Willem de Boer

Geslacht:	Man
Vader:	Durk de Boer
Moeder:	Aukje Wouda
Geboren:	13 Jan 1901	Koudum, Hemelumer Oldeferd
Aantekeningen:	Boer de Willem Personal Information Last Name: Boer de First Name: Willem Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Male Place during the war: Koudum, Friesland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Koudum, Friesland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding Arranging shelter File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/7995) Commemoration Date of Recognition: 14/06/1998 Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Wall of Honor Ceremony organized by Israeli diplomatic delegation in: The Hague, Netherlands Rescued Persons Jacobs, Herman Krywanowski, Rebecca Rescue Story Boer de, Willem & Antje (Bijl) When the war broke out, Hersz Krywanowski, originally from Poland, was living in Amsterdam with his wife, Chaja, an infant daughter, and his father and sister. Hersz ran an “Open on Sunday” grocery store. In the summer of 1942, when the deportation of the Jews intensified, Hersz decided that his family would remain in the capital city. Even in 1943, after the family had narrowly escaped a roundup, it took the underground a great deal of persuasion to convince Hersz and his family to go into hiding. When they agreed, an underground courier took two-year-old Rebecca by boat to Friesland, where another courier, Willem de Boer, met her. Willem escorted many children to hiding places on his horse and cart but when Rebecca arrived he decided that the young girl would be safest in his own home. Willem and his wife, Antje, lived in the small village of Koudum, Friesland, with their two daughters. Rebecca was immediately welcomed into the family and was officially registered as the de Boers’ third child. She was given the alias Tinnie, and her own corner in one of the bedrooms and was soon calling Willem and Antje “mom” and “dad.” The de Boers took excellent care of the fugitive infant, providing her with everything she needed. Whenever necessary, the village doctor was called upon to attend to her. The family hid Rebecca in the cellar in times of acute danger. Willem and Antje were devout Christians and believed that their purpose in this world was to save a child. Rebecca stayed with the de Boers until the liberation of the area in April 1945, when her mother came to fetch her. Rebecca found it extremely difficult to return home with a “strange lady.” A short while later, when she was hospitalized with a high fever, she cried out for “mem’ and “heit,” Friesian for “mom” and “dad.” Antje and Willem were called and they succeeded in calming her down. Rebecca stayed in touch with her wartime foster parents even after she moved to the United States with her family. During the war, the de Boers also hid Herman Jacobs temporarily. On June 14, 1998, Yad Vashem recognized Willem de Boer and his wife, Antje de Boer-Bijl, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner:	Antje Bijl	geb. 25 Juli 1901
Huwelijk:	22 MEI 1925	Hemelumer Oldeferd en Noordwolde