Hillegonda Wilhelmina Smits

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Adrianus Willeminus Smits
Moeder: Hiltje van der Zee
Geboren: 9 Nov 1912 Den Haag
Overleden: 17 OKT 2000 onbekend
Religie: Ned. Hervormd, geen
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Molen van der
First Name: Hillegonda Wilhelmina
Date of Birth: 09/11/1912
Date of death: 17/10/2000
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Place during the war: The Hague, Zuidholland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: The Hague, Zuidholland, The Netherlands
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/2301)
In winter 1942, Leo Schatz of Amsterdam moved in with Niklaas Buurma and Hillegonda Buurma (later van der Molen*) in The Hague, South Holland. He had previously been hiding with Johanna de Boer-Koeman*, also from The Hague, but her place had become too dangerous for him to remain. All those who helped Leo in The Hague were members of the Vrije Groepen Den Haag (The Hague Free Groups), an organization of people who, motivated by compassion for the oppressed and a strong aversion to the unjust and barbaric regime, took care of about 300 Jews. Leo, an artist, together with Wim Polak, who had been in the printing business before the war, and his wife, Bea Polak-Biet, an author, managed to publish a number of children’s books illegally while in hiding. (Throughout 1943, Niklaas and Hillegonda also intermittently hid Wim and Bea). These books were sold throughout the war and the money made was used to purchase food cards and other necessary items. Leo stayed with the Buurmas until summer 1943, when he was moved to the home of the van Tol* family, also members of the The Hague Free Groups. (See also Weerheijm, Louis and Johanna.)
On June 3, 1982, Yad Vashem recognized Niklaas Meindert Buurma and Hillegonda Wilhelmina van der Molen-Smits as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Niklaas Meindert Buurma geb. 13 Juli 1905 overl. 10 Sept 1969
Huwelijk: 12 Aug 1938 Den Haag