Johanna Alida Flieger

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Siemen Flieger
Moeder: Johanna Alida Biesenbeek
Geboren: 14 Jan 1890 Amsterdam
Religie: Ned. Hervormd
Beroep: dienstbode, directrice Vereeniging tot oprichting van kleine opv. tehuizen voor kinderen
Aantekeningen: twee pleegkinderen : Cornelis Johannes Meijer, 5 jul 1921 te Amsterdam ; Gerrit Cijs, 3 feb 1920
Last Name: Flieger
First Name: Ans
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Place during the war: Driebergen, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Driebergen, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Arranging shelter Supplying basic goods
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/1920)
Chava and Hadassa were born in Vienna. In 1939, their father took Chava to Eindhoven, North Brabant, where she lived with relatives, and Hadassa to Gouda, South Holland, and from there to Elden, Gelderland, where she joined a group of youngsters preparing themselves for a future in the Land of Israel. In 1942, when the relatives where Chava was staying were forced to go into hiding, Chava was sent to Driebergen, Utrecht, to a non-Jewish home for children run by Ans Flieger. A year later, the Germans closed the home and Ans contacted the underground in order to find her shelter. Chava was placed in a small boarding house, where she worked as a maid. She remained there until the end of the war. While she was there, the underground provided her with identity and ration cards and paid for her upkeep. Ans Flieger, who was herself hiding Jews, visited Chava regularly. She was a great source of support, Chava Zender wrote in her testimony to Yad Vashem. She even sent parcels to my sister in Westerbork, from her own meager rations. Chava’s sister, Mrs. Hadassa Benjamin, wrote: While we were in Westerbork, my group was sent daily out to work for a farmer. Of course, the Germans guarded us closely. One day, Miss Flieger arrived on her bicycle and found a way to contact the farmer’s wife, who called me and left us alone in a room. Miss Flieger gave me news from my sister and told me she had come to take me away from Westerbork. Unfortunately, I could not accept the offer, because the Germans had warned us that for each person who tried to escape, ten others would be sent to the east. Today, it is difficult to imagine the courage involved in coming to the farm and trying to rescue me.
On November 20, 1980, Yad Vashem recognized Ans J. Flieger as Righteous Among the Nations.