Theo Tromp

author

Dutch^[1] b. 9 June 1903, Voorburg^[1] d. 1 June 1984, Eindhoven^[1] active 1927–1984

Theodoor Philibert (Theo) Tromp (1903–1984) was a Dutch engineer and resistance fighter who played a pivotal role in the industrial history of Eindhoven. He joined Philips in 1927 and eventually became the head of its strategic radio and tube factories. During World War II, he led 'Groep-Harry', an underground organization that gathered intelligence for the Dutch government in London. Tromp was instrumental in sabotaging German production by poisoning cathode materials with hydrochloric acid to ensure they would fail after several weeks of use. After the war, he served as a minister and was involved in the reconstruction of Eindhoven. He is remembered for his bravery in coordinating resistance activities while maintaining high-level positions within Philips.^[1,2]

• Resistance
• Industrial Engineering
• Intelligence Gathering
• Sabotage
• Philips History