de Wervelwind
Object numberM1994/015:019
Titlede Wervelwind
DescriptionEdited in London and distributed by the Royal Air Force, this monthly publication De Wervelwind for Freedom, Truth and Justice, contained propaganda against the Germans. This is the 2nd issue published in its first year, dated May 1942.
Part of a collection of 24 documents, letters and identity cards pertaining to the Lakmaker family.
Karel Lakmaker was born in Amsterdam on 1 March 1897. He married Judic Lakmaker (nee Kijl), born 12 November 1897. Karel and Judic and their two children—Hartog (later Harry) (born 10 October 1922) and Rachel (born 6 January 1925)— lived at Botediep Street, 28, Unit 2 in Amsterdam, before WWII. On 10 May 1940, German troops invaded the Netherlands. Five days later, Dutch forces capitulated, and the German occupation of the Netherlands began. At this time approximately 140,000 Jews resided in the Netherlands. By the time the war ended the Nazis had deported 107,000 Jews to concentration camps and death camps. Of these only 5,000 survived. Rachel and Hartog Lakmaker were fortunate to be amongst them. Over 75% of Holland’s Jews were murdered by the Nazis.
Attempts at escape from the Netherlands under Nazi control were virtually impossible. Countries bordering the Netherlands were under German control. Flight across the Dutch border only meant entering another Nazi-controlled country, and its West-North borders consist of the North Sea coastline. Passage through German patrolled waters was highly dangerous. The Netherlands in 1940 was a densely populated country. The land is flat providing little forested mountain terrain suited for partisan activity or refuge. The geography of the Netherlands provided no place to run and few places to hide. Culturally, Dutch society was stratified, largely based on religion. Close friendships between Jews and Christians were uncommon in wartime Holland. This made it difficult for Jews to find shelter in the homes of gentile neighbours. Hiding Jews was risky; in Holland anyone caught helping Jews faced execution or being sent to a concentration camp, where chances of survival were slim. By August 1940 comprehensive anti-Jewish policies and administrative decrees had been worked out by the German administration to ostracise Jews and to lower their social, economic, and legal standing. In February 1941, the Nazis installed a Jewish Council (Dutch: Joodse Raad), that ultimately served as an instrument for organising the registration and deportation of Dutch Jews. During the first year of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Jews who were already registered on the basis of their religion had to get a large “J” stamped on their IDs. Every Dutch resident had to declare whether they had Jewish roots.
Jewish doctors and lawyers were forbidden to work for non-Jews, Jews were expelled from universities and banned from all public places. Their bank accounts were frozen. They were only permitted to shop from 3.00-5.00pm. Their radios were confiscated. From January 1942 Jews were also stigmatised with the compulsory wearing of the Star of David. These are the events that must have prompted the Lakmaker family to go into hiding. The woman who hid Rachel and her brother was the courageous Mrs Mevrou Addicks. During the two years the family was in hiding (1942-1944), Rachel was able to organise false identity documents in the name of Annie de Wit. These enabled her to “pass” as a non-Jew and to resurface occasionally in public.
The circumstances under which the family was arrested remains a mystery. They were arrested in 1944 and transported to Westerbork. After six months in Westerbork the family was deported— on one of the last transports leaving the Netherlands to Auschwitz, on 3 September 1944. On the train journey from Amsterdam to Westerbork, Rachel recognised Nannie Baum—a pre-war friend. They became camp sisters (German: lager-schwestern), caring and supporting each other, in Auschwitz and later in Gross-Rosen concentration camp. Incoming prisoners to Auschwitz were assigned a camp serial number that was tattooed onto the prisoner’s left forearm. Only those prisoners selected for forced labour were issued serial numbers; those sent directly to the gas chambers, were not registered, nor tattooed. When Judic Lakmaker arrived in Auschwitz in 1944, she was sent straight to the gas chamber—murdered aged 47. “She was ‘selected’ and never seen again”. Karel was selected for forced labour as was his son Hartog, who became prisoner number: J9246.
In a letter dated 20 November 1951 the Dutch Red Cross confirmed that Karel Lakmaker perished on the death march leaving Auschwitz for Loslau, between 18-25 January 1945. Hartog was barely alive when he was liberated in Auschwitz by Russian forces in January 1945. When Rachel Lakmaker and Nannie Baum arrived at Auschwitz, they were selected as “depot prisoners”—not registered nor tattooed— incarcerated for a few days in the Meksyl (Polish: Mexico) compound, before being transported to Gross-Rosen. Upon arrival, Rachel became prisoner number: 74387 and together with Nannie Baum were transported to one of its 100 sub camps – Liebau - “located in a small village in the Sudentenland (in Germany), where forced labourers worked for German armament industries, amongst them Krupp” [Kwiet, K. Private communication 2020]. Rachel and Nannie were liberated there by Russian forces in January 1945. At the end of the war, Rachel was repatriated to Holland. Her brother Hartog spent time in a DP camp before he made his way home. At some point they decided to emigrate to Australia. Aaron Engelander’s (their nominee) application for landing permits was successful, and they arrived by plane on 16 August 1948 [NAA]. Rachel met and married Charles Hoytash in 1952. They had two children. Philip (b. 1955) and Judy (b. 1959). Rachel worked for many years at the Hakoah Club in Bondi. Hartog died in Sydney on 27 August 1983. His sister Rachel, a decade later, on 8 March 1993.
Part of a collection of 24 documents, letters and identity cards pertaining to the Lakmaker family.
Karel Lakmaker was born in Amsterdam on 1 March 1897. He married Judic Lakmaker (nee Kijl), born 12 November 1897. Karel and Judic and their two children—Hartog (later Harry) (born 10 October 1922) and Rachel (born 6 January 1925)— lived at Botediep Street, 28, Unit 2 in Amsterdam, before WWII. On 10 May 1940, German troops invaded the Netherlands. Five days later, Dutch forces capitulated, and the German occupation of the Netherlands began. At this time approximately 140,000 Jews resided in the Netherlands. By the time the war ended the Nazis had deported 107,000 Jews to concentration camps and death camps. Of these only 5,000 survived. Rachel and Hartog Lakmaker were fortunate to be amongst them. Over 75% of Holland’s Jews were murdered by the Nazis.
Attempts at escape from the Netherlands under Nazi control were virtually impossible. Countries bordering the Netherlands were under German control. Flight across the Dutch border only meant entering another Nazi-controlled country, and its West-North borders consist of the North Sea coastline. Passage through German patrolled waters was highly dangerous. The Netherlands in 1940 was a densely populated country. The land is flat providing little forested mountain terrain suited for partisan activity or refuge. The geography of the Netherlands provided no place to run and few places to hide. Culturally, Dutch society was stratified, largely based on religion. Close friendships between Jews and Christians were uncommon in wartime Holland. This made it difficult for Jews to find shelter in the homes of gentile neighbours. Hiding Jews was risky; in Holland anyone caught helping Jews faced execution or being sent to a concentration camp, where chances of survival were slim. By August 1940 comprehensive anti-Jewish policies and administrative decrees had been worked out by the German administration to ostracise Jews and to lower their social, economic, and legal standing. In February 1941, the Nazis installed a Jewish Council (Dutch: Joodse Raad), that ultimately served as an instrument for organising the registration and deportation of Dutch Jews. During the first year of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Jews who were already registered on the basis of their religion had to get a large “J” stamped on their IDs. Every Dutch resident had to declare whether they had Jewish roots.
Jewish doctors and lawyers were forbidden to work for non-Jews, Jews were expelled from universities and banned from all public places. Their bank accounts were frozen. They were only permitted to shop from 3.00-5.00pm. Their radios were confiscated. From January 1942 Jews were also stigmatised with the compulsory wearing of the Star of David. These are the events that must have prompted the Lakmaker family to go into hiding. The woman who hid Rachel and her brother was the courageous Mrs Mevrou Addicks. During the two years the family was in hiding (1942-1944), Rachel was able to organise false identity documents in the name of Annie de Wit. These enabled her to “pass” as a non-Jew and to resurface occasionally in public.
The circumstances under which the family was arrested remains a mystery. They were arrested in 1944 and transported to Westerbork. After six months in Westerbork the family was deported— on one of the last transports leaving the Netherlands to Auschwitz, on 3 September 1944. On the train journey from Amsterdam to Westerbork, Rachel recognised Nannie Baum—a pre-war friend. They became camp sisters (German: lager-schwestern), caring and supporting each other, in Auschwitz and later in Gross-Rosen concentration camp. Incoming prisoners to Auschwitz were assigned a camp serial number that was tattooed onto the prisoner’s left forearm. Only those prisoners selected for forced labour were issued serial numbers; those sent directly to the gas chambers, were not registered, nor tattooed. When Judic Lakmaker arrived in Auschwitz in 1944, she was sent straight to the gas chamber—murdered aged 47. “She was ‘selected’ and never seen again”. Karel was selected for forced labour as was his son Hartog, who became prisoner number: J9246.
In a letter dated 20 November 1951 the Dutch Red Cross confirmed that Karel Lakmaker perished on the death march leaving Auschwitz for Loslau, between 18-25 January 1945. Hartog was barely alive when he was liberated in Auschwitz by Russian forces in January 1945. When Rachel Lakmaker and Nannie Baum arrived at Auschwitz, they were selected as “depot prisoners”—not registered nor tattooed— incarcerated for a few days in the Meksyl (Polish: Mexico) compound, before being transported to Gross-Rosen. Upon arrival, Rachel became prisoner number: 74387 and together with Nannie Baum were transported to one of its 100 sub camps – Liebau - “located in a small village in the Sudentenland (in Germany), where forced labourers worked for German armament industries, amongst them Krupp” [Kwiet, K. Private communication 2020]. Rachel and Nannie were liberated there by Russian forces in January 1945. At the end of the war, Rachel was repatriated to Holland. Her brother Hartog spent time in a DP camp before he made his way home. At some point they decided to emigrate to Australia. Aaron Engelander’s (their nominee) application for landing permits was successful, and they arrived by plane on 16 August 1948 [NAA]. Rachel met and married Charles Hoytash in 1952. They had two children. Philip (b. 1955) and Judy (b. 1959). Rachel worked for many years at the Hakoah Club in Bondi. Hartog died in Sydney on 27 August 1983. His sister Rachel, a decade later, on 8 March 1993.
Production date 1942-05
Production periodWorld War II (1939-1945)
Subjectcommunication systems, freedom, resistance, propaganda
Object namepamphlets
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 105.00 mm
height: 133.00 mm
Language
- Dutch The Whirlwind
Monthly magazine for freedom, truth and justice.
1th annual volume, nr. 2, May 1942
P3 The days of May
Everybody knows that who doesn’t work for the Germans helps to achieve the upcoming victory. The 10th of May will then become a date which will fade.
P4 Dutch people!
This formal British announcement is important for each Dutch person, especially for those close to the coast.
On several points along the coast British shock-troops appeared, which had a special goal and withdrew afterwards. Probably those attacks will be repeated in the future, perhaps one day also in the Netherlands. (in pencil: boast)
P5 Glory to the Dutch martyrs
Radio speech, held by H.M. the Queen, on 6th of May 1942.
Compatriots, with you I am deeply shocked by the tiding of the execution of our compatriots.
P6 The old world and the new society
The Labour party in Great Britain takes in a distinguished place. A report on the congress of the party says that the party unflinching has decided to continue the war until the victory is gained. The Labour Party will deny each form of negotiation with the Hitler government or her satellites.
P7 Mr. Van Hook in London
In the end of April Mr. Van Hook came from Australia to London. He left Java before the capitulation.
P8 The guerrilla of Insulinde
An article about the situation in Dutch Indie.
P9 The huge English offensive in the air
P10 1. The turn in the balance of power
Written specially for the Whirlwind by the military contributor of La France Libre.
Hitler wanted to terrorise and submit the whole world. He bombed cities but couldn’t make the people bend to his will.
(in pencil: see the reality)
P12 2. The men of the offensive
Who are the men that manned the airplanes to destroy the swastika? Boys who would otherwise be doctors, bricklayers or farmers.
P13 Nightflight, by John Masefield, English ‘poet laureate’
P15 3. The weapon: bombers becoming bigger and bigger
The Halifax bomber is a tremendous weapon.
P16 4. The RAF up… the Luftwaffe … down
The Luftwaffe isn’t big enough to put on two offensives on a large scale.
P17 The ‘moffen’* strainer
In radio technology there are certain expedients that more or less work to anticipate German fault-clearing stations
*Jerry or kraut
P18 Hitler’s youngest captures
Children, aged 10 years, are Hitler’s youngest captures. They have to work on farms, in factories and workrooms.
P19 The guerrilla front in the Balkan
Europe against the moffen. There is only one order: that of the resistance.
Four German divisions came from Hungary towards Belgrado; in the same time Heinkel airplanes destroyed the airport of Zemun. The troop of Yugoslavian general Michailowitch had a hard winter. But the Yugoslavians keep on fighting.
P21 The resistance of churches
The Roman Catholic Church in Germany.
On Sunday the 22th of March 1.100.000 girls and boys sweared an oath to Hitler. With this oath Hitler set up a new step to try to get the German people away from the church.
P22 The princesses are growing up
P23 The Dutch Labour front
News about changes in social and economical affairs is always good news, even as this is pressed on by the oppressor.
P24 The men of the submarine fleet
The men of the submarine fleet do their work, which is hard and grim. But their healthy kind of humour never leaves them.
P26 The guilder of Rost, the traitor undermined by the German plunder order.
A very ingenious monotarian system has been designed by the Nazi-brains to camouflage this politics of exploitation. Rost got his desired position as President of the Dutch Bank last year. From that moment on started with the abolition of the clearing between Germany and the Netherlands, the annexation of the Netherlands.
P29 England’s two million neighbourhood watchers
They volunteer to put on an uniform and do exercises. They form a reserve for the war industry.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs. Judy Pearce