Sjoerd Zwaagstra
| Geslacht: | Man | |
| Vader: | Sjouke Sjoerds Zwaagstra | |
| Moeder: | Atje Sinnema | |
| Geboren: | 29 OKT 1899 | Boornbergen |
| Overleden: | 24 Juni 1985 | Achlum |
| Religie: | Ned. Hervormd | |
| Aantekeningen: | Zwaagstra Sjoerd (1899 - 1985 ) Personal Information Last Name: Zwaagstra First Name: Sjoerd Date of Birth: 29/10/1899 Date of death: 24/06/1985 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Male Organization/ Religious order: Westerweel Groep Place during the war: Midlum, Friesland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Midlum, Friesland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/1046) Commemoration Date of Recognition: 18/03/1976 Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Tree Ceremony organized by Israeli diplomatic delegation in: The Hague, Netherlands Ceremony held in Yad Vashem: Yes Rescued Persons Waterman, Chaja Rescue Story Zwaagstra, Sjoerd & Aukje (Bouma) After having escaped the Westerbork transit camp together with her parents and brother, Chaja Waterman was brought by Harry Asscher (later Naphtali Asher), a member of the Westerweel* group, to the Zwaagstra home in Midlum, Friesland. She arrived there on November 2, 1943. Harry Asschers request for an appropriate place to hide Chaja had previously been turned down 17 times before he arrived at Sjoerd and Aukje Zwaagstra, who agreed to take her in. Chaja was welcomed into the home as a member of the family and helped out with the household chores. She was 18 at the time and a bit older than the four Zwaagstra children. Sjoerd and Aukje Zwaagstra were motivated by their deep desire to help a fellow human being. They also felt it was a great honor for them to save the life of a Jewish person. They were willing to do anything towards that end. The Zwaagstra family was deeply religious but never tried to influence Chaja in her beliefs. It was left to Chajas discretion whether or not to join them at church, which Chaja decided to do from time to time in order to keep up the facade of being the housekeeper. The Zwaagstra children were not told of Chajas true identity. Chaja stayed with the Zwaagstra family until after the liberation. In June 1945 she was reunited with her family. During the war, Sjoerd and Aukje took in not only Chaja, they also gave refuge to a young man who was ordered to report for forced labor in Germany and to the editor of an illegal newspaper. On May 18, 1976, Yad Vashem recognized Sjoerd Zwaagstra and his wife, Aukje Zwaagstra-Bouma, as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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Gezin 1
| Huwelijkspartner: | Aukje Bouma | geb. 17 MEI 1905 overl. 26 Juli 1976 |
| Huwelijk: | 5 MEI 1927 | Utingeradeel |