Wijmpje Hogenbirk
| Geslacht: | Man | |
| Vader: | Barend Hogenbirk | |
| Moeder: | Klasina Scheffer | |
| Geboren: | 16 MRT 1914 | Hilversum |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Hogenbirk First Name: Wijmpje Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Female Profession: CHILDRENS HOME PRINCIPAL Place during the war: Hilversum, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Hilversum, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/9693) Wijmpje Hogenbirk lived in Hilversum (prov. North Holland), where she ran a home for children referred by the welfare authority Pro Juventute, together with her husband Piet Gramberg and their young daughter Maria. Piets parents lived on the premises as well where they all also ran an open-air teagarden, The White Horse. The couple was Communists who had decided to resist the German occupation. Piet started with printing and disseminating the illegal newspaper De Waarheid. He was a diamond worker in Amsterdam, where he had many Jews as colleagues, and thus he saw first hand the effects of the anti Jewish measures. The couple was ready to actively help Jews. In the summer of 1942, a number of Jews found a hiding place at The White Horse. On October 28, 1942, Germans were tipped off and raided the terrain. Seven Jews were arrested and deported. Piet was also arrested but was later released. As a result he was no longer trusted, and was mostly absent from home thereafter. In the meantime, Wijmpje took one-year-old Simon Santcroos from Amsterdam into their home. He came with forged papers and he was now called Peter. He was a light skinned baby with blond hair. Piets parents were not aware of the fact that Peter was a Jewish boy and they were not told. Only the family doctor and one of Wijmpjes sisters knew his real identity. Simon was very close to Wijmpje whom he called mama as she was his primary caretaker during his entire time in hiding. German soldiers billeted close by came to the teagarden from time to time. They even played with Simon, not recognizing him as a Jewish child. Wijmpje always kept a very close eye on him, in order to prevent discovery of his real identity. Simon stayed with Wijmpje until the liberation of the area in May 1945. Simons parents and brothers also survived the war. Separation from Wijmpje was very traumatic for now four-year-old Simon. He stayed in close touch with her until her death. On May 26, 2002, Yad Vashem recognized Wijmpje Hogenbirk as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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Gezin 1
| Huwelijkspartner: | Piet Gramberg | geb. 1911 |
| Huwelijk: | 1938 | Hilversum |
| Kinderen: | ||
Maria Catharina Gramberg
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geb. 1935 | |
Gezin 2
| Huwelijkspartner: | Nico Hoogeboom | geb. 1914 overl. 1971 |
| Huwelijk: | 1946 | Hilversum |