Wilhelmina Urica Vermeer
| Geslacht: | Vrouw | |
| Vader: | Willem Vermeer | |
| Moeder: | Geertruida Maria Stegenga | |
| Geboren: | 15 Juni 1927 | Brunssum |
| Overleden: | 18 Jan 2002 | Brunssum |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Musch First Name: Wilhelmina Maiden Name: Vermeer Alias: Mieke Date of Birth: 15/06/1927 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Religion: CALVINIST Gender: Female Organization/ Religious order: The N.V.- LTD Group (en-va LTD.Group) Place during the war: Brunssum, Limburg, The Netherlands ; Nijverdal, Overijssel, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Brunssum, Limburg, The Netherlands ; Nijverdal, Overijssel, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding Other File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/2083) At the beginning of the occupation, Gerard Musch was working in an office in Amsterdam. His humanitarian and strictly Calvinist philosophies of life dictated that he be totally opposed to the German policy towards the Jews. In early July 1942, together with his elder brother, Jaap Musch*, Gerard decided to offer his assistance to the Brauns, a Jewish family whose two children, Marianne and Leo, had received deportation orders. Gerard and Jaap found Marianne and Leo places to hide in Friesland while their parents hid in a converted chicken coop in Voorthuizen, Gelderland. Shortly afterwards, Gerards friend, Dick Groenewegen van Wijk*, joined the Musch brothers, helping them to look after the Brauns. The three of them decided to devote themselves to helping Jews hide outside Amsterdam. After the Amsterdam waiter Joop Woortman* started the initial delivery of Jewish children from Amsterdam in October 1942, an organization was set up which eventually became known as the Naamloze Vennootschap (NV*---Limited Liability Partnership). South Limburg, where Jaap, Gerard, and Dick had moved in the meantime, was chosen as the target area. Gerard and Dick had gone underground since they were in danger of being recruited for the Arbeitseinsatz, but this did not prevent them from being active. It was Gerards job to find safe houses in and around Kerkrade, and he also distributed ration cards, clothing, and footwear to the families who had already taken in Jewish children. He also fetched children from Amsterdam, and on such occasions he entertained the children with his skills, as a clown, ensuring that the train journey was never a boring one. In the summer of 1943, the numerous members of the Vermeer* family from nearby Brunssum took over the job of escorting children from Amsterdam to Limburg and distributing food supplies and clothing. This gave Gerard the opportunity to expand the material side of the operation. Together with Piet Vermeer, he called on numerous textile and shoe factories in Twente and North Brabant, asking them to supply goods to the NV without ration cards. One week he got hold of 126 pairs of shoes for his Jewish children. At the same time, from late 1943 on, Gerard assisted new NV workers Ted Meines* and Jan van de Boomgaard in establishing contacts in Zaltbommel, Gelderland, and the vicinity, and visited potential foster families in the area. Finally, Gerard also organized forged identity cards for NV members in hiding and for the small group of adult Jews in the NVs care. In November 1943, Gerard introduced his replacement, Wilhelmina (Mien) Vermeer*, to the foster families whom he had been visiting every two weeks. Their work together soon led to a closer relationship and Gerard set up headquarters in the Vermeer residence on Prins Hendriklaan in Brunssum. Other NV members soon followed him and they virtually took over the house. Gerard and Mien were very happy there, despite the need to make frequent trips to visit the children in hiding. At one point in early 1944, Mien spent several months in Nijverdal, Overijssel, where Jaap Musch was staying with some Jewish children who needed special care. Mien kept an eye on the children and looked after the house. On May 9, 1944, Dick Groenewegen and Gerard Musch were arrested. Gerard was caught at the Amsterdam railroad station with five forged identity cards in his possession. It transpired that a SD member had been following him from the Hilversum station. Gerard was taken away and brutally interrogated. After being incarcerated in various prisons, Gerard found himself in the Sachsenhausen/Oranienburg concentration camp, where, after much suffering, he was liberated by the Red Army in April 1945. He returned to Holland very weak and in a bad state mentally. After recuperating, he and Mien got married. On September 22, 1981, Yad Vashem recognized Gerard Musch and his wife, Mien Musch-Vermeer, as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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Gezin 1
| Huwelijkspartner: | Gerard Musch | geb. 12 MRT 1921 overl. 7 MEI 1979 |
| Huwelijk: | 27 OKT 1945 | Hilversum |