Jan Willem Gerritsen

Geslacht: Man
Vader: Jan Willem Gerritsen
Moeder: Jacoba Hendrica van der Meer
Geboren: 10 Juli 1906 Deventer
Overleden: 28 Apr 1945 Sandbostel, Duitsland
Religie: Ned. Hervormd
Beroep: ambtenaar ter secretarie
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Gerritsen
First Name: Jan Willem
Rescuer's fate: died postwar
Cause of Death: EXHAUSTION
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Male
Place during the war: Deventer, Overijssel, The Netherlands ; Meppen, Camp, Germany ; Neuengamme, Camp, Germany ; Sandbostel, Camp, Germany
Rescue Place: Deventer, Overijssel, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding Other
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/2865)
In November 1942, Jan and Wilhelmina Gerritsen “found” five weeks-old Simone Weiler who was left as a foundling, as he was walking his dog, and took her into their home, where the baby, soon to be called Liesje Gerritsen, remained until the end of the war. Nathan Ensel, a man in his early twenties, also hid with the Gerritsens, from the end of 1943 until mid-1944. Wilhelmina’s sister, Mrs. Bos-Straalman, whose home Nathan had previously hidden in, brought him to the Gerritsens. Jan and Wilhelmina treated him very well and did not receive any financial remuneration. During the war, Jan worked in the passports department of the city of Deventer, Overijssel. He used his position to issue a large number of official registration cards to Jews in the Netherlands. In 1944, the Germans arrested Jan and sent him to the Meppen, Neuengamme, and Sandbostel concentration camps. He survived the war but died of exhaustion while still in Germany. He was honored posthumously by General Eisenhower and Field Marshall Montgomery.
On September 6, 1984, Yad Vashem recognized Jan Willem Gerritsen and his wife, Wilhelmina Georgina Frederika Louise Gerritsen-Straalman, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Wilhelmina Frederika Georgina Louise Straalman geb. 11 Juni 1908
Huwelijk: 29 Apr 1937 Deventer