History of Sorts

On April 29, 1942, the Nazis announced a new humiliation for Jewish Dutch citizens. Starting on May 3, they were required to wear an identifying mark: a six-pointed yellow Star of David with the word “Jew” in the center. This star made it possible to recognize Jews in public. The German occupiers intended this to isolate Jews from non-Jewish Dutch people further. Not wearing the star was severely punished — one could be sent to a concentration camp for it.

The Jewish Council was ordered to distribute the stars among Jewish Dutch citizens within three days. They were required to buy four stars per person at a cost of four cents each. Children from the age of six had to wear it as well. In total, 569,355 Jewish stars were distributed.

Some Jews wore the star with pride, but many experienced it as a deep humiliation. The new measure also stirred reactions among non-Jewish Dutch people. Some protested by wearing a homemade star labeled “Catholic” or “Aryan.” Others greeted Jews on the street or gave up their seats to them on trams. But over time, the indignation faded, and the divide between Jews and non-Jews widened.

On April 29, 1942, the Jewish Council was informed that the Jewish star would be introduced five days later; their task was to distribute 569,355 stars throughout the Netherlands. The cotton stars were produced—under the supervision of a German trustee—by a Jewish textile factory in Enschede: De Nijverheid. Four stars were made for each Jew. The cost—four cents each—was charged to the Jews themselves.

Life-Threatening Consequences for not Wearing the Star

Shortly after the introduction, there were Jews who, out of shame or anger, refused to wear the star. However, the Germans could easily check compliance with the rule; the Jewish star had to be visibly sewn onto the jacket at chest height. Those caught not wearing the star faced dreadful consequences: a fine of one thousand guilders or six months of ‘detention’ in a German camp. In practice, however, the latter punishment often meant deportation to a death camp.

Sources

https://www.annefrank.org/nl/timeline/126/invoer-van-de-jodenster-in-nederland/

https://isgeschiedenis.nl/nieuws/de-invoering-van-de-jodenster

https://www.oorlogsbronnen.nl/thema/Jodenster

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