Roelof Hilgen

Geslacht:	Man
Vader:	Hendrik Hilgen
Moeder:	Alida Pekelder
Geboren:	29 Nov 1907	Musselkanaal gem. Onstwedde
Overleden:	25 Aug 1987
Aantekeningen:	Last Name: Hilgen First Name: Roelof Date of Birth: 29/11/1907 Date of death: 25/08/1987 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Male Place during the war: Ter Apel, Groningen, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Ter Apel, Groningen, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/2808) In 1942, ten-year-old Selma van Velzen (later Soeters) was forced to leave her home and was subsequently hidden in 37 places around the country. For her own safety the families did not tell her their names and she did not tell them hers, and after short periods she would leave them. In July 1944, when she was almost 12 years old, she was taken to Mrs. Boer in the village of Ter Apel, near the German border. After two weeks, she was again sent to a specific meeting place, a shop window, as was usual, to wait for the next set of foster parents to get her. This time it was Roelof and Hendrika Hilgen, who never asked for any payment and risked their lives to hide her until the liberation. The Hilgens became Selma’s guardians because her parents and most of her family perished during the war. She stayed with them until she got married in 1958. On January 12, 1984, Yad Vashem recognized Roelof Hilgen and his wife, Hendrika Hilgen-Harmsen, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner:	Hendrika Hermana Harmsen	geb. 6 Feb 1909 overl. 4 Dec 1990
Huwelijk:	17 Apr 1930	Eindhoven