Herman Gozen Dijk

Geslacht:	Man
Vader:	Johannes Hermannus van Dijk
Moeder:	Trijntje Tjalkens
Geboren:	25 MRT 1909	Harlingen
Overleden:	2 MRT 2000	onbekend
Religie:		Ned. Hervormd
Beroep:		onderwijzer
Aantekeningen:	Last Name: Dijk van First Name: Herman Gozen Date of Birth: 25/03/1909 Date of death: 02/03/2000 Rescuer's fate: survived imprisoned Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Male Profession: TEACHER Place during the war: Harbrinkhoek, Overijssel, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Harbrinkhoek, Overijssel, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/5719) Early in 1940, the Swartenberg family moved to Scheveningen, South Holland, assuming that they would easily be able to escape to England if the Germans invaded Holland. However, when the war broke out, German paratroopers landed on the beach right in front of their boarding house. After a futile attempt to flee on one of the few fishing boats leaving the harbor, the Swartenbergs were compelled to return to Arnhem. One day in August 1942, a young woman going by the name of Liesje, who was a stranger to Hindle and Sarah Miryam (Sajah) Swartenberg, then aged 17 and 15 respectively, arrived at their home. Liesje instructed the girls to remove the yellow stars and to follow her. Carrying two suitcases she led them to the railroad station. Their destination was Zwolle, Overijssel, where Herman and Berendina (Dini) van Dijk hid them. Herman and Dini, a young, childless couple, lived in a three-story house with four bedrooms and an unfinished attic. Herman, born in Harlingen, was a teacher at the local Christian grade school and Dini, born in Enschede, spent her time cooking, singing, and doing needlework. During the week, Dini's younger sister, Gre, lived with them. Sheltering two Jewish girls forced Herman, Dini, and Gre to make several changes in their daily routine. In the home, the front door was locked all the time and a curtain was hung behind it to keep visitors from seeing the girls running upstairs. Hindle and Sajah learned to laugh without making a sound and to walk around silently without being seen. Hindle occupied herself by reading and studying. Sajah, who was more restless, cleaned, cooked, painted, and sewed stuffed dolls that were subsequently sold in a store belonging to a friend of the van Dijks. Liesje visited the girls once a month and brought them money, food coupons, and letters from the girls' parents. Sometimes Hindle and Sajah were forced to spend hours in their hiding place during house searches. Herman often joined them, bringing a radio. Sajah and Hindle stayed with Herman and Dini for two years and eight months. In March 1945, the van Dijk family was warned about an imminent house search. Hindle and Sajah hid in the two-foot space that was accessible by lifting a plank of the wooden floor hidden beneath the linoleum carpet in the kitchen. The girls spent several hours lying prostrate on the cold, moist soil, in total darkness. During this time, the Germans arrived at the house, searched the property, left, and then returned again for a second inspection before eventually leaving for good. Fearing future problems, Liesje then transferred the girls to the home of a middle-aged, childless couple where they remained until the end of the war. In the meantime, Herman and Dini were imprisoned. Dini remained in custody until the end of the war and suffered afterwards from emotional trauma. Herman was sentenced to death but the liberation of Zwolle by the Canadian army on April 14, 1945, prevented his execution. On June 2, 1993, Yad Vashem recognized Herman Gozen van Dijk and his wife, Berendina Geertruida van Dijk-van de Wetering, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner:	Berendina Geertruida Wetering	geb. 24 Juli 1910 overl. 18 Juli 1986
Huwelijk:	23 MEI 1935	Enschede