Monday, September 28, 2009
Reflection
I think that Corrie ten Boom was a woman with a lot of courage. She was the leader of an illegal operation. She knew that Jews were being taken to prisons and they had limited freedom, so she took them in to her house and gave them freedom. This was an illegal act at the time. Anyone that looks at a law or a government and breaks this law because they beleive in a greater good has courage. Once she got caught in doing this I think some of her courage was taken away. I think that she gained it only when she was in prison and looked at everything surrounding her. She had kept a bible in the concentration camp. This wasn't aloud either. If Corrie was caught she would of stayed in more camps for a longer time. This, I think, shows a lot of courage. She would take her bible and teach the prisoners about the good news of God. People might not like what she was telling them, or maybe they wouldn't believe her, but she was courageous enough to continue. I think Corrie ten Boom was an amazing woman with a lot of drive and courage.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Ravensbruck-Freedom
Ravensbruck was the worst of all of the camps.We had to take role call every morning around 4 or 5 in the morning. This was the worst in the winter mornings. We had to march in place to keep the blood flowing through our veins. Betsie was so kind and couragous. Oh, she would have a reading to all of the woman and help them learn about our Lord, Jesus Christ. Betsie was always thankful for everything that she had. She felt sorry for the Nazis instead of the people they were hurting. It was just amazing how much Betsie cared so much. She told me to give thanks for everything...even the flees and lice that we had in our bunkers. Four to five woman had to sleep together in one small bunk...all sharing there lice and flees. The work was harder at Ravensbruck. We had to do physical labor. This was hard for Betsie because she was a weak woman and couldn't do much. Oh how I hate the head Nazi at our camp. We called her the snake.
We were fortunate enough to have a little bottle of vitamins. This was to keep Betsie and I healthy. Betsie had become very sick and she needed all of the vitamins possible. But, of course, Betsie wanted to share with the other women and keep them healthy also. Everyday I would give each of them vitamins thinking that that would be the end of them, but everyday there was just enough for all that needed them.
Betie got so sick that she had to go to the hospital. I visited her once but then the second time she wasn't there. I looked for her around the camp. I finally saw her. She was in the stack of dead bodies. My best friend in the world was dead. Betsie had once said that her and I would be free before the new year and she was free. I was freed on December 28th. I went to fulfill what Betsie would have wanted me to do.
I later found out that Willem and Father had died. I was finally free and it was because of a clinical error. They thought I had a disease in my ankles... but I didn't. A week after I was released all of the people in my barraks had died. They were burned alive.
We were fortunate enough to have a little bottle of vitamins. This was to keep Betsie and I healthy. Betsie had become very sick and she needed all of the vitamins possible. But, of course, Betsie wanted to share with the other women and keep them healthy also. Everyday I would give each of them vitamins thinking that that would be the end of them, but everyday there was just enough for all that needed them.
Betie got so sick that she had to go to the hospital. I visited her once but then the second time she wasn't there. I looked for her around the camp. I finally saw her. She was in the stack of dead bodies. My best friend in the world was dead. Betsie had once said that her and I would be free before the new year and she was free. I was freed on December 28th. I went to fulfill what Betsie would have wanted me to do.
I later found out that Willem and Father had died. I was finally free and it was because of a clinical error. They thought I had a disease in my ankles... but I didn't. A week after I was released all of the people in my barraks had died. They were burned alive.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Vught
June
"Get your things togehter! get ready to evacuate! Collect all possesions in pillowcases!" The guards shouted up and down the long corridors. We are leaving prison! The counter-invasion must have begun! Surely the invasion of Holland had begun. Where would we be taken? Not Germany! Oh Jesus, not Germany.
At last the gates opened and there was a train waiting for us. There were so many woman! There was no way we could all fit in there. I found Betsie...I finally saw her after 4 months. I was so happy to see my dear sister. We boarded the train and were squished together. There were so many woman that we had to sit on the floor and go up from there on top of eachother. With so many woman we had to take turns breathing because it was so crowded and the air was very limited. We were headed to Germany.
We later learned that we were in Vught, a concentration camp named after a near by town in Germany. Here we had to do jobs. I was luckily sent to making radios. It was similar to making watches but not the same. At first I was making the radios on how they were supposed to be made, but then the head manager at my station encouraged me to mess up the radios so the Germans would somehow fail to communicate through the radios. It was a good idea and that is what I kept doing throughout my stay at Vught
"Get your things togehter! get ready to evacuate! Collect all possesions in pillowcases!" The guards shouted up and down the long corridors. We are leaving prison! The counter-invasion must have begun! Surely the invasion of Holland had begun. Where would we be taken? Not Germany! Oh Jesus, not Germany.
At last the gates opened and there was a train waiting for us. There were so many woman! There was no way we could all fit in there. I found Betsie...I finally saw her after 4 months. I was so happy to see my dear sister. We boarded the train and were squished together. There were so many woman that we had to sit on the floor and go up from there on top of eachother. With so many woman we had to take turns breathing because it was so crowded and the air was very limited. We were headed to Germany.
We later learned that we were in Vught, a concentration camp named after a near by town in Germany. Here we had to do jobs. I was luckily sent to making radios. It was similar to making watches but not the same. At first I was making the radios on how they were supposed to be made, but then the head manager at my station encouraged me to mess up the radios so the Germans would somehow fail to communicate through the radios. It was a good idea and that is what I kept doing throughout my stay at Vught
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT
March 16
I was put into solitary confinement! I did not have permission to talk, or even see another human being! The only living thing I see is my friend... AN ANT! Oh but I am gratefull for this ant because it is living and breathing. This ant has the freedom to leave Scheveningen whenever it wanted. It was not confined to one place like I was. It was free.While in this cell, I was left to think. Thinking was the enemy! I thought about my family and about the prison bag that I had. Oh that prison bag! It had a fresh blouse, Asprin, toothpaste... Oh I cannot think of it! I kept a calander on the prison wall: February 28 ARREST, February 29 TRANSPORT TO SCHEVENINGEN, March 16 BEGINNING OF SOLITARY. I will soon add a new date... my birthday in prison (April 15) :(
I was put into solitary confinement! I did not have permission to talk, or even see another human being! The only living thing I see is my friend... AN ANT! Oh but I am gratefull for this ant because it is living and breathing. This ant has the freedom to leave Scheveningen whenever it wanted. It was not confined to one place like I was. It was free.While in this cell, I was left to think. Thinking was the enemy! I thought about my family and about the prison bag that I had. Oh that prison bag! It had a fresh blouse, Asprin, toothpaste... Oh I cannot think of it! I kept a calander on the prison wall: February 28 ARREST, February 29 TRANSPORT TO SCHEVENINGEN, March 16 BEGINNING OF SOLITARY. I will soon add a new date... my birthday in prison (April 15) :(
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Scheveningen
February 29, 1944
When we got to the place that we were taken, the Gestapo asked everyone for their information. The people were seperated by gender...Father was left with Willem, and I went with Betsie and Nollie. I was placed in a cell with three other women. One of these women had spent three whole years at Scheveningen. I had left all of my prison stuff at home so I was left with nothing.
I am very thankful, though, that one lady gave me a bible and soap. I was physically clean and spiritually clean :) I heard the news that, after over 47 hours, all six in the hiding place were rescued at about 4:30 PM and were taken to new safe houses.
Father died at age 84 on March 9th.
When we got to the place that we were taken, the Gestapo asked everyone for their information. The people were seperated by gender...Father was left with Willem, and I went with Betsie and Nollie. I was placed in a cell with three other women. One of these women had spent three whole years at Scheveningen. I had left all of my prison stuff at home so I was left with nothing.
I am very thankful, though, that one lady gave me a bible and soap. I was physically clean and spiritually clean :) I heard the news that, after over 47 hours, all six in the hiding place were rescued at about 4:30 PM and were taken to new safe houses.
Father died at age 84 on March 9th.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Sick
February 28,1944
I woke up this morning with a terrible fever and I didn't want to get out of my bed. But, of course, I had to go downstairs and do my job. I came down for a couple of minutes but Betsie told me that everything was being taken care of and that I could go back to bed. As I went back upstairs I noticed that Father was reading in the church group which normally consists of Willem, Nollie, and the rest of the family. I would not be able to attend today.
I had a terrible dream while I was asleep. It was a buzzer rining and feet were running and voices whispering, "Hurry! Hurry".
It wasn't a dream I sat up and people were running past my bed. I turned just in time to see Thea's heels disappear through the low door with Meta and Henk behind her. I hadn't planned a drill for today! Maybe it wasn't a drill...
I heard Mary's raspy breathing and prayed that it would stop in time for the men to come up and look for them. She had to be silent! I threw a bag in front of the cabinet to cover it up more. This was the bag that I had prepared for incase I ever went to prisin. It contained my bible, soap, sewing equipment and regular toiletries.The Nazis came in just as I did this and I hoped that I looked sleepy to them...not afraid.
Instead he asked me for my name and then told the others that there were more people. We were being arrested. Pickwick (A friend that had helped us be a part of the underground) had also been arrested . Everyone that I loved was now being taken to the prison! Even Father!
One of the Nazis asked why they had taken an old man (Father). He told father that he would be able to stay and die in his own bed if he would not cause any more trouble. Father said this, "If I go home today, tomorrow I will open my door again to any man in need who knocks".
I woke up this morning with a terrible fever and I didn't want to get out of my bed. But, of course, I had to go downstairs and do my job. I came down for a couple of minutes but Betsie told me that everything was being taken care of and that I could go back to bed. As I went back upstairs I noticed that Father was reading in the church group which normally consists of Willem, Nollie, and the rest of the family. I would not be able to attend today.
I had a terrible dream while I was asleep. It was a buzzer rining and feet were running and voices whispering, "Hurry! Hurry".
It wasn't a dream I sat up and people were running past my bed. I turned just in time to see Thea's heels disappear through the low door with Meta and Henk behind her. I hadn't planned a drill for today! Maybe it wasn't a drill...
I heard Mary's raspy breathing and prayed that it would stop in time for the men to come up and look for them. She had to be silent! I threw a bag in front of the cabinet to cover it up more. This was the bag that I had prepared for incase I ever went to prisin. It contained my bible, soap, sewing equipment and regular toiletries.The Nazis came in just as I did this and I hoped that I looked sleepy to them...not afraid.
Instead he asked me for my name and then told the others that there were more people. We were being arrested. Pickwick (A friend that had helped us be a part of the underground) had also been arrested . Everyone that I loved was now being taken to the prison! Even Father!
One of the Nazis asked why they had taken an old man (Father). He told father that he would be able to stay and die in his own bed if he would not cause any more trouble. Father said this, "If I go home today, tomorrow I will open my door again to any man in need who knocks".
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Hiding Place
1942.
Betsie and I took many risks in hiding all of our friends. We had many procedures also. Our resources said that our house wasn't safe enough, so then we made renovations at the beje. I moved to Tante Jans room and that is where we built our secret room. We made a hole in the wall and put accomadations in there. We covered it up with a cabinet and brick wall. We also had a safety drill where we would press a button and a buzzard would sound. We ran this drill over and over so that all of the Jews could improve their time to get up to the secret room. It was very important that they all got up as quickly as possible because it wouldn't be long until the soldiers would search for the room or the people (if they came, that is).
Betsie and I took many risks in hiding all of our friends. We had many procedures also. Our resources said that our house wasn't safe enough, so then we made renovations at the beje. I moved to Tante Jans room and that is where we built our secret room. We made a hole in the wall and put accomadations in there. We covered it up with a cabinet and brick wall. We also had a safety drill where we would press a button and a buzzard would sound. We ran this drill over and over so that all of the Jews could improve their time to get up to the secret room. It was very important that they all got up as quickly as possible because it wouldn't be long until the soldiers would search for the room or the people (if they came, that is).
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