Yad Vashem publishes encyclopaedia on WWII heroes

Some 4,600 Dutch ‘Righteous among the Nations’

JERUSALEM, Israel - The Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority, has published an encyclopaedia on almost 4,600 Dutch men and women who have received the title of ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ for their assistance to Jews during the German occupation, 1940-1945.

‘Encyclopaedia of the Righteous Among the Nations: The Netherlands’ is a two-volume book, in English, with short biographies on the 4,600 now mostly deceased Dutch resistance heroes honoured by Yad Vashem. A Dutch-language edition is planned for next year. The encyclopaedia is the second one in a series which began with one on France and shortly will be followed by one on Poland. Volumes on Central & Western Europe and the Rest of the World will follow.

Included in the encyclopaedia is a detailed introduction to the various facets of the Dutch resistance. The 1,000 page set also has an index, maps, glossary and pictures. Dr. Jozeph Michman (Melkman) and Dr. Bert Jan Flim edited the encyclopaedia.

honour for Joop Westerweel

The first set of the encyclopaedia was presented to Mr. Bob Hiensch, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Israel. The presentation took place during the commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the murder of Dutch resistance hero Joop Westerweel. In attendance were former members of his and other Dutch resistance groups as well as Mr. Guido Smit, of Canada, the son of Jan Smit who was recognized by Yad Vashem in 1964. Also on hand was Mr. Tinus Schabbing, who with his wife Tony were honoured as ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ as well in 1964 when Joop and Willy Westerweel were honoured as well. The Westerweel group of Jews and non-Jews assisted close to 400 Jewish adults and children, saving many of them. Westerweel was executed by the Germans at the Vught concentration camp in August 1944.