Star Egbert

Star, Egbert When the war broke out, the Magnus family---parents and three children born between 1916 and 1928---were living in Groningen. On November 1, 1941, their son Ibertus was arrested. From then on, the family started to search seriously for hiding places and in October 1942, they finally left their home. The Resistance took the married daughter, Henriette, and her husband, Herman Goslinski, to Egbert Star, a retired principal of a Christian school in Godlinze, Groningen. Since the hideout was not suitable for young children, their baby, Bertie (born May 26, 1942), was placed with Carl and Jane Gnirrep*. Mr. and Mrs. Magnus and their youngest daughter initially found a hideaway nearby and when their host went on vacation in the spring of 1943, Egbert invited them into his home for a couple of weeks. Their stay with him lasted for 25 months, until the end of the war. They all slept upstairs under the roof where a hidden space under the floorboards was prepared in case of a raid. They usually spent the days downstairs with “Opa Star” and his housekeeper. Except for “contacts,” who brought ration cards, food, and medications, Egbert had very few visitors. Whenever a stranger did come by, the five hidden Jews remained quietly concealed upstairs. One day, the Germans made a house search looking for young men to send to work in Germany. Egbert and his guests were eating together at the dining table at the time. When there was a knock at the door, the five Jews ran upstairs and jumped into the space under the floorboards and the housekeeper hid the extra plates and cutlery. The Germans, not wishing to disturb the meal, promptly left without looking around. Egbert, a devout Christian, had devoted over 20 years since retiring to volunteer work with the Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society and donated money to charity. When his fugitive lodgers offered to pay him towards their upkeep, he told them that they were his charity until the war ended. Egbert was 79 when thewar ended and he had saved five Jews from deportation. He maintained a warm relationship with the Magnus family until his death in 1953. On January 21, 1999, Yad Vashem recognized Egbert Star as Righteous Among the Nations.