Willemijntje Asbeek Brusse

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Johan Christiaan Asbeek Brusse
Moeder: Johanna Maria Gerken
Geboren: 12 MRT 1893 Amsterdam
Overleden: 11 Nov 1993
Aantekeningen: Personal Information
Last Name: Asbeek
First Name: Wilhelmina
Maiden Name: Brusse
Alias: Oma, Tante Cos
Date of Birth: 12/03/1893
Date of death: 11/11/1993
Rescuer's fate: survived
underground movement member
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Rescue
Place during the war: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
Other
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/149)
Commemoration
Date of Recognition: 19/05/1986
Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Wall of Honor
Rescued Persons
Klafter, Manfred
Groen, First name unknown
Klafter,
Rescue Story
Asbeek-Brusse, Wilhelmina
In 1942, two brothers, Manfred and Harry Klafter, were deported from Amsterdam to Westerbork. They were interned in the camp for two years before staging a bold escape and returning to Amsterdam in September 1944. On their arrival in Amsterdam, Wilhelmina Asbeek-Brusse safely hid the brothers until the war’s end. Manfred and Harry knew Wilhelmina, who was otherwise known as “Tante Cos” or “Oma,” and were aware that she had been active in the Resistance since the beginning of the war. Wilhelmina had two daughters who had converted to Judaism in 1941 as an act of protest against the Nazis and she had also been hiding a Jewish couple, Mr. and Mrs. Groen, since 1942. Even under great duress, during the infamous hunger winter, Wilhelmina shared everything she had with the four Jews she was harboring. Over and above hiding Jews and preparing additional secret hideouts for use in times of danger, Wilhelmina also hid the material possessions of some of her Jewish friends, returning them untouched at the end of the war. Furthermore, her activities included one famous incident when she braved all odds to smuggle out lists of names of members of the Resistance from the office of an anti-Nazi organization in Amsterdam, and then burn them. This heroic act saved many from arrest and possible death. Wilhelmina did not perform any of these humane acts out of specific religious or ideological conviction, but because, in her own words, “I just believe a person is a person.” When her name was first put forward to be honored by Yad Vashem in 1965, she refused to hear anything of it. Over 20 years later, aged 91, she finally agreed to receive a certificate of honor.
On May 19, 1986, Yad Vashem recognized Wilhelmina Asbeek-Brusse as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Pieter Koster geb. 1891
Huwelijk: 1 Apr 1914 Amsterdam
Scheiding: 5 Juni 1947