The murder of Sophie van Tijn

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

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

Sophie’s oldest sister was murdered on May 23.1943 in Sobibor. This was the same day when Sophie, her mother and the other siblings were sent to Westerbork from Vught.

Sophie’s Father ,Samuel, a coachman ,died on March 16,1942 at home after a short illness. He died on Sophie’s 10th birthday, 80 years ago today.

Her siblings:

Sister;Esther Reintje van Tijn-born in Amersfoort, 18 May 1926. Murdered in Sobibor, 28 May 1943. Reached the age of 17 years.

Sister; Isa van Tijn-Born in Amersfoort, 26 June 1929. Murdered in–Sobibor, 11 June 1943.Reached the age of 13 years.

Sister; Reintje van Tijn-Born in Amersfoort, 10 March 1928. Murdered in Sobibor, 11 June 1943. Reached the age of 15 years.

Brother: Izak van Tijn-Born in Amersfoort, 1 November 1930. Murdered in Sobibor, 11 June 1943. Reached the age of 12 years

Brother; Benjamin van Tijn-Born in Amersfoort, 10 February 1937.Murdered in Sobibor, 11 June 1943.Reached the age of 6 years.

Brother; Salomon van Tijn-Born in Amersfoort, 13 September 1941.Murdered in Sobibor, 11 June 1943.Reached the age of 1 year.

Mother;Roosje van Tijn-Gompers-Born in Gouda, 27 March 1905. Murdered in Sobibor, 11 June 1943. Occupation: Shop assistant. Reached the age of 38 years

All these murders are absolutely 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.

It was only on May 17,1950 when Sophie’s death was officially registered.