Boer de Harmke (Baltjes)

Boer de, Harmke (Baltjes) Sixty-four-year-old Harmke de Boer sheltered Meir Asscher in her home in Hengelo, Overijssel, for two and a half years. Meir arrived in Hengelo from the city of Groningen and was initially hidden there by Dr. Tonko ten Have* and his wife Wilhelmina. Meir’s brother, who was with him, was later arrested and deported. At the end of 1942, Meir was relocated to Harmke’s home. Her daughter Rinske, an active member of the local underground, escorted him there. Her group saved many Jewish lives by stealing documents, forging identity papers, and engaging in acts of sabotage. In August 1944, Meir’s sister Sophia (later Langer) joined him at Harmke’s home. They both remained hidden there until the end of the war. They had false identity cards and the underground provided them with ration coupons but they still had to struggle through the harsh hunger winter of 1944--1945. The Germans searched the house twice but on both occasions Harmke managed to ward off the danger through her courage and presence of mind. Harmke, a veteran socialist, acted out of ideological motives. On February 15, 1979, Yad Vashem recognized Harmke de Boer-Baltjes as Righteous Among the Nations.