Safi Graauw

Three young Surinamese men wanted to contribute to the liberation of the Netherlands during World War II. This short documentary shows how the battlefield changed their ideals and lives forever. Their forgotten story represents that of many others.

Guillaume Kranenburg, Willy Wooter and Harry Davis were far from the only young Surinamese men who left their homeland to fight in World War II. Lured by the promise ‘Sign Up and See the World’ and driven by loyalty to the kingdom, they overcome discrimination within the Dutch army, which initially didn’t want them, and endure a tough boot camp in Canada and Wolverhampton, far from the warmth of Suriname. Upon arriving in Europe with the Princess Irene Brigade, they are confronted with the harsh reality of war, a far cry from the promised adventure.