Richardus Antonius Arts

Geslacht: Man
Vader: Hermanus Arts
Moeder: Johanna Catharina Nellissen
Geboren: 3 Nov 1903 Schaijk
Religie: Rooms Katholiek
Beroep: landbouwer
Aantekeningen: Personal Information
Last Name: Arts
First Name: Richard
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Male
Profession: FARMER
Rescue
Place during the war: Schaijk, Noordbrabant, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Schaijk, Noordbrabant, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/8807)
Commemoration
Date of Recognition: 01/01/2000
Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Wall of Honor
Ceremony organized by Israeli diplomatic delegation in: The Hague, Netherlands
Rescued Persons
Frank, Joachim
Frank, Meyer, Betty
Mok, First
Rescue Story
Arts, Richard
Arts-Smits, Nella
Richard and Nella Arts, small farmers, were living on an isolated farm in the village of Schayik (prov. North Brabant). They had no children. When in July 1942, members of a local underground cell approached them to have a mother and son hide in their home, they agreed. Thus, four-year-old Joachim Frank, from nearby Oss, and his mother arrived at their home after hiding elsewhere for a number of months. They were given their own upstairs bedroom. The mother, Betty Frank (née Mayer), was presented as a domestic servant, who had fled Rotterdam after it was bombed early in the war. On Sundays, Joachim went with the Artses to church. A special hiding place was made in a closet, for possible house searches. When there was an early warning, Betty would flee into the fields. Indeed, during one such raid, mother and son hid in the bushes by a riverbank for some 8 hours so they could be together, a very fearful incident for then five-year-old Joachim. Another time, a German soldier discovered the Franks at the Artses home, but before he could get help to take them away, Arts shot him and buried his body some five kilometers away in the fields. In addition, Richard and Nella Arts gave shelter to A. Mok, from Haarlem, a Jewish bachelor, who slept in the hayloft. Relations between the Artses and mother and son Frank were excellent throughout their stay until the liberation of the area in September 1944. During their time in hiding, no financial arrangements were made, although after the war the Franks paid the Artses for their past expenses. The Artses acted because they could not bear the murderous acts of the Nazi regime towards the Jews and other innocent people. The Franks immigrated to South Africa, but continued to stay in touch with the Artses.
On February 13, 2000, Yad Vashem recognized Richard Arts and Nella Arts-Smits, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Petronella Huberta Smits geb. 22 OKT 1903
Huwelijk: 29 Jan 1937 Schaijk