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27-01-2009 INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY Westerbork - concentration camp (Polizeiliches Durchgangslager Westerbork)

Westerbork; is a town in the Dutch province of Drenthe. It is a part of the municipality of  Midden-Drenthe.  The village gives its name to the Westerbork deportation and later, concentration camp , located about 7 km north of the village, in the forests of Hooghalen.

Westerbork was a separate municipality until 1998, when it became part of Middenveld.   In 2001, the town of Westerbork had 4075 inhabitants. The built-up area of the town was 1.8 km², and contained 1794 residences.  The statistical area "Westerbork", which also can include the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 4710

A part of the billboard near the museum of "Durchgangslager Westerbork"

Camp Westerbork was a World War 2  concentration camp in Hooghalen, ten kilometers north of Westerbork  in the current mun. Midden-Drenthe province of Drenthe  located in the north eastern part of the Netherlands. Its function during the Second World War was to assemble Dutch Jews   for transport to other Nazi concentration camps.

Link; Camp Westerbork

Signs in Westerbork

Rails-monument at Westerbork: broken rails of a former track which was used to transport people to and from the camp

Parts of a rebuilt hut at Westerbork. This hut Anne Frank stayed in from August till early September 1944, before she  and her family ,was taken to Auschwitz

Remainder of the latrine

Monument at Westerbork: Each single stone represents a single person that had stayed at Westerbork and died in a Nazi camp

COMMENTS
Gerardfotografeert said at 5:45 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
This is a variation off a older tabblo. I've made this variation because it is today "the Holocaust Remembrance Day 2009".
In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated January 27 as an annual international day of commemoration to honor the victims of the Nazi era. This date marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. Every member nation of the U.N. has an obligation to honor the memory of Holocaust victims and develop educational programs as part of the resolve to help prevent future acts of genocide. The U.N. resolution rejects denial of the Holocaust, and condemns discrimination and violence based on religion or ethnicity.
Gerardfotografeert said at 5:50 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
I'm inspired by Mike Kay (username L810th) Thank you Mike.
Pkeener said at 6:01 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
Gerard, beautifully done, very sad for me, but thank you. The monument made me cry.
L810th said at 6:11 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
Anne Frank's story was always upper in my mind and I introduced my two sons to it at a reasoning age. It may have influenced my eldest son Graham to recently pursue his degree in history, but I was to make sure that both of them were in no doubt about all these atrocities inflicted on innocent people. I will always make the effort to remind people of it, no matter how upsetting it may be. Every part of mainland Europe was affected by this crazed ideology even as close to Brittain as the channel islands.
This is the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and I nearly missed it. My next trip to Holland will include a visit to Westerbork and also to finaly visit the museum of Anne Frank in Amsterdam. I have been to Rotterdam several times, usually in the wintertime and they have been short weekend trips to some friends, which does not allow for much travelling, but next time for sure. Thanks for this special Tabblo Gerard. It gives me even greater insight to this dark period of history. Mike.
Mincka said at 6:14 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
Great pictures, Gerard! where you there recently?

I find the most horrifying of this place that the story of shameless behaviour went on after the WWII in that place. Dutch people who collaborate with the Germans where captured there and mistreated in the same way.

The place gives me so much sad feelings because of that history.
Gerardfotografeert said at 6:22 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
Thank you Pam, Mike and Mincka. A was there in the spring off 2007. Everytime when I hear stories about it or see images of them It made me shiver.
L810th said at 6:51 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
Gerard. I am only guessing that the marker stone is short or tall to show the age of the person? If this is so then there must have been many young people exterminated here. Mike.
Cowgirl said at 6:54 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
What can i say the tabblo speaks for it self....
L810th said at 7:07 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
Correction from my first comment: It is the 64th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and not the 60th. Mike.
Candlepower said at 7:38 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
I get sick inside thinking about this! So very sad and awful!
Moabjeeper said at 8:10 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
Excellent work and rememerance.
Ira said at 9:50 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
Great memory by all lost and injured
Fabio_DL said at 10:53 p.m. on Jan 27, 2009:
Gerard, You and Mike are doing an important job. Thank you! Fabio
Robya said at 12:28 a.m. on Jan 28, 2009:
When ever I view this Subject matter, I get a deep overwhelming feeling in my heart,amazed that any human would be treated as such. Amazed that any one man who does such terror to another must have no soul or heart .The afflictors spirits eventually had only darkness to live in. And another tear is shed. ~~Robbi
Eduardo.affonso said at 10:09 a.m. on Jan 28, 2009:
Your photos are fascinating - in spite of the terrifying history behind them.
Gerardfotografeert said at 4:59 p.m. on Jan 28, 2009:
Thank you all for your reactions. Mike there where a lot off children off all ages;
"The newspaper, Het Joodsche Weekblad -The Jewish Weekly, dated 5 September 1941, issued by the Jewish Council for Amsterdam under the auspices of A. Asscher and Prof. Dr. D. Cohen carried, with the consent of the German authorities, the following announcement which must have sent shock waves through the Jewish community in the Netherlands. It certainly impacted some 20,000 Jewish children between the ages of 1 and 14 years. The announcement read, in part, as follows:



"The Jewish Council and the Board of coordinators announce that in view of the interdiction for Jewish children to attend non-Jewish schools after 1 September 1941, both governing bodies have appointed a Central Committee for Jewish education. This committee is prepared to offer counsel and advice in all matters related to the education of Jewish children. It is our intent where and, in as much as is possible, when to provide education for our children.".............................................................................................................

Now that children had entered the camps at Vught and Westerbork, the need to keep up appearances became evident. The Jewish Council saw the need to also implement schooling within Westerbork for children between the ages of 6 and 14. These schools again needed Jewish teachers and overseers. No problem, they too were among the deportees. Of course, one cannot speak of organized education. The classrooms were primitive and study material was not always available. The teachers did the best they could under the circumstances. The very small children, to age 6, slept with their mothers. During the day they were brought to the Kindergarten center when the mother was assigned to a workshop. Children from 6 to 14 had to attend education classes. Consequently, the school system in Westerbork almost weekly had a sharply changing student and teacher body. The weekly deportation lists for Poland indiscriminately included teachers as well as students until there were no more teachers and students left" When you will read the complet text, follow the link;http://www.holocaust-lestweforget.com/holocaust-westerbork-education.html
Chaitiamma said at 11:49 a.m. on Jan 29, 2009:
History is always bitter. Too bad some people just never learn !!!
Loes said at 5:28 p.m. on Jan 29, 2009:
Mooi in beeld gebracht Gerard!
.... said at 9:48 p.m. on Jan 29, 2009:
uma história triste ,que não deveria ter existido se tivessem seguido o poema de Carlos Drummond de Andrade:
"eu preparo uma canção que faça acordar os homens e adormecer as crianças".
HtD said at 11:32 a.m. on Feb 2, 2009:
Ja Gerard wij mogen deze tijd nooit vergeten. Ik heb trouwens het dagboek van Anna Frank, als luisterboek op mijn Ipod staan. Zo af en toe luister ik er wel eens naar.
Jillcdunn said at 10:00 p.m. on Feb 7, 2009:
Beautiful, poignant and chilling all at once. Well done!
Pattymaryclare said at 1:45 p.m. on Nov 4, 2009:
Gerard I THINK that this Remembrance Day should just as important as the upcoming 'REMEMBRANCE or VETERAN'S Day) on November 11 (11th hr, 11th day, 11thmonth) AND SHOULD BE PUT IN ALL printed calendars too! (i don't have my 2010 daytimer yet but surely hope I or YOU will again REMIND/REMEMBER with this or another tabblo! thank you for informing me of this certain day and its a msg THAT NEEDS ALWAYS TO BE REMEMBERED...the victims whom the 'war dead /veterans' DIED FOR or fought for too! xox Patty
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