door World War II brought unimaginable hardships, and behind every surviving piece of wartime correspondence lies a profound story. One such story emerges from a simple envelope, an artifact that sheds light on the life of Roosje de Paauw-Peper, a Jewish woman who endured the horrors of internment under Nazi occupation in the Netherlands. Dated June 12, 1943, the envelope opens a window into her life, connecting various camps, her family, and her ultimate fate.
The Historical Context
In June 1940, the occupying forces in the Netherlands decided to intern all male English, French, and Belgian citizens aged sixteen and older. These men were held in a barbed-wire-enclosed camp on the edge of the dunes in Schoorl, where a Dutch infantry regiment had been stationed before the May 1940 capitulation. The camp was briefly used by the Wehrmacht before being converted for civilian internment. While French and Belgian prisoners were soon released, as were younger English detainees, older Englishmen were transferred in 1941 to a civilian internment camp in Tost, Silesia (modern-day Poland).
In December 1942, as the war expanded and the United States became involved, American citizens in the Netherlands were added to the English prisoners. Initially, these Americans spent several months in Kamp Amersfoort, a transit camp notorious for its harsh conditions. The women, including English and American citizens, were separated from the men and sent to another camp in Liebenau, near Lake Constance in southern Germany. By the summer of 1944, the number of internees had grown to over four hundred.
Parallel to the internment of foreign citizens, Jewish citizens like Roosje de Paauw-Peper faced their own persecution, reflected in the tragic events that unfolded in various camps across Europe. The story of Roosje de Paauw-Peper, revealed through the envelope she sent, serves as a poignant reminder of the brutal reality faced by Jewish individuals during World War II.
The Envelope: A Historical Artifact
This envelope is a powerful artifact of this tragic history. It represents not only a piece of wartime correspondence but also a frozen moment in time, bearing witness to the human experience of internment and survival.
Front of the Envelope
On the front of the envelope, written in elegant handwriting, is the recipient’s address:
- Recipient Name: “G. De Vay” (possibly “G. de Vlij” or “de Vay”)
- Address: “Muschenstaat No. 6 Boven, Amsterdam-Noord.” (Today this is Mussenstraat 6 in Amsterdam, the house still exists!)
Postmark and Stamp
The envelope bears a postmark from “AMERSFOORT,” clearly dated June 12, 1943. The time, “10 a.m.,” and stamp number “9” are also visible in the circle. The attached stamp is a red Dutch postage stamp with a value of “7½ CENT,” featuring the word “NEDERLAND” at the top. Such stamps were commonly used at the time, as postal regulations were still followed despite the extraordinary circumstances of the war.
Back of the Envelope
On the back of the envelope are the sender’s details:
- Sender’s Name: “R. de Paauw-Peper,” identifying Roosje de Paauw-Peper as the letter’s author.
- Location: “Amersfoort-Kamp,” with an indication of “Eng. Int. Kamp 340,” marking her location in the internment camp in Amersfoort. This address directly refers to the English internment camp (“Eng. Int. Kamp”), Block 10.
- Additional Information: “Zaal B,” likely referring to a specific living block or unit within the camp.
- The handwriting on the back is in darker ink, slightly more legible, suggesting that the sender wanted to ensure the return address was readable in case the letter struggled to reach its destination.
Roosje de Paauw-Peper: A Story of Courage and Tragedy
Roosje de Paauw-Peper’s journey during the war was marked by unimaginable challenges. From the envelope, we learn that she was held in Amersfoort from May 18, 1943, to June 11, 1943. Before and after her time in Amersfoort, she was interned at Westerbork, a transit camp infamous for its role in deporting Dutch Jews to extermination camps in Nazi-occupied Europe.
After her time in Amersfoort, Roosje’s journey took a tragic turn. She was eventually transported to Bergen-Belsen, a concentration camp where tens of thousands of people perished from hunger, disease, and neglect. The historical context and personal details revealed by the envelope suggest that Roosje was among the countless victims of the Nazi persecution of Jews.
Westerbork, where she was held both before and after Amersfoort, was notorious as a point of no return. Many Dutch Jews, including Anne Frank, passed through Westerbork on their way to other camps, and Roosje’s experience likely mirrored the tragic journey of so many during this dark chapter of history.
Her final destination, Bergen-Belsen, became world-renowned for the horrific conditions discovered when British troops liberated the camp in April 1945. By the time of liberation, the camp was a haunting sight, filled with emaciated and sick prisoners. It was here, in this inhumane camp, that Roosje de Paauw-Peper lost her life.
The Broader Context of Connection
Roosje de Paauw-Peper’s internment story fits within the broader context of civilian internment in the Netherlands during World War II. As emphasized earlier, not only were Jewish citizens like Roosje targeted by the Nazis, but non-Jewish foreign nationals, including British, French, Belgian, and American citizens, were also interned by the occupying forces.
The general internment of non-Jewish foreign citizens began in June 1940, driven by suspicions that these individuals might pose a risk to the Nazi occupation. While the conditions in the camps were generally harsh, the plight of Jewish internees was far worse, as they faced not only internment but also the looming threat of deportation to concentration and extermination camps.
Roosje’s story is particularly poignant because it illustrates both the systematic Nazi targeting of Jewish citizens and the profound personal suffering that individuals and families endured. The letter and envelope, everyday objects under normal circumstances, become symbols of resistance, hope, and connection in the face of unimaginable oppression.
Preserving History Through Personal Artifacts
Artifacts like this envelope provide a unique lens through which we can better understand the human experience during World War II. The simple act of writing a letter—sending hope to a family member or friend—became an act of courage in the face of terror.
Through the recipient’s address, the postmark, and the sender’s details, we can trace Roosje de Paauw-Peper’s journey from her time in Amersfoort to her deportation to Bergen-Belsen. It serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the thousands of Jewish individuals in the Netherlands who met a similar fate.
The story embodied by this envelope is not only one of loss but also of the enduring human spirit—a story that transcends time and speaks to resilience and the determination to maintain connections despite overwhelming adversity.
For those interested in the postal history of the war, this envelope is more than just a cover. It is a testament to the experience of Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe, the oppressive measures imposed by the Nazis, and the tragic, individual stories that unfolded during those years. It also underscores the importance of preserving such artifacts, as they are vital pieces of the historical puzzle, each contributing to our understanding of the full scope of human experience during the war.
The item was on auction on November, 30, 2024. Lot 6193, Sheraton & Peel auction 68. René Hillesum Filatelie, Zwijndrecht.
