Object numberM1996/009
DescriptionFalse Dutch identity card in the name of Annie Peeters, born 2 December 1906 in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands. The ID was issued in Apeldoorn on 3 January 1944 and was used by Julia Pomeranz while in hiding in Enschede, in the eastern part of the Netherlands.
On 10 May 1940 German troops invaded and occupied the Netherlands. The geography of the Netherlands made escape difficult. The ruthless efficiency of the German administration and the willing co-operation of the Dutch administrators and policeman doomed the Jews of the Netherlands. Less than 25% of Dutch Jewry survived the Holocaust. Most Jews who went into hiding did so as individuals. Rarely were entire families hidden together. A clear stand against the German regime was taken by Christian—Catholic and Protestant leaders. This caused local religious leaders to extend a hand to Jews and encouraged their flocks to hide Jews in their homes as well as organise false identity papers for them.
Julia Pomeranz and her family had help from the Protestant Church to find safe places to hide; they all hid in separate places. Julia's son, Leo, who was aged 7 in 1940, hid in an attic for close to four years. His brother was hiding with a minister of the church. Their sister was discovered and deported to Auschwitz. The identity card was most likely obtained for Julia by the Church. According to Leo, the date of birth, the location, and the person she is married to (according to the document) – J. Veldhuis – are all false.
Donor: Leo Pomeranz (son)
On 10 May 1940 German troops invaded and occupied the Netherlands. The geography of the Netherlands made escape difficult. The ruthless efficiency of the German administration and the willing co-operation of the Dutch administrators and policeman doomed the Jews of the Netherlands. Less than 25% of Dutch Jewry survived the Holocaust. Most Jews who went into hiding did so as individuals. Rarely were entire families hidden together. A clear stand against the German regime was taken by Christian—Catholic and Protestant leaders. This caused local religious leaders to extend a hand to Jews and encouraged their flocks to hide Jews in their homes as well as organise false identity papers for them.
Julia Pomeranz and her family had help from the Protestant Church to find safe places to hide; they all hid in separate places. Julia's son, Leo, who was aged 7 in 1940, hid in an attic for close to four years. His brother was hiding with a minister of the church. Their sister was discovered and deported to Auschwitz. The identity card was most likely obtained for Julia by the Church. According to Leo, the date of birth, the location, and the person she is married to (according to the document) – J. Veldhuis – are all false.
Donor: Leo Pomeranz (son)
Production placeHolland
Production date 1944-01-03
Subjecthiding, hiding, , fake identity
Object namefalse documents
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- case width: 245.00 mm
case height: 110.00 mm
card width: 235.00 mm
card height: 105.00 mm
Language
- Dutch
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr. Leo Pomeranz