Stockmann Karl & Annemarie (Dietrichs); Daughter: Verhaak Margret (Stockmann)

Karl W. J. & Annemarie (Dietrichs) Stockmann, and their daughter Margret Verhaak Ernst Krakenberger's parents had immigrated to the Netherlands in 1938 following the Kristallnacht events. They first stayed in Amsterdam, and then moved to Aerdenhout, where they befriended a non-Jewish German family, that had settled in the Netherlands as early as 1924. In 1940 the Krakenbergers had a son, Ernst. When the situation of Jews in the Netherlands deteriorated and the deportations began, the Stockmanns promised their Jewish friends that they would take their son. Ernst was brought to them in September 1942 and stayed at their home for two years. In September 1944, as the Germans were on retreat, the authorities created the Volkssturm and began drafting older men and youngsters for military service to fight the approaching Allied forces. Stockmann, as a German, was called to join the Volkssturm, but soon decided to desert. Now the rescuers became fugitives, and the whole Stockmann family went into hiding. Even though they themselves were now victims of persecution, they did not abandon little Ernst and took him along. The Stockmann daughter, Margret, who was 20 years old at the time, took Ernst with her and hid with him in several places in Haarlem and Aerdenhout. When the war ended, Ernst's parents returned from the camps and took the child back. But relations between the two families continued to be very close. For six months the Stockmanns also hid Herbert Craig (Krakenberger), then aged 17, but he didn't want to be separated from his parents nor did he want to endanger his rescuers, and therefore he decided to go to Westerbork detention camp. He survived the war and immigrated to the USA. On 14 July 2010 Karl W. J. & Annemarie Stockmann and their daughter Margret Verhaak were recognized as Righteous Among the Nations.