---
title: "Secret above water, the floating annex"
description: "Secret above Water, the Floating Annex tells the true story of the Dutch resistance group MaZwaKo, who sheltered Jewish people, Allied pilots, and forced labor resisters aboard a ship during WWII. A powerful story of courage, secrecy, and sacrifice."
url: "https://www.normandy1944.info/blog/ww2-books/secret-above-water-the-floating-annex"
date: "2026-08-14T02:33:35+00:00"
language: "en-GB"
---

![](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/7b/Geheime-boven-water-Jeanne-Zwaans-7b3b4c01.jpg?src=images/books/dutch/jeanne_zwaans/Geheime-boven-water-Jeanne-Zwaans.jpg&thumbnail=600,400,&hash=246b1ff2)

 ![](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/8b/Jeanne-Zwaans-Secret-above-water-8bd666c7.jpg?src=images/books/dutch/jeanne_zwaans/Jeanne-Zwaans-Secret-above-water.jpg&thumbnail=294,400,,center,top&hash=c4299a87)

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 Book specifics

- Nationality: Dutch
- Book form: Softcover
- Pages: 208
- 647 views of this book
- ISBN: 9789492513182

---

 [ More info? Mail me ](https://www.normandy1944.info/contact)

 [ Buy the book directly ](mailto:zwaanzinnig@hotmail.com)

#  Secret above water, the floating annex

###  By: Jeanne Zwaans

### The resistance began on the water, Jewish friends were given shelter on board.

In and around the bunker ship **De Zwaan** in the harbor of Grevenbicht, the resistance group MaZwaKo (unknown resistance and espionage group MaZwaKo: **Maintz**, **Zwaans**, **Kooijmans** and **Koenraad**) operated in the utmost secrecy. Among skippers, tugboats and locks, the vessel became a refuge for Jewish people in hiding, Allied pilots and men refusing forced labor. What started as an act of humanity grew into a network of espionage, hope and betrayal.

![Resistance ship De Zwaan](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/books/dutch/jeanne_zwaans/Resistance-ship-De-Zwaan.jpg)

*- Bunker ship De Zwaan*

At the heart of the story is the author’s young uncle, who risked his life time and again in the resistance. His courage ultimately cost him everything when he was killed in a collision between his motorcycle and an American army truck, the tragic end of a short but heroic life.

With great attention to detail and deep respect for the people of both water and shore, this book brings to life a little-known chapter of the Dutch resistance, a story of humanity, courage, trust, responsibility and loss. A true story of helpers and those in hiding who, in wartime, did the impossible: persevere, help, hope and survive. Giving up was not an option.

**Stories that must never be forgotten.**

### About the author

As a child, Jeanne Zwaans heard stories from her grandparents in Oosterhout about Jewish children who had been hidden during the war. Many years later, she met former people in hiding herself. What began as curiosity grew into a years-long search for documents, letters and testimonies.

With this book, more than eighty years later, she brings back to life the forgotten history of her family, the resistance group MaZwaKo, their Jewish friends and the skippers who helped them.

**Attention: This book in only available in Dutch as of yet. The book can be ordered directly from the author with free shipping within the Netherlands..**

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