Gelderman Joan

Gelderman, Joan During the war, Joan Gelderman was a young lawyer living in Eindhoven, North Brabant. Through his brother he soon became deeply involved in underground activities. On many occasions, Joan referred Jews and other fugitives to his sister and brother-in-law, Molly and Gerard van Heel*. They provided shelter in their home. Most people referred to Molly and Gerard stayed there only until Joan relocated them to a permanent hideout. Joan was also involved in concocting the story that two girls, Judith and Elise Kann, long-time refuges in the van Heel’s home, were relatives whose home had been destroyed during the bombing of Rotterdam. After awhile, the Germans began to search for Joan. Not only had he been active in the rescue of Jews, he also was involved in sabotage and intelligence. He worked closely with the LO, the LKP, and the RVV. It became known that he had been involved in the burning of the “blacklist” at the municipality building. In 1944, Joan was caught and imprisoned in several prisons. He was executed in Vught concentration camp on September 4, 1944. On February 13, 1968, Yad Vashem recognized Joan Gelderman as Righteous Among the Nations.