Hubertus Johannes Backus

Geslacht: Man
Vader: Gijsbert Backus
Moeder: Anna Catharina Joosten
Geboren: 21 Juni 1908 Helden
Overleden: 1 Jan 1983
Aantekeningen: Personal Information
Last Name: Backus
First Name: Hubertus
Johannes
Date of Birth: 21/06/1909
Date of death: 01/01/1983
Rescuer's fate: survived
imprisoned
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Male
Profession: FARMER
Rescue
Place during the war: Helden, Limburg, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Helden, Limburg, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/7715)
Commemoration
Date of Recognition: 09/07/1997
Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Wall of Honor
Ceremony organized by Israeli diplomatic delegation in: The Hague, Netherlands
Rescued Persons
Drukker, Julie
Rescue Story
Backus, Hubertus Johannes & Louisa Wilhelmina M. (Nelissen)
“You’re staying with us; they’ll only get you over my dead body,” were the first words Hubertus Backus said to the young Jewish woman whom he and his wife rescued in 1943. Julie Drukker had been dismissed in 1942 from her job at the BATA shoe factory in Meppel and had been working as a maid with a Jewish family in Amsterdam until their arrest. She later escaped from the Hollandsche Schouwburg and with the help of the Resistance fled to the village of Helden, Limburg. There, Hubertus and Louisa Backus, who had two young children, took her in on September 7, 1943. Another Jewish family was also in hiding at the Backus farm as well as some young men who were avoiding forced labor and had no idea that Drukker was Jewish. During a raid in January 1944, she managed to hide in a haystack, but Hubertus was caught, though released shortly afterwards. In the fall of 1944, as the Allied forces drew near to Helden on the east bank of the Maas River, the population was ordered to evacuate the area. On October 8, 1944, local men were rounded up, including Hubertus, but Julie and the other Jews remained in hiding. Louisa Backus then fled with her children and the Jewish fugitives to her parents’ home. Meanwhile, Hubertus managed to escape from his train and returned to his family. Hubertus and Louisa Backus received no remuneration for rescuing Jews. After the war Julie remained “one of the family” and kept in close contact with all its members.
On July 9, 1997, Yad Vashem recognized Hubertus Johannes Backus and his wife, Louisa Wilhelmina M. Backus-Nelissen, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Louisa Wilhelmina Maria Nelissen geb. 29 Sept 1915 overl. 22 OKT 1998
Huwelijk: 8 Jan 1940 Helden