The Murder of Sophie van Tijn

Sophie is the girl on the left in the above picture. Today would have been her 90th birthday. She was born on 16 March 1932 in Amersfoort. She was transferred via Kamp Vught to Camp Westerbork on 23 May 1943. There were 1172 people on that transport. 1171 Jewish Dutch citizens and one other, possibly a Roma or resistance fighter.

This was the age breakdown of that transport.

From Westerbork, Sophie and her family were deported to Sobibor on 8 June 1943, with transport number 68. It was Transport 68 from Westerbork but was Transport 15 to Sobibor.

On 8 June 1943, the 15th train left from Westerbork to Sobibor. On this train, there were 3017 people. It was the train of the notorious Children’s Transport. The lives of all 3017 men, women and children aboard the 15th transport, ended in Sobibor on the 11th of June, 1943. Sophie and her family included.

Sophie’s eldest sister was murdered on 23 May 1943 at Sobibor. On this same day, Sophie, her mother and the other siblings faced transport to Westerbork from Vught.

Sophie’s Father, Samuel, was a coachman who died on 6 March 1942 at home after a short illness. His death came on Sophie’s tenth birthday—80 years ago today.

Her siblings:

Sister Esther Reintje van Tijn was born in Amersfoort on 18 May 1926. She was murdered at Sobibor on 28 May 1943 at the age of 17.

Sister Isa van Tijn was born in Amersfoort on 26 June 1929. She was murdered at Sobibor on 11 June 1943. She reached the age of 13.

Sister Reintje van Tijn was born in Amersfoort on 10 March 1928. She was murdered at Sobibor on 11 June 1943. She reached the age of 15.

Brother Izak van Tijn was born in Amersfoort on 1 November 1930. He was murdered in Sobibor on 11 June 1943 at the age of 12.

Brother Benjamin van Tijn was born in Amersfoort on 10 February 1937. He was murdered at Sobibor on 11 June 1943. He was six years old.

Brother Salomon van Tijn was born in Amersfoort on 13 September 1941. He was murdered at Sobibor on 11 June 1943. He reached the tender age of one.

Mother Roosje van Tijn-Gompers was born in Gouda on 27 March 1905. Her occupation was as a shop assistant. At the age of 38, she was murdered at Sobibor on 11 June 1943.

All these murders are heartbreaking. It is only because it is Sophie’s birthday today I mentioned her in the title, but I could have put any of their names in the title. The official registration of her death was on 17 May 1950.

The whole family was wiped out, most of them on that one day, because of some warped ideology.