Every name counts-Abraham de Leeuw

On July 1st 1942 the Nazis took control of Concentration camp Westerbork. Jacques Schol, a Dutchman, was commander of the camp from July 16 1940 and until January 1943. He was known for his brutality against Jewish inmates, kicking inmates to death.

Westerbork served as a temporary collection point for Jews in the Netherlands prior to their deportation by the Germans to killing centers and concentration camps in the east.

The first deportation transport left Westerbork on July 15, 1942, for Auschwitz-Birkenau. This first transport was followed by more than 90 subsequent transports to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Sobibor, Theresienstadt, and Bergen-Belsen. Most of those people deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Sobibor were killed upon arrival.

Initially the deportations from Westerbork to Auschwitz consisted mainly of young men, who were deported to Eastern Europe under the appearance of “Arbeitseinsatz” or ‘Labor input’ in Germany. Later transports also contained women and children.

Abraham de Leeuw…