Gerritdina Letteboer

Geslacht:	Vrouw
Vader:	Johan Letteboer
Moeder:	Janna Eshuis
Geboren:	1 Sept 1909	Ambt Almelo
Overleden:	13 MRT 1980	Amstelveen
Beroep:		logopediste
Aantekeningen:	Benders Gerritdina (1909 - ? ) Personal Information Last Name: Benders First Name: Gerritdina Maiden Name: Letterboer Date of Birth: 01/09/1909 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Female Profession: SPEECH THERAPIST Place during the war: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding Arranging shelter File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/7510) Commemoration Date of Recognition: 27/03/1997 Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Wall of Honor Ceremony organized by Israeli diplomatic delegation in: The Hague, Netherlands Rescued Persons Wijnberg, Rosalie Polak, Lore Wijnberg, Katie Rescue Story Benders, Johan & Gerritdina (Letterboer) Johan Benders took his own life rather than reveal the whereabouts of those Jews whom he had helped rescue. He was a teacher at the Amsterdam Lyceum, where he had made no secret of his anger over the expulsion of Jews from the school. Johan had encouraged the older students, such as Tineke Guilonard*, (later Wibaut*) to become involved in the forgery of identity and ration cards. Johan’s wife, Gerritdina, who worked as a speech therapist, assisted wherever possible and the couple opened their home as a temporary shelter for Jews. Johan and Gerritdina also took in two Jewish sisters, Rosalie and Katie Wijnberg, whose parents were in the Dutch East Indies and who had been staying with their aunt. Both girls were former pupils of Johan’s and remained with the Benderses until the end of the war. In 1943 the couple welcomed another Jewish girl, Lore Polak. On April 4, 1943 the Benders were betrayed by one of their neighbors and the SD arrested Johan, Katie, and Lore. Johan was locked up in the Amstelveenseweg prison on suspicion of having robbed the registrar’s office. In his pocket were the coded addresses of 18 hidden Jews. He was brutally tortured during his interrogations and tried to commit suicide without success on two occasions. After speaking with his cellmate, the poet Gerrit Kouwenaar, Johan decided to sacrifice his own life in order not to give away those whom he had rescued. On April 6, 1943, he jumped to his death from the third floor of the prison. Gerritdina was left with their two young daughters and was five months pregnant with a third child at the time. In a heart-rending requiem for their dead teacher, many of Johan’s former students marched past the jail whistling the school song. Despite the tragedy, Gerritdina took in another Jewish girl, Jan Doedens, a former pupil of Johan’s who was avoiding forced labor. She also tracked down Lore Polak, who had escaped from a concentration camp to another hideout. Katie Wijnberg was released after a few weeks in prison and came to live with Gerritdina again. After the war, Lore discovered that her entire family had perished and she consequently stayed with Gerritdina for four years until she immigrated to the United States. A street in Amsterdam has been named in memory of Johan Benders. On March 27, 1997, Yad Vashem recognized Johan Benders and his wife, Gerritdina Benders-Letterboer, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner:	Johan Benders	geb. 7 Jan 1907 overl. 6 Apr 1943
Huwelijk:	5 Aug 1936	Almelo
Kinderen:
	Anje Benders	geb. 24 Jan 1939
	Ellen Benders	geb. 31 Aug 1941