Verhagen Huiberdina (Verhagen)

Witte, Huiberdina Adriana (Verhagen) Huiberdina Witte, a Resistance worker, helped many Jews survive the war and persisted in her illegal activities even after she was imprisoned in Vught, where she was eventually killed in an act of reprisal. Huiberdina, her husband, Job, and some of their four teenage children were involved in underground work from the outset of the war. They distributed illegal pamphlets and brought food and clothing to Jews in hiding. After 1942, they sheltered Jews in their home, collected money to help those in hiding, and collected food coupons. A careless comment by one of Huiberdina’s contacts resulted in her being arrested by the SD, although she was released shortly afterward. In order to minimize the risk of betrayal again, she decided to continue her Resistance work alone. Despite the dangers to themselves and their children, the Wittes continued to hide Jews in their home, including the cantor of the Jewish community of Breda, Lion Potsdammer, and his family. On June 15, 1943, the Potsdammers were arrested and transported to Sobibor, where they perished on July 9, 1943. Huiberdina and Job were interrogated and Huiberdina swore that although she was involved, her husband had not been aware of the situation. As a result, Job was released, but Huiberdina was sent to the Vught concentration camp. At Vught, she became a source of moral support to other inmates, helping lift their flagging spirits. In early 1944, the authorities questioned a German inmate, whom the others believed to be a traitor. The women in Huiberdina’s camp section warned the suspected traitor not to reveal any information she may have overheard about illegal activities within the camp, but she subsequently divulged many names, adding that she had been threatened by the other inmates. In reprisal, the Germans locked up 74 women, including Huiberdina, in a cell of around 6 by 12 feet for a day and a night on January 15/16, 1944. This is known as the bunker drama.Huiberdina and ten other women did not survive the ordeal, having been crushed to death. On July 23, 1998, Yad Vashem recognized Huiberdina Adriana Witte-Verhagen as Righteous Among the Nations.