…un jeune homme qui s’opposant à l’idéologie Nazi s’est battu contre les philosophies haineuses qui à l’époque apparaissaient partout en Europe. Arrêté en Belgique après beaucoup de pérégrinations, il fut déporté en Allemagne comme prisonnier “Nacht und Nebel” Continue reading Des Pays-Bas à la Bavière – en cherchant Jan van Boeckel (in French for a change)
A sense of humour is one of the best survival tools, and the van Boeckels had loads of it. Talking to Jacqueline and Ineke, two of the youngest van Boeckels, they forever tell their painful childhood stories laced with the jokes that were prevalent in the family. It still makes them laugh out loud. Continue reading Processions in the Hunger Winter
After the mobilisation of the Dutch military in 1940 Jacqui had seen the war unfold. Dutch soldiers passing through the street to join up with their company in the dunes, her sisters offering them tea and sandwiches. And then suddenly Germans in the street Continue reading A child’s eye
Before Jan joined their group in the forests of Compogne, the Maquis d’Engreux had experienced trying times. Life was dangerous and volatile. Let me return to the beginning of 1944, when Theo and Jan had not yet arrived. Continue reading Partisans de Houffalize, Maquis D’Engreux
And so when Jan does not show up in Haarlem, my grandpa writes to the Saint Leonard prison in Liege in June 1945, inquiring after his son. The Belgian authorities reply that the records have been destroyed and that they are unable to answer him. On the third of August 1945 a letter arrives on my grandmother’s doorstep. Continue reading Where is Jan?
mogromo 