Korpershoek Hein

Korpershoek, Hein Robert On November 30, 1943, Hein Robert Korpershoek, a 17-year-old member of the Resistance, was asked by fellow Resistance member Ans van Dam, who was Jewish, to kidnap a three-year-old Jewish girl, Miriam Dasberg, daughter of Rabbi Dasberg, from a guest house where she had been found by the Germans. The Germans were going to deport her a few days later. Hein’s friend Wibo Florissen* volunteered to join him and try to get the little girl before the Germans came back. The two planned their operation carefully. They pretended to be members of the Dutch section of Security Police. It was a frightening experience but it ended in success. They handed the girl over to Ans, who managed to hide her in a safe place. Two weeks later, Ans was arrested and sent to Auschwitz. She survived the concentration camp and later married a doctor and emigrated to Israel. Nico Dohmen* eventually brought Miriam to the Nabben family in Swolgen, Limburg. Their success encouraged Hein and Wibo to repeat their rescue efforts, seven weeks later in Rotterdam, but unfortunately this attempt was not as successful. Hein had begun his illegal activities at the age of 15 after the famous February strike in 1941. From that time on, he was involved in the Resistance press, designing, printing, and distributing cartoons, illustrations, posters, and other publications, first in his home town of Hilversum and later elsewhere. He also helped steal identity cards for Jews and non-Jews in hiding. On May 10, 1987, Yad Vashem recognized Hein Robert Korpershoek as Righteous Among the Nations.