Froukje Groen

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Douwe Groen
Moeder: Tietje Lei
Geboren: 12 OKT 1917 Nes, Westdongeradeel
Overleden: 7 Apr 2007 Haarlem
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Groen
First Name: Froukje
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Profession: NURSE
Place during the war: Bussum, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Bussum, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Illegal transfer Other
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/4627)
In late 1942, Lodi Weinbergen, born in Amsterdam in February 1940, was deported to Westerbork with his father, mother, and younger brother. In June 1943, the family was preparing to escape when Lodi fell seriously ill and was hospitalized in the Academic Hospital in nearby Groningen. Lodi’s parents realized that this illness could actually aid in his “disappearance.” His mother, a nurse in Westerbork, contacted a friend in Bussum, who put her in touch with two nurses at the Academic Hospital, Froukje Groen and Aaf Helmus-Jurjens. Lodi was confined there suffering from a combination of malnutrition, ear infection, scarlet fever, and pneumonia for three months. During this time, Froukje and Aaf devised a plan to kidnap him. On September 22, 1943, Froukje attended her regular evening class until eight p.m. while Aaf worked until six p.m. When Aaf left her ward, located in a hut separated from the main building, she left the garden doors unlocked. The nightshift was due to arrive at 8:45 p.m., so before that hour, Froukje and Aaf bicycled to the garden entrance of the ward and entered the unlocked door. Froukje took Lodi from his bed and rode off with him while Aaf remained at the hospital. Froukje took Lodi to a pre-arranged meeting point from which he was spirited to safety by the underground. Froukje then returned to the hospital, reporting in time for her ten o’clock shift. Froukje proved to be a great asset to the underground. She was fearless and also, as a member of the NSB, never suspected of illegal activity. She collaborated with the KPs (hit units) by stealing weapons from hospitalized German soldiers and also obtained a radio belonging to the NSB-affiliated president of a local bank. Froukje delivered the radio to KP headquarters, next door to the Wehrmachtsheim, and it allowed the KP to receive Radio Oranje, the BBC Dutch-language transmission from London. After the war, Froukje declared that her only regret was not having saved more Jewish children.
On March 28, 1990, Yad Vashem recognized Froukje Groen and Aaf Helmus-Jurjens as Righteous Among the Nations.