Plantage in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Vernieling Bevolkingsregister / The Attack on the Population Register

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, June 18, 2017

1. Vernieling Bevolkingsregister / The Attack on the Population Register Marker

Inscription. 27 Maart 1943
Vernieling
Bevolkingsregister

W.J.C. Arondeus
Rudolf Bloemgarten
Karl Groeger
Coos Hartog
Sam van Musschenbroek
Guus Reitsma
Henri Halberstadt
Dr. Johan Brouwer
Koen Limperg
Sjoerd Bakker
C.L.Barentsen
Cornelius Roos

Zij streden en vielen
vor de vrijheid
1 Juli 1943

[English translation:]
March 27, 1943
Destruction of
the Population Register

W.J.C. Arondeus
Rudolf Bloemgarten
Karl Groeger
Coos Hartog
Sam van Musschenbroek
Guus Reitsma
Henri Halberstadt
Dr. Johan Brouwer
Koen Limperg
Sjoerd Bakker
C.L.Barentsen
Cornelius Roos

They fought and died
for freedom
July 1, 1943

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. In addition, it is included in the The Holocaust series list.

Location. 52° 22.005′ N, 4° 54.737′ E. Marker is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Plantage. Memorial is on Plantage Kerklaan just north of Plantage Middenlaan, on the right when traveling north.

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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Plantage Kerklaan 38, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1018 CV, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Defenders of Jewish Children World War II Memorial (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Portugees Israëlietisch Ziekenhuis / Portugese Israelite Hospital (about 150 meters away); De Burcht / The Castle (about 180 meters away); Hugo de Vries (about 210 meters away); Wertheimpark (about 240 meters away); Adriaan Morriën (about 240 meters away); Auschwitzmonument (Spiegelmonument) / Auschwitz Monument (Mirror Monument) (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); De Hortus (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.

Regarding Vernieling Bevolkingsregister / The Attack on the Population Register. A number of participants in the raid were betrayed and arrested, and then executed on July 1, 1943 in Overveen.

Also see . . .
1. During World War II, we did have something to hide (Medium, Hans de Zwart). On 27 March 1943, a cell of the Dutch resistance committed an attack on the municipal register of Amsterdam. The German occupier had found this register to be extremely convenient: it contained the details of 70.000 Jews in Amsterdam. Also, it proved useful as a means of cross-checking information on identity cards. Gerrit van der
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, June 18, 2017

2. Vernieling Bevolkingsregister / The Attack on the Population Register Marker - Wide View
Veen, Willem Arondéus, Johan Brouwer, Rudi Bloemgarten and a number of others had thoroughly prepared the assault and decided there could be no casualties. They entered the building disguised as policemen. Guards were overpowered, given a sedative and taken out the back to be parked in the Artis zoo for safekeeping. The filing cabinets containing public records were turned upside down. After soaking the files in benzene, the group set the largest possible fire.... (Submitted on July 20, 2017.)

2. 1943 Amsterdam population register attack (YouTube, 5 min., in Dutch with English subtitles). In order to save further lives of Jews which where send to concentration camps, a group called 'Kunstenaarsverzet' (Artists in resistance) attacked the Amsterdam population register with explosives on the 27th of March 1943. Their intention was to destroy all data which was used to search and find Jews, which was possible because the register, apart from name and address, also contained details about the religion. (Submitted on July 20, 2017.)

Additional keywords. Holocaust Resistance

<i>Portrait of Willem Arondeus, the leader of a gay resistance group in Amsterdam</i> image. Click for full size.

Photo courtesy of M.E.W. Arondeus, the Dutch Resistance Museum, and US Holocaust Memorial Museum, 1943

3. Portrait of Willem Arondeus, the leader of a gay resistance group in Amsterdam

Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 369 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 20, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.