Collaborator
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Below is the transcript of a Dutch court case. The defendant, referred to only as Mrs. C., was accused of treason and collaboration during World War II. The Dutch legal system continues to follow this practice today, where defendants’ names are identified only by the first letter of their surname. The transcript is dated September…
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The Polish Blue Police (Granatowa Policja), officially known as the Policja Polska Generalnego Gubernatorstwa, represents one of the more controversial aspects of Poland’s experience under Nazi occupation during World War II. Established by Nazi Germany following its invasion of Poland in 1939, this police force, composed primarily of pre-war Polish police officers, operated under the…
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Maarten Kuiper stands as a stark reminder of the complexities and moral ambiguities faced by individuals during the tumultuous times of World War II. Born on January 30, 1907, in Amsterdam, Kuiper’s early life was unremarkable, characterized by a series of ordinary professions including that of a sailor and a police officer. However, his later…
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I am a great believer that people should investigate their past before they pass judgment on others. There were many Dutch who did good during World War II; many risked their lives and sometimes gave their lives to help or save their Jewish neighbors. However, on the other hand, there were also many, and probably…
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The history of the Trawniki Men stands as a chilling testament to the banality of evil and the role that ordinary individuals can play in perpetrating atrocities on a massive scale. While their actions may have faded into obscurity for many, it is essential to remember their complicity in the Holocaust and to honor the…
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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…
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Before I go into the main story about Adriana Valkenburg, I have to explain something about prostitution in the Netherlands to put this into context. It has always been acceptable in the Netherlands. However, it was only in 1988 that prostitution was considered a legal profession—but in the year 2000, prostitution was legalized by the…
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Now I will not say if I believe Reintje Kosmis was a villain [or not], but I will leave it up to you to decide. I always try to be as non-judgmental as possible in cases like this. Reintje Kosmis was born 9 May 1900 in Emmen, the Netherlands. Survival or betrayal is a diabolical…
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Today marks the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. I think that not enough is actually told about the revolt. Those who resisted knew they didn’t really stand a chance. Yet they fought valiantly. The ŻOB(Żydowska Organizacja Bojowa-Jewish Combat Organization) fighters were armed with only pistols, grenades, many of which were homemade, and a…
History of Sorts 