Overview
- Description
- The Grootkerk family papers consist of biographical materials, correspondence, personal narratives, photographs, and printed materials documenting Jacques and Hedi Grootkerk’s marriage in Amsterdam, Jacques’ flight to England via Spain and service in the Princess Irene Brigade, and Hedi’s flight to Switzerland via France. The bulk of the collection is comprised of love letters between Jacques and Hedi while they were separated during the war.
Biographical materials include identification papers, ration books, military papers, and receipts documenting Jacques and Hedi Grootkerk’s refugee status, Jacques’ time in England, his military service, and his military decorations.
The two correspondence series primarily consists of letters and telegrams between Jacques and Hedi during the war, some of which were transmitted via Jacques’ uncle Abraham Leuw. These series also include Leuw’s letters to Jacques and Hedi, correspondence from Jacques’ parents and brother and from Hedi’s siblings, and official correspondence to Jacques in England and Hedi in Switzerland regarding their refugee status and his military service.
Personal narratives include Erich Grootkerk’s Onze Weg naar Engeland; Jacques Grootkerk’s untitled essay about his flight from the Netherlands, journey through Belgium, France, Spain, and England, and his military service in the Princess Irene Brigade; and notes and essays about the brothers’ refugee experiences, including a talk on “Impressions of England” Jacques prepared for the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Photographs depict Jacques and Hedi individually, together, with family members, and with the Princess Irene Brigade in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and France.
Printed materials include a set of photo postcards documenting the German surrender, a booklet documenting the Princess Irene Brigade, and souvenirs from Jacques’ time in England including a bus map, lecture and dance tickets, postcard, and laundry tag. - Date
-
inclusive:
1930-1996
bulk: 1930-1951
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Paul Grootkerk and the Estate of Paul Grootkerk
- Collection Creator
- Grootkerk family
- Biography
-
Jacques Grootkerk (1913-1999) was born in Amsterdam to Isaac (Isi) and Paula Grootkerk. In 1940 he married Hedwig (Hedi) Grootkerk (1918-1992), who was born in 1918 in Nieder-Ohmen, Germany, to Juda and Klara Justus and moved to Holland in 1934. Jacques was summoned by the Gestapo to be sent to a work camp but fled with his brother, Erich, via Belgium, France, and Spain (spending time in internment camps in France and Spain) to England. He joined the Princess Irene Brigade, survived Normandy, and returned to Holland as a liberator to find most of his family had perished in the Holocaust. Hedi Grootkerk fled with her brother, Herbert, via Belgium and France to Switzerland, where they survived the war. Jacques and Hedi were reunited in Paris after liberation and returned to Amsterdam where they had their son, Paul. Hedi’s sister, Ruth, immigrated to the United States in 1936, and her brother Julius followed in 1940 with his wife, Alma, and son, Hans. Their brothers Herbert and Ludwig survived the war, but their sister Bertha Stern perished in Minsk in 1943, as did their mother, Klara, who was sent to Vught, Westerbork, and then Auschwitz in 1943. Jacques’ parents were sent to Westerbork and then Sobibor in 1943 and perished.
- Reference
- Paul Grootkerk also donated a military uniform jacket, trousers, and beret (1991.119.1), a War Memorial Cross for the Normandy landing (2002.22.2), and a Cross of Merit medal with three medal bars and a presentation box (2002.22.3) to the Museum.
Physical Details
- Genre/Form
- Photographs.
- Extent
-
1 glass slides.
- Extent
-
3 boxes
1 oversize box
- System of Arrangement
- The Grootkerk family papers are arranged as six series: I. Biographical materials, 1930-1951, II. Correspondence sent, 1939-1945, III. Correspondence received, 1942-1945, IV. Personal narratives, approximately 1942-1996, V. Photographs, 1938-1945, VI. Printed materials, 1934-1950
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- There are no known restrictions on access to this material.
- Conditions on Use
- Material(s) in this collection may be protected by copyright and/or related rights. You do not require further permission from the Museum to use this material. The user is solely responsible for making a determination as to if and how the material may be used.
Keywords & Subjects
- Topical Term
- Jews--Netherlands--Amsterdam. Jewish refugees--Spain. Jewish refugees--England. Jewish refugees--Switzerland. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Jewish participation.
- Geographic Name
- Amsterdam (Netherlands) Miranda de Ebro (Spain) Wolverhampton (England) Saint-Gervais-les-Bains (France) Clarens (Switzerland) Montreux (Switzerland) Kapelle (Zeeland, Switzerland)
- Personal Name
- Grootkerk, Jacques. Grootkerk, Hedwig.
- Corporate Name
- Netherlands. Army. Princess Irene Brigade
Administrative Notes
- Holder of Originals
-
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- Paul Grootkerk donated the Grootkerk family papers to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1991, 1993, 1994, and 2002. The accessions previously cataloged as 1991.119.2, 1993.39.1, and 1994.A.0234 have been incorporated into this collection.
- Funding Note
- The cataloging of this collection has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
- Primary Number
- 2002.22.1
- Record last modified:
- 2023-08-23 09:47:19
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn511888
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-
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Also in Jack and Hedi Justus Grootkerk family collection
The collection consists of military uniforms, medals, ribbons, and pins, correspondence, documents, photographs, and publications relating to the experiences of Jacques (later Jack) and his family in the Netherlands before and during the Holocaust and his escape to Great Britain and military service during the war, as well as the experiences of Hedi Justus Grootkerk and her family in the Netherlands before and during the Holocaust, her escape to France and Switzerland during the war, and in the United States with her husband Jack after the war. Accretion: Artifacts and photographs illustrating the pre-war life of the Grootkerk family. Included are nameplate [I. Grootkerk] from 67 Achillestraat in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Izak and Paula's [donor's grandparents] residence, two napkin rings engraved "Izak" and "Paula", humidor and cigarette box, photographs include images of Izak, Paula, and their son Jacques, their daughter-in-law Hedi [Paul's parents], Fredrick Servos [Jewish-German friend of Jacques who visited family in Amsterdam]. Also included are two small images of engagement party for Jacques and Hedi Grootkerk, 1938, in the Netherlands, Jacques amd Hedi's wedding dinner in which Izak and Paula's son Eric is seen as well as Hedi's mother, Klara Justus-Wertheim and Hedi's brother, Herbert Justus both of who did not survive. Also included are three pre-war pins or medals worn by Jacques Grootkerk on his military uniform while a member of the Princess Irene Brigade in 1942. Some of these materials may be combined into a single collection in the future.
Date: approximately 1930-approximately 1951
Military blouse, trousers, and General Service Cap worn by a Dutch Jewish corporal in the Prinses Irene Brigade
Object
Military blouse, pants, and General Service Cap worn by Jack Grootkerk, 29, who served in the Dutch Free Forces, Prinses Irene Brigade from September 1942 to September 1945. The Brigade was formed in England in 1941 by the Dutch government in exile and Dutch Army personnel who had escaped German occupied Europe. The unit wore British battledress uniforms with Dutch insignia. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. In December 1941, Jack was told to report for forced labor in Germany. He and his brother Erich fled to France and Spain, and were interned several times. In fall 1942, they reached Great Britain and Jack joined the Brigade. In July 1944, the Brigade entered combat in Normandy. The Netherlands was liberated on May 5, 1945. Most of Jack and his wife Hedi’s family were killed in German concentration camps.
Cross of Merit medal, ribbons, and pins awarded to a Dutch Jewish soldier, Prinses Irene Brigade
Object
Kruis van Verdienste [Cross of Merit] medal, ribbon, and presentation box, two ribbon bars, and a gold bar pin awarded to Jack Grootkerk, a Dutch Jewish soldier in the Prinses Irene Brigade, Dutch Free Forces from September 1942 to September 1945. The Brigade was formed in England in 1941 by the Dutch government in exile and Dutch Army personnel. The unit wore British battledress uniforms with Dutch insignia. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. In December 1941, Jack was told to report for forced labor in Germany. He and his brother Erich fled to France and Spain, and were interned several times. In fall 1942, they reached Great Britain and Jack joined the Brigade. In July 1944, the Brigade entered combat in Normandy. The Netherlands was liberated on May 5, 1945. Most of Jack and his wife Hedi’s family were killed in German concentration camps.
Wood and metal cigarette box
Object
Wooden cigarette box with pressed metal hinged lid decorated with city scenes, and a pressed metal floral border around the sides.
Metal nameplate
Object
White painted metal with "I. Grootkerk" painted in black capital letters. The nameplate was from 67 Achillestraat in Amsterdam.
Stickpin
Object
Stickpin worn by Jacques Grootkerk on his military uniform while a member of the Princess Irene Brigade in 1942. The pin has a red crown and length of red and blue rope.
Pin
Object
Pin worn by Jacques Grootkerk on his military uniform while a member of the Princess Irene Brigade in 1942. The pin depicts a lion.
Clip
Object
Clip worn by Jacques Grootkerk on his military uniform while a member of the Princess Irene Brigade in 1942. The pin depicts a lion and the word Nederland.
Dutch Commemorative War Cross awarded to a Dutch Jewish soldier, Prinses Irene Brigade
Object
Oorlogsherinneringskruis [Commemorative War Cross] medal awarded to Jack Grootkerk, a Dutch Jewish soldier in the Prinses Irene Brigade, Dutch Free Forces, from September 1942 to September 1945. The honorary medal was presented to all Brigade members who landed at Normandy in 1944. The Brigade was formed in England in 1941 by the Dutch government in exile and Dutch Army personnel. The unit wore British battledress uniforms with Dutch insignia. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. In December 1941, Jack was told to report for forced labor in Germany. He and his brother Erich fled to France and Spain, and were interned several times. In fall 1942, they reached Great Britain and Jack joined the Brigade. In July 1944, the Brigade entered combat in Normandy. The Netherlands was liberated on May 5, 1945. Most of Jack and his wife Hedi’s family were killed in German concentration camps.
Pair of engraved napkin rings
Object
Pair of metal napkin rings; one engraved with the name "Izak" and the other with the name "Paula", the names of Paul Grootkerk's grandparents.
