Johanna Adriana Merkx
| Geslacht: | Vrouw | |
| Vader: | Bernardus Adrianus Merkx | |
| Moeder: | Cornelia Johanna Snellens | |
| Geboren: | 20 Nov 1902 | Princenhage |
| Overleden: | 10 Jan 1994 | Brunssum |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Broers First Name: Anna Maiden Name: Merky Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Female Organization/ Religious order: The N.V.- LTD Group (en-va LTD.Group) Place during the war: Brunssum, Limburg, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Brunssum, Limburg, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/2610) The big buildings of the pumping station which regulated the water supply to the Hendrik, Emma, and Wilhelmina coal mines were located at a remote spot on the heath near Brunssum, Limburg. Jo Broers, the stations chief engineer, lived there with his wife, Anna, and their 11 children. During the final years of the occupation, members of the NSB guarded the station because the Germans feared sabotage by the Resistance. On November 7, 1943, the NV* group was informed that the German authorities were planning a large-scale razzia in Brunssum and the neighboring villages. That same night, the Jewish children were taken from the foster families where they were hiding and spent two nights in the locker rooms of the swimming pool. The razzia did not in fact take place, but about 40 children were left without hiding places because their foster families became frightened. They could not stay at the swimming pool and Jo Boers was involved in helping them. After consulting with his wife, Anna, Jo agreed to hide the children at the pumping station. They took in 21 children, hiding them in the attic, where NV leader Jaap Musch* did his best to keep them occupied. The rest of the children were housed elsewhere in Brunssum. Jo and Anna did their utmost to make life bearable for the children and thanks to Jo and Annas devotion the 21 Jewish children and those looking after them managed to make it through the three long winter months at the pumping station while the NSB guards outside were deceived. By the end of January 1944, the last child had found a foster family. Only two Jewish adults, the brothers Salomon and Chanine Silber, had to wait a few more weeks for a new hiding place. On June 7, 1983, Yad Vashem recognized Jo Broers and his wife, Anna Broers, as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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Gezin 1
| Huwelijkspartner: | Johannes Albertus Broers | geb. 5 Apr 1901 overl. 21 Dec 1967 |
| Huwelijk: | 13 MEI 1925 | Brunssum |