History of Sorts

Time and time, I get told the history of the Holocaust it is not mine to tell. That I should leave the stories to others.

I get told this from children and grandchildren of survivors and those who want to distort history alike.

To those, I say, “It is my story to tell.” In fact, it is everybody’s story to tell.

Stories like that of Philip de Leeuwe, who would have had his 85th birthday today, are my story to tell. Philip was born on 25 August 1939 in Rotterdam. He was murdered in Sobibor on 21 May 1943. He was three years old.

The stories of his Mother, Gezina de Leeuwe-de Jong, Born in Assen on 10 December 1907.Murdered in Sobibor on 21 May 1943. Reached the age of 35.v

His younger brother, Joseph de Leeuwe, was born in Amsterdam on 24 January 1941. He was murdered in Sobibor on 21 May 1943. He was two years old.

His older brother, Barend de Leeuwe, was born in Rotterdam on 3 December 1937. Murdered in Sobibor on 21 May 1943 and reached 5 years of age.

His sister, Sientje Rika de Leeuwe, was born in Utrecht on 22 February 1936. Murdered in Sobibor on 21 May 1943. Reached the age of 7 years.

They are all my stories to tell, because if I don’t, who does?

Source

https://www.joodsmonument.nl/en/page/205107/philip-de-leeuwe