Josephine Baker performed here at Café van Lin in Overasselt on 4 and 5 December 1944. The Van Lin family didn’t know who she was at first, but when they saw the Allied soldiers’ enthusiasm they soon realised that she was a superstar. The mother of the Van Lin family wasn’t impressed and expressed concern about her “being half-naked on our stage”.

Accompanied by an eight-piece band, Josephine Baker put on a dazzling show including numerous costume changes. At that time, very few people knew that the entertainer, who was also known as the ‘Black Pearl’, was a French Resistance agent. As a result of her work for the Resistance, she was later awarded the Croix de Guerre, the Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France and the Resistance Medal. She also received the Knight’s Cross of the Legion of Honour.

Both the Allied Forces and the German side did their best to treat their troops well. Soldiers sometimes faced long waits between skirmishes before being redeployed and were in continuous fear of being injured or killed. Various forms of entertainment were organised to take their minds off things and boost morale, such as movies or special radio broadcasts. But the evenings when top showbiz stars took to the stage to entertain the troops were truly unforgettable.

Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!

Josephine baker treedt op!

NL 03 - Overasselt
5:29

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Overasselt – Josphine Baker performs!
Hoogstraat 15
6611BV Overasselt

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