What was the life of the Jews like during the Second World War? In the four-part YouTube series ‘War Letter’, actors from the drama series ‘The Jewish Council’ read letters, diaries and memorabilia from that time. Pierre Bokma, Monic Hendrickx, Claire Bender, Malou Gorter and Nils Verkooijen take you to moving, scary but also loving times during the war. The letters are brought to life visually with images from the TV series ‘The Jewish Council’.
Young grief
In the first episode, actress Claire Bender read the true story of Hélène Egger. Hélène is ten years old when the Second World War begins. She doesn’t know what war means, but she will find out soon. A terrible and unsafe feeling comes over her. She sees more and more Jews disappearing around her. In the end, fate also hits Hélène and her father. Hélène is arrested in a raid and held in the Amsterdam Theater. Can she ever escape the Nazis from this place?
Based on the book ‘I’m still here – The story of my mother Hélène Egger’ by Debby Petter from Uitgeverij De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam.
A story about love during the war
Monic Hendrickx and Nils Verkooijen read diary letters from Jew Ellis Paraira and Bernie Spier in episode 2 of War Letter. These young people fell madly in love with each other during World War II. But the love of the puppy was soon broken when the Ellis family had to go into hiding two months before Bernie’s time. For example, the couple was separated during the German occupation. They both agreed to keep a diary so they could relive their time together after the war. But, did he really get that far?
This episode of ‘War Letter’ is based on the book ‘Bernie & Ellis: The story of a Scheveningen love in wartime’ | Written by: Ellis Lehman & Shulamith Bitran | From Balans publishers, Amsterdam.
Goodbye to heartbreak
The Jewish Lou Wolf is 24 years old when the Germans invaded the Netherlands. He is a butcher, married to Selma and their daughter Netty was recently born. When the family is called to transport him, Lou does everything he can to prevent this. In the third episode of ‘War Letter’, Pierre Bokma unravels the impressive story of this young butcher.
This program is based on memories from the book: ‘Lou Wolf, escaped from the Kraut scum – A story about a Jewish butcher during the war’, by Uitgeverij Verbum, Almere.
Dangerous missions
In the final episode of the four-part ‘War Letter’ series, Malou Gorter reads the fascinating story of helpful Sieny Kattenburg. Sieny is seventeen years old when she smuggles hundreds of babies to safe places during the Second World War. All this is under the eye of the Germans who live in Amsterdam. She carries out secret missions until almost all Jews have disappeared from the capital. Then most of the day care workers have to be transported too… How does this story end for Sieny?
This program is based on Esther Shaya’s book: ‘Harry & Sieny; Stay in front and in love’. Published by Amphora Books Foundation, Amsterdam. Photos: Cune-Cohen family, Jewish Museum Archives, Esther Shaya.
All episodes of ‘War Letter’ can now be viewed through the website of the YouTube channel of NPO Start.
2024-04-16 12:22:12
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