Story and Illustrations by
Sjirk de Boer.

Translation by
Frank de Boer.

Copyright © 1993 by
Frank de Boer.

Published by
Frank de Boer,
Waterloo, Ontario,
Canada.

Printed in Canada

How it started.

Only a few people know this story. The Locherfamily and our family will remember it. My brother Herre and I have told the story to some of the classes we had in our years as teachers. In Canada, my brother Frank has told it to groups and packs of the boy scouts, when he was a leader in that organization. Otherwise it's unknown. Let us try not to forget it. In the deBoer family home it happened. This is a story about making difficult decisions, about acts of hate and daring acts of compassion. It happened around fifty years ago and exact dates may be forgotten, some events may not be remembered in the right sequence. Fifty years later I am starting to write the story. I am writing this for the memory of our brave parents, for our children and grandchildren, our grandchildren's friends and for future generations. Let it not yet be forgotten.

On Friday, May 10 1940, the German army started their invasion of Holland. At that time most people in our small city of Sneek (pronounce Snake), believed that the German forces would be beaten back by the Dutch army. This did not happen. The next day German armored vehicles stopped in our street, right in front of our house. We had just finished our Saturday noon dinner and I clearly remember the dessert. Rice pudding with raisins, sprinkled with sugar and with melted butter. Normally we finished dinner with a bowl of buttermilk-barley-porridge.
Mother stood in front of a window in our living room when the Germans stopped. She turned around and promised us that we would have rice pudding for dessert on the day the Germans left. Mother kept her promise.

Even when food became very scarce during the five war years, mother saved some rice. On April 15, 1945, Canadian tanks stopped in front of our house, in exactly the same spot where the Germans stood in 1940. The next day mother served rice pudding for dessert. We did not get as much as in 1940 and without raisins, sugar or melted butter. There was another promise kept when the Canadian army arrived. The curtains hanging in front of the living room windows opened again. Mother had closed them when the German army vehicles stood in front of our house in 1940. "They," she said, pointing at the German soldiers "do not have to know what happens in our home".

After the Germans took control of the government, things started to change in Holland. In the next street, two blocks down, lived Mr. Pino. He had a corner store where you bought candies, chocolates, cigarettes, and similar items. The Pino store closed on Saturdays, not on Sundays. Most stores closed on Sundays. If needed people could buy cigarettes, or bread on Sundays at Pino's. Saturday was Sabbath and that's why the store closed on that day. The Pino family were Jews. When the German army had been in Sneek for a few weeks, a small group of soldiers walked past the Pino corner store. One of the soldiers noticed that Mr. Pino was a Jew and he shouted: "Ein Jude, ein Jude und der Jude hat ein Geschäft" (A Jew, a Jew and that Jew has a store). He pulled a hand grenade from his boot, one with a long wooden handle, and was going to throw this through the store window. The other soldiers stopped him. The soldier's action really shocked the town; for days it was talked about and it threw a real scare on the people.

In Sneek lived Jewish families who had left Hitler's Germany a few years ago. My sister had worked for some of them as a seamstress; they did not talk much, but a few things had been mentioned. We had heard some of the stories how the Germans disliked Jews. The hand grenade incident was the first experience for Sneek, and it showed a lot more than only dislike.

Now the story.

The Locher family lived in Amsterdam. They were Jews.

Abraham and Sarah Locher and three children. Esther was the oldest, followed by two boys, Jacob and Louis. Louis was the youngest, Looky, they called him.

Mr. Locher owned a fish store on a busy Street.The Locher family home was a few streets away; they lived upstairs. With his delivery truck, very early each morning, Mr. Locher drove to IJmuiden, a small harbor town on the North Sea. Here he bought fish directly from the fishermen when they docked with their overnight catch. He trucked the fish to his store in Amsterdam. The couple worked the whole day in the store, sorting and cleaning fish. Their clients always got fresh fish, and the store was busy. The family enjoyed a good income from their business.

Mrs. Locher did not get much time to do any work at home. They had hired a housekeeper for all the things that, fifty years ago normally a housewife and mother would do. Mrs. Locher liked it better this way; cooking, cleaning and doing the laundry, were not her strong points.

A major change happened when the Lochers received an official document from the German controlled government.This document informed them that they could no longer keep their store, or even work in it. The German authorities took the store away and gave it to a collaborator.

The Lochers did not receive anything in return for their store. According to the Germans, not any Jew was fit to run a business and no Jew deserved compensation for confiscated property either.

Life for Jews got harder and harder. Many more rules and restrictions came. A yellow star had to be worn on all outer clothing. It had to be clearly visible and of a certain size. Everybody over a certain age had to have an Identification Card. This ID card showed a photo, fingerprints, address, name, etc., of the bearer. Cards issued to Jews came with a big J printed on it. No longer could Jews go to any public place. Coffee shops, restaurants, playgrounds, parks, swimming pools, buses, trains, trams, were out of bounds to Jews. Shopping was limited to a few hours and only on selected days. Jewish children were not allowed to go to their own schools. They were sent to special German controlled schools.

Slowly the situation got worse all across the country. Most foods were rationed. Any item normally imported or manufactured from imported raw materials became scarce or had completely disappeared from store shelves. For example, the racks and shelves for tires and inner tubes for bicycles, Holland's standard mode of transportation were empty. Even with the necessary coupons you could not buy any. Clothing was hard to get You were lucky if you found a shoemaker who had leather left to resole your shoes. It helped if you had some bacon or butter to barter with. Some of the scarce items could be bought on the emerging black-markets, if you had the money.

Still, the general expectation was that Germany would soon start losing the battles against the Allied forces and that the occupation would come to an end. Resistance against German rule was hardly noticeable. Generally, their orders were followed. The people knew that German authorities expected total obedience. The population in Holland was made aware of German ruthlessness and the severity of their punishments. More and more the country started to find this out the hard way.

For Jewish citizens the situation was a lot worse. Little did they know what to expect next. Only a few people in Holland, Jew or not, had any idea of Germany's intentions.

During 1942, letters weresent to all Jews instructing them to appear, with hand luggage only, at certain locations. In the letter they were told that, after registration, they would be moved to camps in Germany to work in nearby factories. Men and women were needed for this work, children had to come along and could not be left behind.

A few Jews did not follow instructions and did not show up at their appointed time and location. They disappeared, "dove under," as the Dutch would say. Most of the Jewish "under-divers" got help from non Jewish friends to stay out of German hands. The German- and the Dutch police hunted these fugitives. When caught, the Germans took them directly to Mauthausen.Similartreatment awaited people who helped Jews escape from the Germans and got caught doing it, Mauthausen was a camp built exclusively for punishment.

"Oh," Mr. Locher had remarked when they discussed the situation in the Jewish community in Amsterdam, "my wife and I are used to working hard. We don't mind long days. It may not be easy, but we will manage. We'll see what happens. Nobody knows for sure."

The Lochers also got the letter. It informed them to be at a well-known theatre, the "Hollandse Schouwburg," for registration. During the past few weeks some of the Locher's friends and relatives had already left. Now it was officially their turn. Now they knew the date and time and that they could take only a small suitcase or handbag each.
The family knew about working in the German factories and how the city tram took everybody to Amsterdam's main train station, Central Station. From here a train left every night for Drente, one of the Dutch provinces bordering Germany. Close to the village of Westerbork there was a camp where the Jews would be temporarily housed. Later a train would come from Germany for them.

It was an early start for the whole family as they prepared for this journey, there were clothes to be selected and suitcases to be packed. Finally they were ready to go. A key was given to the neighbours, who had promised to look after their home during their absence.

The Lochers pulled the front door closed behind them.

During the walk to the theatre they met several acquaintances. The boys found friends from their old school, friends they had not seen for a long time. Esther also met several old girlfriends. One of the girls remarked that it looked as if they were going on a school trip, so many of the old friends together with only hand luggage.

A Dutch policeman stood in the doorway to the lobby of the theatre. They knew him well. For years he had been a regular customer in their store. The policeman walked over to Mr. Locher and took him aside. "Mr. Locher," he said, "listen to me, don't go inside, find an excuse and go back. Don't trust the Germans. There is a great danger. You will be killed if you go. Maybe, nobody will come back." Mr. Locher tried to walk away, shaking his head, but the policeman blocked his way and stood directly in front of him, whispering: "I will help you, my friends and I will help you to dive under and stay out of the German camps. I can give you ten minutes to make up your mind"

I can give you ten minutes to make up your mind!

Mr. and Mrs. Locher had ten minutes to decide on their future. What course to take? What to believe, the letter they got, or the words from the policeman they knew as a customer? In the meantime their two Sons were playing outside with rediscovered friends and inside Esther also seemed to have a great time with her old friends.
Occasionally you could hear Ester's voice clearly over the noise of the crowd.

Ten minutes later the eyes of the policeman and Mr. Locher met and he nodded slightly. Mrs. Locher had taken Esther aside. She whispered in her ear all they had heard from the policeman and told her about the decision the parents had made. "Esther, go outside, where your brothers are, leave your bag here," she urged her daughter. Esther's reaction was different: "Oh Mom, you are again scared for no reason at all. We girls have promised each other to stay together. What can happen? We'll see what kind of work we will have to do. We are leaving!" Esther left her mother and headed back to her circle of friends.

While Esther talked to her mother, her father went frantically through his pockets and wallet as if he was searching for something important. The policeman had been watching the family. He looked at the clock on the far wall and slightly nodded.
Mr. Locher went over to him. "Sir," he said, "I must have forgotten my letter; it has to be lying on the kitchen counter at home." The policeman shouted angrily, "Hurry up man, we don't have all day!"


The couple left the lobby, leaving all their luggage behind. One more inquiring look at Esther, who shook her head.

This was the last the parents ever saw of Esther, laughing with her friends, and shaking no with her head.

Once outside, the Lochers called Jacob and Louis and told them to leave their suitcases lying with the luggage of their friends. The family, only four now, took a different route back. On the way home the parents told their sons about the changed plans.

Had it been a wise move? They had still time to go back to Esther. Should they return to the theatre and rejoin their daughter, instead of leaving her behind? These and a lot more questions raced through their minds But the Lochers stayed at home Waiting, ... just waiting.

Towards evening the doorbell rang. The policeman, now in civilian clothes, was standing outside. It felt like a relief when he took charge. He told the Lochers, "first thing to do is to remove all the yellow stars from your clothing. Secondly, make sure that with hard but careful brushing none of the holes made by sewing remain visible in the fabric. Next, put on as many layers of clothing as possible. Don't even consider a suitcase but take only a small handbag or purse. Bring with you as many as possible of your valuable items, like gold, silver, jewelry and of course money." It was not an easy order to follow when the policeman continued, "try not to look like fugitives and at the same time carry as much clothing and valuables as possible".

Outside it was nearly dark, when the front door closed again behind them. Their guide took the family through quiet streets for a long and slow walk.The last part had been in almost total darkness because the city was blacked out. Another German rule that allowed no street lights to burn, no traffic lights to operate. No light shone through windows of houses or stores either. Windows were covered with blackpaper, or had some other way to keep the inside light from escaping. Finally they reached their destination on the outskirts of the city. Here an area was set aside by the city for gardeners. You could lease a small plot of land to grow your own vegetables or flowers. Some people had leased the same plots for years and they had built shacks in their gardens for storage of garden tools and protection from rain and weather. In prewar years, during a spell of hot weather, you could always find gardeners spending the whole weekend at their gardens.
The Germans had outlawed this. You could still work in your garden during daytime hours, but could not spend the night in your shack. The Locher family was taken to one of these shacks by their guide. Here, in totally unfamiliar surroundings, they prepared for the first night away from home, wondering how Esther and her friends made out.

That same night a train left the Central Station for Westerbork. Esther was one of the passengers.

The Locher family did not sleep much, this first night away from home. They were city folk and had never before listened to rural night sounds. The noise of ducks in the nearby ditches, the barking of a farm dog in the distance, and the cry of the night heron kept them from a sound sleep. Or did their new worries keep the sleep away?

The Lochers had started their wait for the end of the war. They learned quickly that time seem to slow down when you are scared. No longer could they reverse their first steps as fugitives. If caught by the Germans, it would be a direct trip to Mauthausen. Wearing no yellow star was enough for that. Their friend, the policeman, had told them not to trust anybody, unless properly introduced. "Too many Dutch nazis around", he said. "And don't forget the people who run to the Germans for the thirty bucks they pay to anyone who betrays Jews in hiding!"

The shack did not give much room for moving around, somebody was constantly in the way. The walls were just planking and far from being soundproof. There could be no loud conversation and absolutely no arguing. The Lochers knew nothing about the neighbours on the next plot! There were no beds in the shack and only one bench, a few boards hammered together. Bench is for Mom, the boys were told, we men can sleep on the floor. They had enough blankets to stay warm overnight. There was no toilet, but behind a curtain was a pail with a lid. On a small counter stood another pail, this one had water in it and a ladle for scooping hung on the rim. An old kerosene burner stood beside this pail. It could be used for cooking or heating, but no kerosene had been available for at least a year.

Every day had one bright spot, a visitor. A woman, whose shack they stayed in, came to work for a while in her garden. She would go inside to stretch out and relax for an hour or so, when she got tired. At least, this is what she told the other gardeners. In her bag she carried the food and drink for the Lochers.

The underground, a name given to the combined actions of Dutch civilians against the German occupation forces, had made all the arrangements for the Lochers.
The underground informed the family that it had started the search for more permanent hiding places for them. It had also mentioned that it was better not to count on a place where the four could stay together. It did not take long for the underground to find suitable spots for the two boys. Jacob and Louis had to be ready one afternoon towards dusk and a guide would come to take them away. A school bag was all they could carry with them. Anything more would be too conspicuous.

After the departure of their sons, the Locher parents were alone in their garden shack for some weeks. Till fall, when it became too cold to be comfortable. It was a cold day when a contact person from the underground came to tell the couple about possibilities. In the northern part of Holland, in the province of Friesland, they located several farmers who were willing to hide Jews. If the Lochers wanted, the underground could make the arrangements to get them there. For sure there would be more room and comfort at a farm than in a garden shack, They had to realize that the trip would not be without danger. The Lochers asked the underground to go ahead and start the plans for the move. What other choice was there?

Several problems had to be solved first and a major one was transportation. All the gasoline and diesel fuel available for buses and cars had been consumed. Coal came from Limburg, one of the southern provinces of Holland and was still available in limited quantities. With that coal the train was the only way to travel any distance.
The Lochers would get new ID cards with real photos and fingerprints, fake names and addresses and without the letter J this time. Train tickets would be bought for them so they would not have to stand in line at the station and risk being recognized and taken by German police. The underground would look after all arrangements. Everything had to be done with extreme caution.

The couple got a note with the details. They had to learn their new names and birth dates, their new address and the address of the fake family in Friesland they were supposedly going to visit. It also informed them about the trip. All of this and how to recognize their new underground contact had to be known by heart.

First they had to take the train to Zwolle, and there transfer to the one for Leeuwarden, the provincial capital of Friesland. Heerenveen was the next stop. Here the Locher couple was to walk from the train station to the tram station next door and take the tram for Harlingen. They read that this tram was not like an Amsterdam city tram, but more like a train on a smaller scale. The tram tickets even looked a lot like the train tickets. Their final stop would be at the tram station in the city of Sneek. In Sneek the couple would meet the next underground contact. The Lochers learned all this by heart, rehearsing it again and again. They had to because in Zwolle the German police routinely checked the ID cards of all the passengers on the train and the Lochers could not afford to mix up any answers. When they were sure that they knew everything, the note had to be totally destroyed.

The couple went on this dangerous journey.

In Zwolle, the German police did get on the train. The Lochers were scared; a fear shared by all the other passengers in the compartment. They thought that the police spent extra time on their ID.cards. Mrs. Locher kept her eyes* down, but Mr. Locher had returned the German's stare. Finally he had held his hand out and the police returned his ID. Not a single word was spoken. A very scary moment has passed.

Finding the tram in Heerenveen was no problem. The people in their compartment on the tram had looked at them, but had left the couple alone. Nobody had talked to them or asked any questions. There was something strange though, with their fellow passengers. The Lochers found that they could not understand them! It sounded as if these people, in Holland, talked a different language.

The tram stopped in a village called Joure. Some passengers got off and a few more got on. About fifteen minutes later the tram entered a city and the tracks ran between a canal and a street. At a bridge the tram stopped. The couple was in doubt if this was the final destination and then remembered that their instructions had clearly mentioned a station and the Lochers stayed on. Only a few minutes later the tram stopped again. Here a sign told them that this was indeed Sneek. A nearby building looked like a station and the Lochers got their luggage out of the overhead rack and stepped down on the platform. It was late afternoon, almost dark. The other passengers disappeared quickly. The couple waited on the platform. What would happen next?

End part 1