In “Travel to the Netherlands III,” Episode, #204, join Meredith Curtis on a trip back in time to the Netherlands during and after World War II. Discover the impact World War II had on families and children who became heroes who hid the Jewish people and made life hard for the occupying Nazis. Learn about the Evian Conference and Anne Frank. Meet Dutch heroes like Corrie ten Boom and Brother Andrew. Discover how World War II changed the Netherlands.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

The Netherlands is a plucky little nation in Northern Europe with a fascinating history. World War II brought horror to the nation, but the Dutch people fought back by hiding Jews and making life difficult for the occupying Nazis.

In July 1938, a conference was held in Evian-les-Bains, France. Would anyone take the Jews? Denmark and the Netherlands. Hitler used the response of the world’s nations to justify his “Final Solution.” Some Jews did indeed flee to the Netherlands and Denmark.

The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but was invaded by Hitler’s Nazi army in 1940 and was occupied by German troops until 1945 when they were liberated by the Allies.

Jews were rounded up to die in concentration camps. Many brave Dutchmen and Dutchwomen, like Corrie ten Boom and her family, risked their lives to hide Jews in secret rooms built in their homes. Others like Brother Andrew sabotaged the Nazi invaders.

Friends of the family hid the Franks in a secret attic room. Otto, Edith, and their two daughters Margot and Anne hid in the secret room for a little over two years before the Nazis found them. During that time Anne kept a diary. Otto was the only one to survive the camps and he was given the diary that the family who hid the Franks kept for him. The house is now a museum.

In 1844, Corrie’s grandfather, Willem was approached by a Messianic Jewish pastor who asked Willem to start a weekly prayer meeting for the Jewish people.

“When Casper was warned of the danger of hiding Jewish people, imprisonment and death, Casper declared that he felt it a great privilege to give his life to save God’s Chosen People.” Corrie and Betsy shared his heart.

Final Raid – ten Booms arrested. Jews stayed hidden and escaped. Corrie’s ministry.

Visiting the Hiding Place.

Andrew van der Bijl’s life was abruptly changed when the German Nazis invaded in 1940. Andrew and others like him determined to do everything they could to thwart the Nazis: Hide and care for the Jews, help Allies, blow up bridges and destroy railroads to keep the Germans from moving men and supplies.

Andrew’s education stopped when the Nazis invaded. All food Dutch farmers grew was sent to German soldiers. Dutch men were kidnapped and forced to serve in German factories. Andrew’s teen years were filled with horror and hunger. Yet, God protected him and after serving in the military, he gave his life to Christ.

He and his wife Corrie started a ministry called Open Doors to minister to persecuted Christians behind the Iron Curtain (those Christians in Communist Europe) and later the Bamboo Curtain (those Christians in Communist Asia). Near the end of his life, he ministered to persecuted believers in the Middle East.

After the war was over, there were years of rebuilding from the terrible destruction. Following World War II, the Dutch gave their colonies their independence too. Indonesia regained her freedom in 1949, Surinam in 1954, and the Antilles islands in 1954. The Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles together form the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Each country has its own government, but they share the queen or king.

Lost: devout faith enjoyed by majority. Steady decline of morality

Gained: Agriculuture, Technology (cassette, Cd, Dvd, WiFi), Trade, Business.

One thing that really impacted the Dutch people was starving during the Nazi occupation. Determined to not starve again, they are on the cutting edge with efficient and productive farming techinuques. The Netherlands is the second largest exporter of food topped only by the US.

Movie Return to the Hiding Place

Join me for a 4-week unit study touring the plucky little country that once ruled the seas!

Sign up for our updates and get your copy of 100 Homeschool Hacks FREE. Sign up here.

Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

The post Travel to the Netherlands with Me III appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.