History of Sorts

The National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands (abbreviation: NSB) was a Dutch political party that existed from 1931 to 1945. The NSB adhered to the ideology of National Socialism, presented itself not as a party but as a movement based on an anti-democratic attitude, and functioned as a collaboration party during the German occupation of the Netherlands in the Second World War.

One of their slogans was “Freedom, Justice, Welfare.”

Some of their members learned that Freedom, Justice, and Welfare were not quite what they thought they would be. As part of their collaboration with their German counterparts, the Nazis, members of the NSB were also expected to work in Germany. Following is the text of a letter from someone called Dolly, believed to be the daughter of an NSB family.

Dolly soon learned that the “real” slogan for the NSB should have been “Regrets, disappointment, disillusionment.”

November 19, 1942.

Dear Father and Mother,

Finally some messages from me. However, I have to write too quickly, in between my work. I am fortunate enough to give this letter to a Dutchman who is going on leave tomorrow afternoon for 14 days in Leiden. However, he puts this letter on the bus at Eindhoven station. I hope you get it on Saturday, otherwise on Sunday. Now, I can finally write what I want. Please do not pay any attention to what I have written in my previous letters as they are all lies, and I had to write them.

Dear Father and Mother, I am very nervous—every night, there is chaos. I have already been to the Labor Office here a hundred times, including to the doctor, but everything is in vain. I feel so terribly homesick for home. I only weigh 45 kilos, so I have lost 15 kilos, which says something about my height. Now, there is only one way that you can help me get out of here, and that is only a statement from a doctor from home that I am needed there, can get me out of here. Mother, please be so kind as to try it with Doctor Alphen v.d. Veer.

I’m simply exhausted, if I have to stay here any longer I will go crazy with fear and will definitely commit suicide. You are truly my last hope. I have to thank you for the lovely apples. They were very bruised—but did me good anyway. I’m still in the kitchen, from six in the morning until half past nine in the evening, with fifteen minutes of rest to eat. I’m as weak as a dishcloth. We don’t have any free time at all, even working all day on Sundays. How terribly wrong I was about these people. Now I have to pay for it too. The chef throws one insult after another at me. For example: “You foreigners are not good enough to be dragged around by the hair. We are the master race, now and forever, just swallow that with a calm face.”

If you are successful, Father should go to the Labor Office. I believe they will tell you what is so necessary for an explanation. A telegram works more reliably here. Two Dutch girls have already gotten away this way. I now wait every day for the answer that will save me. Help me, please. I am also so alone here that I can hardly do anything. I feel like a prisoner who is allowed to get some fresh air. Father and Mother do not abandon me now. I know I don’t deserve it. But I really want to make it right. I have to finish now, they are already calling me again. In any case, do not leave anything in your letters that I have written, because it will not get through and is dangerous. So see you soon, but I sincerely hope that I can say, see you again.

Your daughter Dolly,
Please help anyway.

Sources

https://www.archieven.nl/nl/zoeken?mivast=0&mizig=210&miadt=298&miaet=1&micode=247&minr=2109207&miview=inv2

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/niod-instituut-voor-oorlogs–genocide–en-holocauststudies-niod-institute-for-war-genocide-and-h_postbusniod-activity-7049744780850835456-GvlG/?trk=public_profile_like_view&originalSubdomain=nl