Battle of Petit Nicolet

Battle of Petit Nicolet
Part of Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen
Date 10 September 2023 Location Petit Nicolet, Tanoa Result Resistance victory
Belligerents
Tanoan resistance Fish Collective	Tanoa Einsatzgruppen
Commanders and leaders
Mark Hugerinus Paap John Hugerinus Paap
Units involved
	1st Allgemeine SS Division "Siege Chiche"
Casualties and losses
12 killed	20 killed

The Battle of Petit Nicolet was fought in Petit Nicolet, Tanoa, on 10 September 2023 during an operation to evacuate native families from the village. Members of the Tanoan resistance and the Fish Collective attempted to move the civilians to a waiting boat before the 1st Allgemeine SS Division "Siege Chiche" ambushed the operation.

Mark Hugerinus Paap and John Hugerinus Paap provided covering fire while the civilians boarded. The boat escaped despite the ambush, leaving 12 resistance fighters and 20 Tanoa Einsatzgruppen soldiers dead.

Background

Under the rule of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen, resistance groups organized escape routes for civilians threatened with forced labour and security reprisals. The Tanoan resistance planned to escort native families from Petit Nicolet to a boat positioned near the village. Fish Collective members joined the escort and supported the departure from the shore.

Battle

At approximately 22:35, the 1st Allgemeine SS Division "Siege Chiche" attacked as the civilians were being escorted toward the boat. Mark and John Hugerinus Paap used sniper rifles to cover their movement. Resistance fighters engaged the division from the opposite side of the street while the families continued boarding.

During the fighting, an Allgemeine SS soldier approached John from behind and attacked him with a knife. Mark intervened and killed the soldier. Once the civilians were aboard, John entered the boat and navigated away through the fog. Mark remained ashore with the surviving resistance fighters and continued engaging the Einsatzgruppen force.

Aftermath

The evacuation succeeded, although 12 resistance fighters were killed. The Tanoa Einsatzgruppen lost 20 soldiers and failed to prevent the boat from leaving Petit Nicolet.

After receiving news of the battle, Eef Paap ordered Einsatz forces to capture Mark and deliver him alive that night. The order was not carried out. Surviving soldiers and officers from the failed capture operation were later executed on Eef Paap's private island.

Petit Nicolet was used again during Mark Hugerinus Paap's final operation. On 23 November 2024, Mark reached the village with a small group of resistance members. He separated from the group at a prepared boat and departed alone toward northern Tanoa.

See also

• Petit Nicolet
• Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen
• Fish Collective