Nelly Margot Appels
| Geslacht: | Vrouw | |
| Vader: | Dirk Appels | |
| Moeder: | Gerritje Johanna Broere | |
| Geboren: | 4 Jan 1925 | |
| Overleden: | 27 Feb 1992 | |
| Aantekeningen: | Personal Information Last Name: Appels First Name: Nelly Margot Date of Birth: 04/01/1925 Date of death: 27/02/1992 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Religion: CALVINIST Gender: Female Profession: POST OFFICE WORKER Rescue Place during the war: Driebergen, Utrecht, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Driebergen, Utrecht, The Netherlands Limburg, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Providing forged documents Supplying basic goods Other File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/1159) Commemoration Date of Recognition: 23/02/1977 Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Tree Ceremony held in Yad Vashem: Yes Appels, Dirk & Nelly Margot Nelly Appels was 15 years old when the Netherlands became embroiled in the war. Despite her youth, she was undeterred from involving herself in Resistance operations. In her early days as a Resistance worker, under the motto "One Child Saves Another," Nelly was assigned the task of accompanying Jewish children to the addresses they were to be hidden at. In 1943, she was assigned the task of rescuing adults as well. During the day she would usher children to their hideouts and at night she would escort adults. Nelly worked in close collaboration with her uncle, the Reverend Ader*. He had initiated a network of illegal activity that focused on the rescue of Jews from Amsterdam. In this capacity, Nelly traveled the length and breadth of the country, especially to the south, accompanying those in need of a hideout to relative safety in Limburg. The Appels family had begun their "illegal" activity from as early as May 10, 1940, the day the Germans invaded Holland. Even before the beginning of the actual deportation of Jews from Holland, their home had served as a shelter. Nelly's father, Dirk, was a prominent citizen of Driebergen, Utrecht. He was a building contractor and an elder in the Dutch Reformed Church. The family lived on the main street and had several children still living at home. All of these children were active in the Resistance, yet outstanding among them were Nelly and her brother Dick. The family's geographical location in Driebergen, as well as their position within the community, made it especially difficult for the Appelses to keep their involvement in the Resistance a secret. In 1942 Nelly left school in order to devote herself to her illegal work. As a cover, she found employment in the local post office. This job gave her access to a telephone. Nelly also served the Resistance by working as a courier. She would endanger her life repeatedly by distributing money and food coupons to families hiding Jews in remote towns and villages. Despite the proximity of a German military base to Driebergen, and consequently the increased threat of being apprehended, Nelly would ride her bicycle to wherever necessary with illegal money and documents hidden in her bags. In this tireless work, she helped save many Jewish lives. On February 23, 1977, Yad Vashem recognized Dirk Appels and his daughter Nelly Margot Appels as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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