Flory: Survival in the Valley of Death by Flory Van Beek

Author:Flory Van Beek
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

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LETTER FROM MY MOTHER

September 7, 1942

My very beloved children:

This is my farewell letter to you my dear children.

I was unexpectedly taken away Friday night by the German SS and driven in a police car to Amsterdam.

We had to walk in Amsterdam from “Het Westeinde” to “Het Meyerplein,” which took us one and one-half hour. I was wearing a thin dress; they did not give me time. I have no money on me, no hat and I miss my glasses.

From Amsterdam we were transported in a freight car to Hooghalen, where we had to walk for two hours at two o’clock in the night, to Camp Westerbork.

Every half-hour large transports from Amsterdam arrive here. Among the people are poor wretches, some of the sick and bewildered, in their eighties. My heart is heavy. I cannot describe the misery that is going on here.

I am very nervous; it is cold and dirty here and there is no way to sleep. We have not had anything to eat since I was deported.

I feel that this will be my last journey; we know what the Germans have in mind for us. We were told that we have to go again on a transport but I don’t know where to.

If there is anything left in our home in Rotterdam, maybe the furniture and other household effects can be sold and the proceeds will be for you, my beloved children.

I am sure that God will save you all.

I kiss and embrace you all many, many times. If it is God’s will maybe we will see each other again.

Your faithful and loving mother

I translated this letter from Dutch. It was written and thrown from a train by my mother, Alijda Cohen-Van Beek.

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