Bernardus Franciscus Geerling
| Geslacht: | Man | |
| Vader: | Wilhelmus Geerling | |
| Moeder: | Elisabeth Vos | |
| Geboren: | 16 Nov 1917 | Bergh |
| Overleden: | 29 Apr 1992 | |
| Religie: | Rooms Katholiek | |
| Beroep: | landbouwer | |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Geerling First Name: Bernard Alias: BEREND Date of Birth: 16/11/1917 Date of death: 29/04/1992 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Male Profession: GARDENERS HELP Place during the war: Azewijn, Gelderland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Azewijn, Gelderland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Arranging shelter Supplying basic goods File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/8600) Upon hearing that Jews were being rounded up in their village, Harry Strauss and his sisters, Diny and Betty fled their parents home in the middle of the night on February 10, 1943. They hid in the forest close to their home in s-Heerenberg, Gelderland. After the first night, Harry managed to find shelter for his sisters in Dieren, Gelderland, and for himself with a gardener in Azewijn, Gelderland, near the border with Germany. The gardener employed two laborers, Bernard (Berend) Geerling and Antonius (Teun) Hettelaar, both of whom were Resistance workers. Through these two men, Harry also became actively involved in underground activities. After awhile, Harry was compelled to hide in a barn outside the village, partly because his benefactor had talked too freely. Several other fugitives, including Allied pilots, also used this hiding place during the course of the war. Harry became friendly with one of them, a Jew from the United States. He provided him with food, which was supplied by Teun. The underground trio also helped many others. By the end of 1943, Harry had spent almost an entire year in the barn in the open fields. Teun and Berend then took him to stay with Johannes and Agnes Garben*, a brother and sister who were active in the Resistance. On January 22, 1944, both of Harrys sisters had to flee from their hiding place in Dieren. They came to Azewijn and were taken into the Garbens care without hesitation. They stayed in an abandoned house, which had been declared unfit for habitation but was owned by the brother and sister. After living outside for so long, Harrys health began to deteriorate and he began suffering from rheumatic inflammation. Agnes Garben looked after him while Theun and Berend provided food and moral support. Harry and his sisters survived the war, as did their rescuers. On December 27, 1999, Yad Vashem recognized Bernard Geerling and Antonius Wilhelmus Hettelaar as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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Gezin 1
| Huwelijkspartner: | Bernardina Maria Helmes | geb. 3 Nov 1916 overl. 3 Jan 1995 |
| Huwelijk: | 22 Jan 1948 | 's-Heerenberg |