foundation "Living behind barbed wire 1940-1945"
Remark from the webmaster: this is a translation of the Dutch page. The foundation is in the first instance focused on people living in the Netherlands. If you live outside the Netherlands and wish to become a supporter, get in touch with one of the committee members (addresses below). Please note that the newsletter is in Dutch only.
The Dutch foundation Living behind barbed wire 1940-1945 consists of some young people from the generation who grew up after the Second World War. They try to keep alive the memories of the victims from the prisons, the concentration camps, the POW-camps and the Japanese camps. The foundation is also occupied with resistance groups and the persecution of the Jews.
Some activities of the foundation are organising exhibitions, giving lectures, visiting ex-prisoners and writing publications.
At the exhibitions only original items are displayed such as letters, photographs, documents, diaries, drawings, tools, camp clothing and musical instruments. All these items are granted to the foundation in confidence by ex-prisoners or their relations. They will be preserved for the posterity with the most care. The photograph was taken in August 2006 during an exhibition in a military museum.
This is a masterpiece of the collection: the original uniform of Machiel ("Vandy") van den Heuvel. He was the Dutch Escape Officer in Colditz and has done a lot of good work. Several officers has reached freedom thanks to him. Sadly he was not given to enjoy the retaken freedom as he was killed in action on 29 June 1946. The framed picture shows the cross on his grave in Bandung (Indonesia).
Leo de Hartog has dedicated his book Officieren achter prikkeldraad ("Officers behind barbed wire") to Machiel van den Heuvel.
Of course the foundation is still looking for original items from the camps. If you are able to help, please contact one of the following committee members:
Marco Jacobs | Burgerdijkstraat 30 | 2921 XC Krimpen a/d IJssel | the Netherlands | |
Albert Ziëck | Kerkstraat 44 | 6871 BL Renkum | the Netherlands |
If you become a supporter of the foundation you will receive a newsletter every six months with stories, information and announcements of coming exhibitions. Please contact one of the above mentioned committee members for more information. The foundation is listed in the Dutch Foundations Register.