Casper ten Boom
Casper ten Boom | |
---|---|
Scheveningen Prison, Netherlands | |
Nationality | Dutch |
Denomination | Dutch Reformed Protestant |
Residence | Barteljorisstraat 19, Haarlem, Netherlands |
Parents | Willem and Elisabeth ten Boom |
Spouse |
Cornelia Luitingh
(m. 1884; died 1921) |
Children | Betsie, Willem, Hendrik, Nollie and Corrie ten Boom |
Occupation | Watchmaker |
Education | Primary school |
Casper ten Boom (18 May 1859 – 9 March 1944) was a Dutch Christian who helped many Jews and resisters escape the Nazis during the Holocaust of World War II. He is the father of Betsie and Corrie ten Boom, who also aided the Jews and were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, where Betsie died. Casper died 9 March 1944 in The Hague, after nine days of imprisonment in the Scheveningen Prison. In 2008, he was recognised as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem.
Background
Casper was born in Haarlem as the son of Willem ten Boom, who had a watch shop. When Ten Boom was 18, he started a jewelry store in Amsterdam. He had grown up in a family that belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church and had strong faith. While living in Amsterdam, he started a work among the poor people, Tot Heil des Volks (For the Salvation of the People). He later returned to Haarlem to live.[1]
Marriage and family
In Sunday school, he met Cornelia Johanna Arnolda Luitingh (commonly known as "Cor"), whom he married in 1884.[1] Like his father, he lived and worked in the same building, with the shop on the ground floor and living quarters on the two floors above.[2] He and Cor had five children, four of whom survived to adulthood: Elisabeth "Betsie" (1885-1944), Willem (21 November 1886 - 13 December 1946), Arnolda Johanna "Nollie" (1890 - 22 October 1953), and Cornelia Arnolda Johanna "Corrie" (1892-1983). Another child, Hendrik Jan (12 September 1888 - 6 March 1889), died in infancy. Casper's wife died in 1921 from a stroke.
While Willem and Nollie married and moved away, he lived with his two unmarried daughters, Betsie and Corrie, in their home and watchmaking workshop.
Wartime activities
Righteous Among the Nations |
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By country |
According to The family strongly believed that people were equal before God.
During the
Arrest and death
On 28 February 1944, the Gestapo raided his house and arrested him; his daughters; his son Willem; and his grandson Peter, who were visiting. The Gestapo arrested other supporters, who visited the house during the day, taking a total of about 30 people to Scheveningen prison.[3]
When he was interrogated in prison, the Gestapo told him that they would release him because of his age so that he could "die in his own bed". He replied, "If I go home today, tomorrow I will open my door to anyone who knocks for help".
His daughter Betsie died at Ravensbrück in December 1944. Willem contracted spinal
Honours
- The Ten Boom Museum in Haarlem, operated in their former house, honors all the family.
- In 2008, he was honored by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous Among the Nations.
References
- ^ a b "Father Ten Boom: God's Man". Fleming H. Revell Co., Old Tappen, New Jersey: 1978.
- ^ a b c d Corrie ten Boom museum - history Archived 17 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d "Corrie ten Boom", United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia
- ^ Ten Boom, Corrie (November 1971). The Hiding Place (PDF). Chosen Books. p. 28.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Ten Boom, Corrie (November 1971). The Hiding Place (PDF). Chosen Books. p. 23.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ a b The Complete Book of Christian Heroes: Over 200 Stories of Courageous People
- ^ "Nationaal Ereveld Loenen". Foundation War Cemeteries (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 June 2020.
Sources
- Corrie ten Boom museum
- Corrie ten Boom Museum Virtual Tour Archived 20 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine
- Corrie ten Boom with ISBN 0-340-20845-7
- Casper ten Boom – his activity to save Jews' lives during the Holocaust, at Yad Vashemwebsite