New book reveals the staggering task of the Jewish Guards in supervising their fellow victims in the Dutch concentration camp during the Holocaust.
An intriguing and engaging read, “The Jewish Guards” by Frank van Riet takes readers into the organization and supervision of Camp Westerbork in the Netherlands.
Nedvision Publishing, a non-fiction publisher in the Netherlands, is pleased to announce the launch of Frank van Riet’s new book: “The Jewish Guards”.
Frank van Riet takes the reader into the organization of the Ordedienst (OD); “The Jewish Guards”. It is an intriguing little known story about the transit camp to the concentration camps in Eastern Europe during the Holocaust, “The Dutch Gateway to Hell”.
The book follows the story of the persecution of Jews in the Netherlands in 1942. Van Riet, who earned a PhD in history, went through the extensive records and facts on the events that took place in the Westerbork camp, which started as a refugee camp for fleeing Jews in the Netherlands, before World War II.
The German occupiers could use the refugee camp as a transit camp with only minimal modifications.
In barely two years, more than 100,000 Jews, but also Roma and Sinti, were deported from this camp to mainly Auschwitz and Sobibòr.
Because there was a well-functioning camp organization, the guards did not have to use brute force, as in many other camps. Camp commander Albert Konrad Gemmeker had only ten SS men at his disposal. The OD, consisting of Jews, ensured order and peace in the camp. Because of the constant pressure to be deported themselves, the OD men carried out their assignments within and sometimes outside the camp punctually, which is why camp residents started calling them Jewish SS.
Surveillance outside the gate was carried out by the Gendarmerie, consisting of young police officers who were each employed for only a few months. They were not allowed to have contact with the Jews and were not allowed to enter the camp. Van Riet paid extensive attention to the OD men and their backgrounds in the book, as they made the system of divide-and-conquer work well. Because of these Jewish guards, the Nazis could keep the well-oiled deportation machine running at full speed.
Anyone who’s interested in understanding these unknown events that took place in the Westerbork camp, will find answers in Frank van Riet’s “The Jewish Guards.” It is packed with verified facts and personal stories about the events that took place there from 1939 to 1945.
Nedvision Publishing, Assen, is a non-fiction publisher that focuses on the history and business administration genres. The publishing house provides resources for those interested in World War II or history with new and profound insights. Nedvision Publishing provides every professional or student with handy, practical tools through its business administration books.
An article on Journey to the Horizon, Escape and Evasion in World War 2was published in the May issue of the N.Z. Police News. Retired police officer and co-author Brian Lissette is interviewed about his uncle Leslie Lissette RNZAF. His uncle died in his burning Lancaster, after the rest of the crew who were still alive had jumped.
The New Zealand Police Association, Te Aka Hāpai, is an association working to ensure the best employment, health and welfare outcomes for 13,500 members and their families – on duty and off duty.
[av_textblock size=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” font_color=” color=” id=” custom_class=” av_uid=’av-kwhobw6d’ admin_preview_bg=”]
This seventh episode deals with the crew of Lancaster ND556, EM-F for Freddie of No.207 Squadron.
The aircraft took off from RAF Spilsby during the night of 03/04 May 1944. Their target was the German tank training area of Mailly-le-Camp, a lethal danger for the troops that were to land in Normandy one month later. The aircraft was shot down by a German night fighter, killing the rear gunner. The skipper Warrant Officer Leslie Lissette RNZAF (who was the uncle of co-author Brian Lissette) remained behind the controls of the burning bomber until all crewmembers had bailed out. Then it was too late for him and Lissette died in the crash, sacrificing his life for his crew.
The crew members were from left to right: Warrant Officer L. H. Lissette RNZAF, Pilot, Killed and buried at Chaintreaux; Sergeant R. Ellis, Rear Gunner, Killed, also buried at Chaintreaux; Sergeant N. J. Stockford, Flight Engineer, who evaded via a different line and escaped to Spain; Sergeant P. N. King, Wireless Operator, who also escaped to Spain; Flight Sergeant J. Pittwood, Navigator, escaped to Spain; Sergeant R. T. Emeny, Mid Upper Gunner, who escaped to Spain with the earlier mentioned four airmen, and Sergeant L. Wesley, Bomb Aimer, who was arrested by the Gestapo, and instead of being a PoW, was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp as a spy.
He was saved by German ace Hannes Trautloft, who arranged for Wesley’s transfer to Stalag Luft 3 Sagan.
All were in the RAF, except for Warrant Officer Lissette, who was in the RNZAF.
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” font_color=” color=” id=” custom_class=” av_uid=’av-kwhobw6d’ admin_preview_bg=”]
This sixth episode deals with the crew of Lancaster ND530, LE-P for Peter of No.630 Squadron from RAF East Kirkby.
Pilot officer Len Barnes and his men took off on 15/16 March 1944. Their target was Stuttgart. The crew were Pilot Officer L. A. Barnes, Pilot who evaded capture and escaped to Spain; Sergeant K. A. Walker, Flight Engineer, who also evaded capture and was hidden by a French family until the liberation; Sergeant J. H. Overholt RCAF, Mid Upper Gunner, who was killed and buried at Saint Gilles; Sergeant T. A. Fox, Rear Gunner who was also killed and buried at Saint Gilles; Flying Officer M. Geisler, Navigator who became a PoW at Stalag Luft 1 in Barth; Sergeant G. E. Plowman, Wireless Operator who was a PoW at Stalag 357, Fallingbostel. Sergeant M. E. Gregg, Bomb Aimer, who also was a PoW at Stalag Luft 1, Barth).
All were RAF, except Sergeant Overholt, who was RCAF.
