In the dark of history’s cruel abyss, A child’s innocence—lost in the mist. Amidst the horror, the anguish, the pain, A young soul’s light, forever slain.
In shadowed corners, where terror thrived, A child’s laughter, once so alive. But silenced now, by tyranny’s hand, In a world where humanity couldn’t stand.
No tender embrace, no gentle care, Just the echoes of sorrow, lingering in the air. In the grip of hatred’s ruthless hold, A child’s dreams—forever cold.
Their nameless faces haunt the past, In the chambers of death, their innocence is cast. Yet in our hearts, their memory lives, A testament to the love each child gives.
Though tears may fall for those we’ve lost, Their spirits endure, whatever the cost. In the song of remembrance, their voices soar, A tribute to the children of war.
So let us vow, with every breath, To never forget, to honor their death. For in their innocence, we find our plea, To build a world where all children are free.
Rest in peace Willem Alvares (Wimpie) Vega.
Born in Amsterdam on 5 August 1939 and murdered in Sobibor on 21 May 1943. He reached the age of three.
When I write an unfinished life, I mean it as the life of the 1.5 million children who were murdered during the Holocaust.
For several years I have been trying to finish a song to remember all those children, but for some reason, I cannot finish it. Every time, I sit down to visualize the children and the horrors they went through, the emotions get the better of me. Maybe it is because I am a father, or maybe because I just can’t fathom the evilness.
The photograph above is of two children, both were murdered on March 6, 1944—80 years ago in Auschwitz. Eva Beem and her baby brother Abraham aka Bram.
Below is the translation of a letter that Eva wrote when she was imprisoned in Westerbork. Eva was born on May 21, 1932.
“Dear Aunt Janke, Uncle Han, and Aunt Mar, how are you? I’m doing fine! I have received your letter. I’m very happy with it! I don’t know if Bram has already written that we have family here, but we have a nephew and a niece here. I just met that cousin. Her name is Nannie! A nice name, huh? You said you would send the shoes, would you also send my dust comb and my clothes that I left hanging and my bows? I forgot to ask for my glasses, if possible, would you please send them to me?
My violin probably won’t work, right? But you should absolutely not add any sweets or any kind of food to it, because then it won’t get through. I cannot get a parcel stamp for you. I’m glad you got out of prison. I hope I can write again in 14 days. Would you like to say hello to Mr Polen? Furthermore, warm regards from your niece Eva Beem. Dear Uncle H, Aunt Mar and Marijke. Are you all doing well? Aunt Mar, are you completely better again? How old is Joke now? Give Marijke a big kiss from me. Uncle Han, have you gained some weight yet? Has Joke grown a bit bigger yet? Now, warm regards from your niece, Eva Beem.”
Bram did get the opportunity to write a letter. He was born on June 13, 1934. Below is the translation of his letter.
Dear Uncle and Aunt,
How are you? I’m doing well. The food is good here. We get 4 sandwiches and coffee in the morning, vegetables and potatoes in the afternoon and 4 sandwiches and porridge in the evening. And it’s cozy here. And sometimes we get cottage cheese and that is very tasty. We go to school here. I’m already in fourth grade and just got a 7 in math. Eva is also doing well. When your aunt is there, would you also show the letter to your aunt? And when you write back to me, you have to sign on the dotted line. And on the leaves where I have not written, you may write on them. I hope you are doing well too. I also have a cousin Sjonnie here who used to work on the radio.
Furthermore, greetings from,
Bram and Eva Beem”
On March 3, 1944, on a frosty morning, they were both put on a train and deported from Westerbork to Auschwitz, where they were murdered upon arrival.
This is not a photograph of the Beem children put on transport, but other children put on a train to be murdered.
These are the lyrics of my unfinished song. Like their lives, my song will remain unfinished.
On a frosty morning You put me on a train
Not because I am different But because I’m the same
This is Rachel Soesan—her face is filled with so much life and joy, and why wouldn’t it be when she was 4. Her whole life lay before her.
Yet there were some who perceived her as a threat to society.
She was born on December 20, 1938 in Amsterdam. She would have been 85 today. I can’t comprehend that no one asked questions.
I do not have an exact date of the arrest—but they arrested her. A 4-year-old arrested! No one asked any questions, and no one noticed the absurdity of this arrest.
Until June 5, 1943. this 4-year-old was imprisoned in Vught Concentration Camp. Again, no questions were asked, and orders were followed blindly.
On June 6, 1943. she was transported to Westerbork. The person who put her on that transport must have known what Rachel’s ultimate fate would be, and yet again, no questions were asked.
From Westerbork, she was deported to Sobibor. Whoever processed her deportation knew what the purpose of Sobibor was, yet the deportation was not stopped. Orders were orders. Critical thinking did not apply.
Rachel arrived in Sobibor on June 11, 1943. There, she was sent to the gas chamber. Someone must have looked at Rachel’s angelic face and reckoned that she was an immediate threat to their life.
Rachel Soesan, a 4-year-old, a clear and present danger, was murdered in Sobibor on June 11, 1943, but she should have been blowing out 85 birthday candles on her cake today.
Philip Wallage was born in Groningen on 12 July 1927. He was murdered at Sobibor on 26 March 1943. He was 15 years old upon his death.
Rosalien Wallage was born in Groningen on 15 May 1932. She was murdered at Sobibor on 26 March 1943. She reached 10 years of age.
Elisabeth Wallage was born in Groningen on 2 October 1935. She was murdered at Sobibor on 26 March 1943. She was a whole 7 years old at the time of her death.
Why them?
Why them?
Murdered for what reason?
Hated for what reason?
Were they a threat?
Why them?
Why them?
Not hardened criminals—but children.
Their future was taken from them.
Their past will not be forgotten. They were not just statistics—but human beings.
Nelly Vega was a Dutch from Amsterdam minding her own business.
She was a little girl doing her homework in front of a painting with some cows, a bridge and a field.
A little Dutch girl.
Little did she know she would become an enemy of the state.
There were men, and perhaps women, who looked at her and thought she’d pose a danger to them.
She was a Dutch girl in primary school.
Nelly Vega was born on 2 April 1934 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Her life was taken from her by the Nazis on 9 July 1943 at Sobibor. She reached the age of nine.
A Dutch girl from Amsterdam with a lovely smile, She wasn’t a threat to anyone. How could she have been a threat? She was only nine, and she wasn’t a child soldier. The only thing that made her different from other children—she was Jewish, but above everything else, she was a little Dutch girl.
Caroline Stella Os was born in Rotterdam on 8 October 1940. Her life ended when she was murdered at Westerbork, by the Nazis, on 8 June 1943. She reached the tender age of two years old.
How can I write about a girl who only lived for 32 months?
What can I write about a girl who only lived for 32 months?
The answer to both questions is, ”I can’t.”
All I can do is to reflect on a life denied.
She was—denied education.
She was—denied going to a playground.
She was—denied proper medical care.
She was—denied the chance of motherhood.
She was—denied the chance of becoming a girlfriend or wife.
She was—denied the chance to travel the world.
She was—denied a career.
She was—denied the opportunity to write a book.
She was—denied the opportunity to compose a piece of music.
She was—denied choosing her favourite song.
She was—denied reading her favourite book.
She was—denied the chance to develop her creativity, perhaps to paint a masterpiece like the great Dutch masters before her.
She was—denied the chance of an education, perhaps to become a doctor or a nurse.
She was—the opportunity to buy sweets in a shop.
She was—denied a life.
Carolina Stella Os, on 22 April 1943, was sent to the Vught Concentration Camp, then deported on 6 June 1943 to Westerbork on the so-called Children’s Transport. Two days later—she was murdered by the Nazis.
Recently, I heard of a bizarre argument that persecuted persons should not have had sex. They should not have taken the risk of getting pregnant. To me, it makes perfect sense they have sex, especially in times of discord. It’s a basic primary instinct that gives a feeling of comfort, albeit for a short time.
Women did become pregnant, and more often than not and the babies did not survive. Bergen-Belsen was described by most as a hell on Earth. Many babies were born and murdered there. I say murdered—because, basically, that is what happened. Infants did not receive the care required to thrive. They were born and murdered in captivity.
Below are a few of the documented stories.
Leo Henri Bierman Leo Henri Bierman was born in Bergen-Belsen on 18 August 1944. He was murdered on 4 January 1945 in Bergen-Belsen. He reached the tender age of four months.
Leo’s father, Abraham Bierman, was a diamond worker who married on 14 October 1942 in Amsterdam to a German refugee. Together, they were arrested during a raid on 20 June 1943 and then deported to Westerbork. They were released on 17 July 1943. On 19 November 1943, they were back in Westerbork and deported to Bergen-Belsen on 19 May 1944. Their son Leon Henri was born there on 18 August 1944. On 16 December 1944, Abraham was transferred to Sachsenhausen, then returned in February 1945 to Bergen-Belsen, where he died on 31 May 1945. His spouse survived Bergen-Belsen.
Milly Blik Milly Blik was born in Bergen-Belsen on 9 April 1944. Her murder was at Bergen-Belsen on 18 March 1945. She lived for 11 months.
Sonny Zurel Sonny Zurel was born at Bergen-Belsen on 30 December 1944. He was murdered there on 4 January 1945. He lived five days—not even a week.
The last people in hiding transported to Westerbork from South Limburg, the Netherlands, were two young nurses who had sought refuge in Hoensbroek. Betsie Zurel-van Creveld and her friend Cato van Lier, both from Amsterdam, were picked up on 30 August 1944—more than two weeks before the liberation of Hoensbroek and then—they were finally delivered to Westerbork. Betsie was in her third trimester of pregnancy
She gave birth to her son Sonny on 30 December in Bergen-Belsen, who died five days later in the camp. Betsy died on 13 January 1945. Her friend Cato did not survive the Ravensbrück Camp.
Marcel Peterle Sandelowsky Marcel Peterle Sandelowsky was born in Bergen-Belsen on 2 August 1944. In March 1945, he was murdered at Bergen-Belse and reached seven months of age.
Every time I see a picture of a sweet little angel like this, I feel like giving up on the research and reporting on the Holocaust I do. I get an overwhelming feeling of anguish, panic, anger and confusion, and I can feel physical pain.
It feels like someone just ripped out my heart. Then I remember I am not doing this for me but for them. If I will not tell their story, who will? What sickens me most is that I have these feelings 80 years after the murder of Mirjam. Why didn’t those responsible for her death didn’t have any of those feelings? Even if they had just one, Mirjam would still be alive today.
Mirjam Lewkowicz was born in Gouda, one of the most picturesque towns in the Netherlands, on 14 October 1940. Murdered in Auschwitz on 17 September 1943, she had reached the age of two years old.
How could anyone look into those eyes, and they must have seen them, and think that this little angel was a threat to their lives or a danger to their nations? How?
Dear Mirjam,
My fingers are getting wet because of the tears on my keyboard, tears that fell for you.
It is difficult for me to comprehend your murder. It makes no sense to me. You were born in Gouda, a place famous for its cheese, but I want to make it famous because it is where Mirjam Lewkowicz was born.
Your mother, Bettina, father, Herbert, and your six-month-old brother Hugo, who would have been celebrating his 80th birthday today, faced deportation to Auschwitz, where a gas chamber took the lives of your mother, brother and yourself.
I sincerely hope your story will ensure we never forget how evil mankind can be, or should I say man-cruel?
Rosette Levie was deported to Sobibor in June 1943 from Vught via Westerbork on the so-called children’s transport
She was born in Amsterdam on 24 February 1938. She was murdered in Sobibor on 11 June 1943 at age five.
Dear Rosette, you never made it to your first school day.
You were denied your first bit of pocket money.
You were denied your first kiss.
You were denied your first dance.
I don’t know if you ever owned a bike, I doubt it because that would have been denied to you too.
You were denied a life.
I don’t see a threat to the nation in your eyes, yet there were some who did.
I see no potential for evil in your eyes, yet there were some who did. They were the ones who were evil.
You were one of 1.5 million children who were murdered by pure evil men and women.
Recently I heard a story about a pregnant woman who was shot. They managed to save her unborn baby, at least for a short while. Because when the Nazis found out that the baby was saved they killed not only that baby but all other babies that were hidden.
At least you had a few years, but that is just a meagre consolation.
The one thing I can’t come to terms with, and even refuse to come to terms with, is the murder of babies during the Holocaust.
I know one of the reasons behind it was the purification of the Aryan race. But, how pure are you as a race when you murder babies? Another reason was that they were afraid that when these babies grew up, they would possibly look for revenge for the death of their families. You can expect revenge when you know you did something wrong.
The picture above is of Roosje van der Hal. She was born in Groningen on 17 March 1942 and murdered in Sobibor on 21 May 1943. She reached the age of one.
Nehemia Levy Cohen was born in Amsterdam on 20 December 1940. She was murdered in Sobibor on 7 May 1943. She had reached two years of age.
Both babies were deported to Westerbork on 25 January 1943 and then to Sobibor, where they were killed. These were only two of the 1.5 million children. The scary thing is that there have been genocides, albeit on a smaller scale, after the Holocaust—babies once again were victims.
I want you all to look into the faces of these two sweet angels and ask yourself, “What can I do to stop this from happening again?”
History of Sorts 
You must be logged in to post a comment.