Jan Blokker

Geslacht: Man
Vader: Jacob Blokker
Moeder: Berentdina Johanna van Ulsen
Geboren: 24 Aug 1894 Holten
Overleden: 22 MEI 1978
Beroep: onderwijzer
Aantekeningen: Blokker Jan (1894 - 1978 )
Personal Information
Last Name: Blokker
First Name: Jan
Date of Birth: 24/08/1894
Date of death: 22/05/1978
Rescuer's fate: survived
camp inmate
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Male
Profession: TEACHER
Place during the war: Deventer, Overijssel, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Deventer, Overijssel, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/324)
Commemoration
Date of Recognition: 28/02/1967
Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Tree
Ceremony held in Yad Vashem: Yes
Rescued Persons
Noach, Ben
Noach, Salomon
Veerman, Noach, Katan, First name unknown, Roberta
Noach, Martha
Surname unknown, Salomon
Rescue Story
Blokker, Jan & Geertje (de Groot)
Jan Blokker, originally from Holten, lived with his wife, Geertje, known as Ge, and their daughter in Deventer, Overijssel. The Blokkers lived a few houses down the street from Salomon and Martha Noach and their two children, 11-year-old Roberta and 16-year-old Ben. On April 8, 1943, the day before the remaining Jews in Deventer were due to be taken to the Vught concentration camp, Salomon and Martha went into hiding in the Blokkers’ home. (Roberta was already in hiding in the city of Utrecht and Ben had found refuge in Twello, Overijssel.) A short time later, Noach’s cousin, also called Salomon, and his wife, Henriëtte, also moved into the Blokkers’ home. In April 1944 Ben was also brought to the Blokkers after escaping from his previous hideout when the SS caught all those in hiding there. The fugitives were obliged to remain indoors at all times and had to stay away from the windows. Through his underground contacts in Holten, Jan succeeded in obtaining food for those hidden in his home and no one went hungry. Jan and Geertje always managed to create a pleasant atmosphere in their home despite the difficult circumstances. Jan, a former teacher, was well known with the local underground and the local Nazi authorities, who were suspicious of his illegal activities and raided the Blokkers’ home on several occasions. Each time, the fugitives were successfully hidden in a specially constructed area or temporarily moved to another address. However, on one occasion, Ge and her daughter were apprehended and interrogated. They revealed nothing and were released within a few days. In the meantime, Jan fled to Apeldoorn, Gelderland, where a former student turned NSB collaborator recognized him and had him arrested. Jan was transferred to a labor camp in Munster, from where he succeeded in escaping during a move to another camp. During all this time, Ge continued to hide the Noachs and others in her home, notwithstanding the danger she and those hidden in her home faced should Jan disclose any information. She also took in Roberta during the hunger winter after her former hosts in Utrecht ran out of food. All those hidden in the Blokkers’ home remained there until the liberation of Deventer on April 6, 1945, and they all remained in contact with the Blokkers after the war.
On February 28, 1967, Yad Vashem recognized Jan Blokker and his wife, Geertje Blokker-de Groot, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Geertje de Groot geb. 17 Jan 1895 overl. 17 Sept 1965
Huwelijk: 6 Juli 1920 Holten