SIEGFRIED VAN DER KAR
Dutch Rescuer

From the beginning of his rescue activities Siegfried was rightfully concerned about taking every precaution to protect against betrayal. His friend Hendrik van Leston, while brave, was too talkative and impulsive. A monument is erected to his memory in Haarlem on the spot where he was executed by the SS. Siegfried was also critical of Corrie Ten Boom:

"In my opinion she was innocent and too optimistic. She and her sister were very active and helped the cause of resistance. You worked for them and at the same time you were scared for them. I know all the people (she wrote about) in her books.

Photograph of Siegfried van der Kar holding picture of his mother She had a theory that little angels from the Lord were around her house--they lived in an old home over a jewelry store--guarding that nothing would happen to them. I had my doubts. I was proved correct because later on there was a raid. The place was a trap. Everyone who entered was grabbed and deported. I missed it by ten minutes."

When asked why he helped Jewish people during the war, Siegfried van der Kar stated,

"Because their lives were in danger. I felt fortunate I was in a position to help. By the end, we sold everything we had to keep things going. Once on the street a man wanted to exchange coal for fabric. When it was dark, we made the exchange, but later we found he had put a little coal on top and stones underneath.

I am glad that at present, in Jewish circles, in New York, for example, you have movements that are fighting back. I think they do very responsible, necessary work, making people aware that at any time there can be a conspiracy of anti-Semitism and pogroms. That is one of the dark secrets of history."

Siegfried van der Kar was interviewed at his home in Cheviot Hills, California in 1984.


Back to the Previous Page