James Vanderpol was a high school student in the Netherlands when it was invaded by Germany in 1940. Labeled as Jews in the second year of the Nazi occupation, he and his family spent four years in hiding, separated from each other, often hungry, always in fear of being discovered. Vanderpol talks about what this period was like, and especially about the cruelty of the Germans. When the war ended, the family was reunited and immigrated to the United States.

 

The Star of David that Jews in Amsterdam were forced to wear during the German occupation
An underground radio

 

“No Jews” sign in Amsterdam during WWII

 

A collection of photos from Amsterdam during WWII

 

 

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