Interviews

Ed Lessing was born in Holland and lived through the Holocaust. He and his family went into hiding from 1942 -1945. At first he was working on farms and then later joined the resistance. He is now a professor at the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center.

Ed Lessing -Email interview

"The Dutch Resistance helped people indeed because they felt it was their responsibility. As the Germans more and more began a reign of terror in Holland, rounding up Jewish citizens, members of former political parties, and anyone who resisted any of their strict measures, and began executing them and sending them to their death in concentration camps, righteous men and women rose up in revolt against the evil of the occupiers."

Rita’s father, Case, was a leader in the Dutch Resistance. He helped hide Jews and people in need. He himself had to go into hiding during the war. People would always go to him for help. He also helped get weapons and food but was always the one to hide someone.

Rita Admiraal- Phone interview

"So that’s why my dad got involved in the resistance movement, by hiding Jews. First in his own home and then he was discovered and then he went into hiding."

"He thought it was his Christian duty to hide as many Jews as he could."

George Cassutto's Father and Mother were both Jews in Holland during the Dutch Resistance. Both of his parents had to go into hiding. He is now a middle school physics teacher.

George CAssutto- Personal Interview

"In Germany, it was a slow process of over about 1933 to probably 1940, of taking away privileges of Jewish people, so they couldn't own businesses, they couldn't go to collage, they couldn't sit in public places."

"The people in the Dutch underground would get weapons, food, clothing, and move people around so the Germans couldn't find them."

Louise Lawrence was born in Holland during the Dutch resistance in 1942. She was a Jew and had to go into hiding. She now volunteers at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Louise Lawrence-Israels-Phone INterview

"They took away our freedom, they dehumanized us as Jews, and they took everything away. My father had a business with his father, and they just took it away. Everything that had any value was taken away from us." -Louise Lawrence-Israels."