The uncertain time after the war
During the Second World War the Nazi regime has shown how far it can go in its misbehaving towards other races, especially Jewish people. The Dutch population had seen that Jewish people were transported out of the country. Many may have thought that they went to labour camps. There was also protest against these measures. However for many people the real truth became out when the concentration camps were detected and opened. It is still hard to understand how a government could decide to perform such an industrial killing of human beings of another race. This knowledge has contributed to the anti-German feelings that already existed because of the occupation.
When the Netherlands were liberated by the allied forces it was a big celebration in the country. The allied forces were cheered in the streets. However there was also another reaction. The public wanted to take revenge on all persons who had collaborated with the Germans. This concerned, for example, women who had a relationship with a German soldier and people who had cooperated with the German regime and leaders of the NSB (National Socialistic Movement). They were locked up and often mistreated. In order to reduce this arbitrariness and lawlessness to a minimum, the new Dutch government set up special courts to try the Dutch collaborators. These courts have sentenced 40 people to death.
When the Netherlands were liberated by the allied forces it was a big celebration in the country. The allied forces were cheered in the streets. However there was also another reaction. The public wanted to take revenge on all persons who had collaborated with the Germans. This concerned, for example, women who had a relationship with a German soldier and people who had cooperated with the German regime and leaders of the NSB (National Socialistic Movement). They were locked up and often mistreated. In order to reduce this arbitrariness and lawlessness to a minimum, the new Dutch government set up special courts to try the Dutch collaborators. These courts have sentenced 40 people to death.
Where to go?
Because my father, Bart Saris, was well known for his activities to promote the National Socialism in the Netherlands, especially at the universities, he was certainly also a candidate to be picked up and judged in these courts. Being afraid for an unfair trial, he was hiding himself living with friends, who were willing to help him till the situation would be normalized and he could go to the courts to be judged. This he did more than a year after the liberation. Then he was sentenced to two years in prison.
The consequence was that my mother was left alone without income and with three children. The necessary help came from her parents who offered her and the children a safe place in their house in Amsterdam. There we lived with our grandparents and their youngest son, till 1951 when the situation for the family became more normal again.
Because my father, Bart Saris, was well known for his activities to promote the National Socialism in the Netherlands, especially at the universities, he was certainly also a candidate to be picked up and judged in these courts. Being afraid for an unfair trial, he was hiding himself living with friends, who were willing to help him till the situation would be normalized and he could go to the courts to be judged. This he did more than a year after the liberation. Then he was sentenced to two years in prison.
The consequence was that my mother was left alone without income and with three children. The necessary help came from her parents who offered her and the children a safe place in their house in Amsterdam. There we lived with our grandparents and their youngest son, till 1951 when the situation for the family became more normal again.
Our family from Indonesia
Germany was not the only place were camps were created for people of other races. Since 1603 the Indonesian islands have been in the hands of the Dutch East Indian Company (VOC). When this company went bankrupt in 1800 the Dutch government took over de power of this huge, very populated region.
During the Second World War de Japanese army conquered the Indonesian islands and decided to create camps for the 100.000 white people, especially the Dutch, who were living there. They were not treated in the same way as in the concentration camps in Europe but the treatment was very harsh too. There was little to eat and there was a very severe disciplinary regime performed by the Japanese camp guards . Between 15% – 30% of the people died there by starvation or diseases. Many white people also were sent for work on the construction of the Burma railway, which is now a ¨tourist attraction¨, but at that time many people died there by exhaustion, starvation or a combination of both. All people who survived were very weak and exhausted.
Germany was not the only place were camps were created for people of other races. Since 1603 the Indonesian islands have been in the hands of the Dutch East Indian Company (VOC). When this company went bankrupt in 1800 the Dutch government took over de power of this huge, very populated region.
During the Second World War de Japanese army conquered the Indonesian islands and decided to create camps for the 100.000 white people, especially the Dutch, who were living there. They were not treated in the same way as in the concentration camps in Europe but the treatment was very harsh too. There was little to eat and there was a very severe disciplinary regime performed by the Japanese camp guards . Between 15% – 30% of the people died there by starvation or diseases. Many white people also were sent for work on the construction of the Burma railway, which is now a ¨tourist attraction¨, but at that time many people died there by exhaustion, starvation or a combination of both. All people who survived were very weak and exhausted.
In August 1945 Sukarno declared Indonesia independent and because there were no allied troops to keep order on the islands there was a power vacuum and like in the Netherlands some groups used this opportunity to take revenge against the previous suppressors, mainly the Dutch people. Therefore many people tried to leave Indonesia for good or at least temporarily. In total around 100,000 persons went by boat to the Netherlands between 1945 and 1950.
The family of my mother, Thea Saris, also lived for a long time in Indonesia but her farther went with pension before the war. They returned to the Netherlands with their two sons and my mother. Their oldest daughter died in the concentration camp. She had 5 children which were taken care of by an unmarried younger sister. They survived the camps. They went to the Netherlands immediately after the end of the war. A third sister and her husband with two children also survived and came somewhat later to the Netherlands. They all arrived there without money, work, income and a place to live. Also in this case the parents of my mother offered help and also these people got a space to live in their house in Amsterdam.
The family of my mother, Thea Saris, also lived for a long time in Indonesia but her farther went with pension before the war. They returned to the Netherlands with their two sons and my mother. Their oldest daughter died in the concentration camp. She had 5 children which were taken care of by an unmarried younger sister. They survived the camps. They went to the Netherlands immediately after the end of the war. A third sister and her husband with two children also survived and came somewhat later to the Netherlands. They all arrived there without money, work, income and a place to live. Also in this case the parents of my mother offered help and also these people got a space to live in their house in Amsterdam.
The parents of my mother offered help
For my grandparents of my mother´s side it was the most natural thing to offer help to their children, their husbands and their grand-children. They lived in a house in the south of Amsterdam, Albrecht Dürerstraat 40, with their youngest son. The parterre and the first floor of the house (see foto) were hired by them. On the second floor a professional pianist was living who played during hours every day. I suppose that on each floor there were two or three rooms and a kitchen and a bath. How one can live in such a house with so many people is completely unclear to me. I was also there but I have no memory that the house was completely full with people. On the other hand I clearly remember the sound of the music of the the piano player. Afterwards I admire a lot what my grandparents have done for the family at the cost of a quiet life that they deserved after a long working life in Indonesia. It is difficult to imagine what would have happened if they had not done that. For them this help was an obvious thing to do.
For my grandparents of my mother´s side it was the most natural thing to offer help to their children, their husbands and their grand-children. They lived in a house in the south of Amsterdam, Albrecht Dürerstraat 40, with their youngest son. The parterre and the first floor of the house (see foto) were hired by them. On the second floor a professional pianist was living who played during hours every day. I suppose that on each floor there were two or three rooms and a kitchen and a bath. How one can live in such a house with so many people is completely unclear to me. I was also there but I have no memory that the house was completely full with people. On the other hand I clearly remember the sound of the music of the the piano player. Afterwards I admire a lot what my grandparents have done for the family at the cost of a quiet life that they deserved after a long working life in Indonesia. It is difficult to imagine what would have happened if they had not done that. For them this help was an obvious thing to do.