David Vervir

Testimony of David Vervir, born in S. Gravenhage, the Netherlands in 1939, regarding separation from his family and transfer to different hiding places in the Leiden area. His family life before the war; his parents’ aliya to Eretz Israel in 1934 and their return to the Netherlands in 1937; German occupation in May 1940; escape to Maarsbergen in 1941; anti-Jewish legislation; his father joins the underground; dispersal of the children of his family to various hiding places in September 1942; transfer between 14 different families in the Leiden area, including the Kraan family in Oegstgeest; after several months informed on and transfer to hiding with the Van Nieuwkoop family (both families were recognized as "Righteous Among the Nations"); hunger; liberation by the Canadian Army in May 1945; reunion with his mother and surviving siblings; receiving information about his father's murder during his activity with the underground; post-war antisemitism; aliya to Israel in 1958; absorption.