Letters from camp Westerbork - the story of Maurice, Estella and Marie Meijer

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• mavo, havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Letters from camp Westerbork

The story of Maurice, Estella and Marie Meijer.

In 2018, a number of special letters were donated to the Camp Westerbork Memorial Center. They were written in camp Westerbork by Ries, Elly and Mary Meijer. These letters are used in this lesson. 

You will learn in this lesson about the different steps of the persecution of Jews during the war and you will see images to accompany them. Furthermore, you think about what being locked up in camp Westerbork meant to (young) people.

Click on the for more information and click on the pictures to enlarge them. Explanations, questions and assignments can be found in the purple areas.

Maurice Meijer

Maurice Meijer was born in Amsterdam on July 20, 1926. He was named Ries and was the oldest of 3 children. Maurice's father was Julius Meijer and his mother's name was Johanna Nord. When Ries was 11 years old his mother died. In 1940 his father married Cora Walraven. Ries is pictured here with his sisters and his stepmother.

Marie Meijer

Marie Meijer was the youngest daughter of Julius Meijer and Johanna Nord. She was born in Amsterdam on July 26, 1931. Her name was usually written as Mary. She was the youngest of three children. When the war began, she was almost 9 years old.

Estella Meijer

Estella Meijer was the middle daughter in the family of Julius Meijer and Johanna Nord. Her mother died on August 26, 1937, one day before Estella's tenth birthday. Her father married Cora Walraven on January 17, 1940. Estella, who was named Elly, is pictured here with her brother, sister and stepmother.

Cora Meijer-Walraven

Cora Walraven (Amsterdam, 19-02-1920) had babysat Julius Meijer's children several times when she was 17. She worked at the same company as he did. After the death of Julius' wife, he and Cora got into a relationship and they married in January 1940. As a non-Jewish woman, she came into this family and became the stepmother of Ries, Elly and Mary.

Four months after Julius Meijer married Cora Walraven, the Nazis invaded the Netherlands. Father Julius and his children Ries, Elly and Mary Meijer had to deal with the anti-Jewish measures.

Click on the images to view them more closely.

     1940                         1941                         1942

What anti-Jewish measures will have particularly affected the lives of Ries, Elly and Mary? Name three.

Father Julius Meijer was arrested on March 23, 1943. He was at work and had with him two empty, unfilled personal identification cards. He was first detained in an Amsterdam prison and later sent to Camp Vught.

March 1943

Click on the document and see what happened to Jules Meijer.

Meer info over de dood van Julius Meijer is te lezen op de website van Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught:

http://www.nmkampvught.nl/biografieen/meijer-julius/

De kinderen en Cora wisten niet waar Julius was en wat er uiteindelijk met hem gebeurde. Twee weken na hun vader, op 7 april 1943, werden ook Ries, Elly en Mary opgepakt. Ze werden in Amsterdam naar de Hollandsche Schouwburg gebracht. Cora bleef alleen achter.

Cora (1942)

Cora about that evening: "When they were picked up, I didn't get time to pack a suitcase or backpack for them, but I was able to bring it after them. We sat all evening darning socks, because after three years of war they practically had no good clothes left."

Mary

Cora's sister, who happened to be present, remembers Mary, the youngest, clinging to her stepmother's legs because she did not want to come along.

Hollandsche Schouwburg

The Hollandsche Schouwburg in Amsterdam was a theater until 1942 and from the summer of that year was used as a gathering place for Jews before they were deported to Camp Westerbork and beyond.

April 1943

April 1943

On the day they were arrested, Maurice wrote another short letter to Cora on behalf of the children.

Read the letter.

Maurice Meijer

Ries mentions in his letter that they were first taken to Zuideramstellaan 45. Here was an office of the Jewish Council for "assistance to departed people. 

- Then he mentions Adema van Scheltemaplein. Here was located the Zentralstelle für jüdische Auswanderung (literal translation 'Central Office for Jewish Emigration'), which organized the deportation of Jews from the Netherlands to concentration camps in Germany and Poland in Amsterdam from the spring of 1941 to the fall of 1943. 

- By "Vucht," Ries meant camp Vught.

Letter part 1

Dear Mom,

We are at 45 Zuideramstellaan until now, about noon at night. Immediately the car comes and we go to the Adema van Scheltemaplein. And tomorrow at about eleven o'clock we will go to the theater. We'll stay there for a few days. You can take the luggage to Amstellaan or to Kerklaan. That won't bother you. It's nice here. We got candy and cigarettes. We will still write from the theater.

Letter part 2

We will do our best to get some more done. Otherwise we will go to Vucht. Riesje as furniture maker, Elly as seamstress. And Mary will stay with us. There's a chance we'll stay then. (...) From Westerbork you are sent on immediately, but not in Vucht.

Riesje, Elly, Mary

Tekst briefje:

Lieve Mams,

We zijn tot nu, ongeveer 12 uur in de nacht op de Zuideramstellaan 45. Direct komt de auto en gaan we naar het Adema van Scheltemaplein. En morgen om een uur of elf gaan we naar de schouwburg. Daar blijven wel een paar dagen. De bagage kunt u naar de Amstellaan of naar de Kerklaan brengen. Dat hindert niet. Het is hier wel gezellig. We hebben snoep en cigaretten gekregen. Uit de schouwburg schrijven we nog wel. We zullen ons best doen om nog wat gedaan te krijgen. Anders gaan we naar Vucht. Riesje als meubelmaker, Elly als naaister. En Mary blijft dan ook bij ons. Daar heb je wel kans, dat we dan blijven. (..) Uit Westerbork wordt je meteen doorgestuurd, maar in Vucht niet.

Riesje, Elly, Mary

You have read the letter. Which of the following answers is correct?

1. The children think they are going to Camp Vught and can stay there.
2. The children think they might still be able to arrange something and get free.
3. The children think they will be sent to Camp Westerbork and beyond.
4. The children think they can stay at the Theatre for now.

Two days later, Cora received another bill from Ries.

The children left Amsterdam. Where were they going?

9 April 1943

9 April 1943

Campadministration

How many people arrived at camp Westerbork on April 9, 1943?

And how many people in total were in the camp at that time?

What do you think about
when it comes to camp
Westerbork?

Prisoners in camp Westerbork were allowed to write a letter once every 2 weeks to people outside the camp.

Read the excerpt from the letter Ries wrote to Cora on Saturday, April 17, 1943.

Look up on the map where Ries, Elly and Mary lived in the camp.

17 April 1943

Letter part 1

Saturday, April 17, 1943

Dear Mom,

We received the packages and were very happy with them. I see Elly and Mary every day. I am in barracks 61. Elly and Mary are in 66 in the orphanage. It's much nicer there. All the little kids. At least Mary is in her element. And Elly with other big girls kind of help there. Cutting bread and washing dishes and stuff. I'm an orderly at the hospital. A nice job.

Map camp Westerbork

Letter part 2

It is better to send parcels and letters to 61. I can go to Elly and Mary any time, while they, of course as in any orphanage go for walks at certain times. Please send many letters. Please also give our address to the other families, so they can write too. We may receive as many parcels and letters as we want.

On April 19, Elly also wrote from camp Westerbork to Cora. Here are three excerpts from this letter.

Fragment 1

Dear Mom,

How are you doing? I hope you are not too worried about us. We are doing well and see Riesje every day. He is in a different barrack from us. But comes to us every day or we go to him. Mary and I are at the orphanage. Mary goes to the moor every day with a bunch of children. And I help a little here.

Fragment 2

Riesje also surely wrote to you that he is an orderly at the hospital. There is also cabaret here in the evening sometimes. If I wanted to I could have my guitar sent to me but I don't do it because I think it's a waste

Fragment 3

If you remember anything else about Dad please write. Greetings to you all and write lots.

Best regards and a big kiss from Elly.

P.S. We also received your letter. Please send handkerchiefs, we have a terrible cold.

19 April 1943

You have read the letter fragments. Which answer is right?

1. Ries works at the hospital and the children live together in the same barracks.
2. Mary gets to go to the moors with other children and Elly has her guitar sent to her.
3. Elly helps with the children from the orphanage and Ries works at the camp hospital.
4. The children received no letters and in the evening there is cabaret in the camp.

Mary also wrote a letter to Cora on April 19, 1943. Attached are three fragments from this letter.

19 April 1943

fragment 1

Sissi, mentioned in excerpt 1, was the children's dog Dear Mom,

How are you doing? I hope good. (...) It's very good here. We often go to the moors. I've also been to school once, which is in the same barracks. We only do games there. How is Sissi doing? There are three beds above each other here. First I slept with Elly but then I joined the group of children aged 10 and 11. In the afternoon we eat hot and in the morning and in the evening we eat bread.which was left with Cora in Amsterdam.

fragment 2

You get a lot of hot food here! I'm in bed in my camisole now so you'll be sending pajamas soon won't you? You can also get haircuts and baths and showers here. We get to write every 14 days. We get tea, coffee or milk at dinner here.

fragment 3

Dear Mom, I don't remember, but will you write back huh?

Lots of kisses from you loving Marie.

P.S. You must have received a telegram from Riesje asking for three pairs of goggles. We need those because there are dirt roads here and when you walk everything blows into your eyes. Everyone here walks with one of those.

Sissi, mentioned in fragment 1, was the children's dog who had stayed behind with Cora in Amsterdam.

Sissi, genoemd in fragment 1, was de hond van de kinderen die bij Cora in Amsterdam was achtergebleven.

What particularly struck you about Mary's description of camp Westerbork. In your answer, use at least 1 of the following words:

food - sleep - school - duster - friend - bath

Which four pictures belong to Camp Westerbork?

And which four at other camps?

De overige foto's horen bij:

- kamppoort = Auschwitz

- kampaanzicht = Sobibor

- mannen in barak = Buchenwald

- kamppak met nummer = Auschwitz

3 May 1943

Letter part 1

Dear Mom,

How are you doing? Are you getting used to it a little bit? What a time it is already huh. First I want to thank you for the lovely packages. We also received the last package. You must have made the rhubarb yourself. I really thought it tasted so old-fashioned. Will you also thank Slochem(?) and Dekker for their contribution in the packets?

Two weeks later, on May 3, 1943, later it was "writing day" again. Elly wrote in a new letter to Cora about a move of her and Mary; first from barrack 66 to 67 and soon after to barrack 35. Barrack 35 can be seen in the background in the photo above. Find barracks 67 and 35 on the map.

Letter part 2

That other packet was also so delicious with that filleted sprats. So nice and savory huh. And with that packet of good I was also so happy. What two beautiful wipes came with it. Who did I get those from? We moved to barracks 67 last week. But the parcels sent to 66 will all arrive, you know. And for now, send everything to Riesje because we may be moving to 35 this week. If it's certain then, I'll write to you next time, when it's settled exactly. You'd better send food to Riesje anyway.

Map

The letters from Ries, Elly and Mary and the pictures you have seen so far give a picture of the conditions in camp Westerbork.
Which of the statements below do you think most applies to the situation in the camp? Explain your answer.

At camp Westerbork, life still seemed somewhat like ordinary life.

Camp conditions were better for children than adults.

Ries, Elly and Mary describe the circumstances more positively so as not to worry Cora.

'Between the lines' you read that it was terrible in the camp.

Camp Westerbork was a reasonable camp compared to what came after.

Fragment Elly

Dear Mom,

How are you doing? This is the last letter you will get from us, because tomorrow we are going to the unknown land. Riesje did write to you in what wagons we are going.

Fragment Mary

Westerbork, Monday, May 17, 1943

Dear Mom,

How are you doing? This is the last you will hear from us because we are moving on. You never raait who is here. Aunt Erna!

Westerbork camp archive

This is an excerpt from the transport list of May 18, 1943. This day's transport left for the Sobibor extermination camp.

On May 17, 1943, it was writing day again for Elly and Mary. Attached are two short excerpts from their letters and a list from the archives of Camp Westerbork.

Take a good look at these fragments.

17 May 1943

What becomes clear from these three fragments?

Tante Erna uit het fragment van Elly was de voormalige huishoudster van de familie Meijer.

Ries, Elly and Mary go to "the unknown land" wrote Elly. Mary wrote, "We are going on." We now know that they left for the Sobibor death camp on May 18, 1943. This transport consisted of more than 2,500 people. There are photos of some of the transports from Westerbork, and there is even unique film footage of a departing transport.

You will see 30 seconds of footage of a transport leaving camp Westerbork in May 1944. Watch carefully what happens, who is involved and what the mood is like. Remember three things that caught your eye. 

There is no sound with the clip.

What things
did you notice in
the fragment?

Following is a photo of people ready to leave camp Westerbork. Look closely at this photo for about 30 seconds.

Then choose one of the people in the photo. Think about what this person was thinking at the time the picture was taken.

The person I chose thought maybe:

What happened to Ries, Elly and Mary after they left camp Westerbork , you can look up on the website www.oorlogslevens.nl. When entering the names, make sure you use the full name:

- Maurice Meijer (born 1926)

- Estella Meijer (born in 1927)

- Marie Meijer (born in 1931)

Cora had to go on without her husband and her stepchildren after the war. She always kept the letters from Ries, Elly and Mary well. They were very important to her. After Cora passed away in 2018, her relatives donated the letters to the Camp Westerbork Memorial Center.

With everything you know now, imagine you had to write down the story of Ries, Elly and Mary. What title would you put above your story?

www.oorlogsbronnen.nl

3. jan. 1942 vernietiging

De concentratie/ vernietigingskampen liggen vooral in Polen in Auschwitz en Sobibor. Ook zigeuners werden hier vergast.