Maarten Groot

Geslacht:	Man
Vader:	Cent Groot
Moeder:	Geertje Leguit
Geboren:	27 Jan 1909	Landsmeer
Overleden:	7 Feb 1991	Amsterdam
Religie:		Ned. Hervormd
Beroep:		melkslijter, rijwielhandelaar
Aantekeningen:	Last Name: Groot First Name: Maarten Date of Birth: 27/01/1909 Date of death: 07/02/1991 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Male Profession: RENTER Place during the war: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/1912) When Greta Polak worked in the Utrechtsestraat in central Amsterdam, she used to park her bicycle at Keizersgracht 774 around the corner. In July 1942, after doing this for over two years, Greta and her fiancé, Coronel, were informed that they were due to be deported. Greta asked the owners of the property, Maarten and Margaretha Groot, if she could rent a room. The house was a typical "herenhuis" (canal house) consisting of a narrow front unit and a nearly invisible rear unit and Greta knew that they let out rooms and small apartments. The Groots took them in warmly and protected and cared for the young couple, as Greta Coronel-Polak wrote in her testimony to Yad Vashem, for "a minimum of money and a maximum of love." During the course of the war, Maarten and Margaretha hid many other Jews in their home, among them Greta's sister and her husband, Ezechiel van Weezel, for two years. The Groots also hid many Resistance activists and others who were compelled to hide from the Germans. Greta's parents also hid there occasionally. Being aware that they were taking a great risk, Maarten and Margaretha did not tell anyone that they were harboring fugitives. Nevertheless, their property was still searched from time to time. During the notorious razzias, a gap under the floor served as a hiding place for the men while the women took false identity cards and went outside pretending to be "Aryan" women queuing for ration cards. In autumn 1944, Greta became pregnant. Her daughter Mary was born in good health three weeks after the liberation of Amsterdam. In 1956, after Mr. Coronel died, Maarten became the co-guardian of Greta's daughter. On August 10, 1980, Yad Vashem recognized Maarten Groot and his wife, Margaretha Groot-Sijpveld, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner:	Margaretha van Sijpveld	geb. 12 OKT 1910 overl. 6 Aug 1962
Huwelijk:	19 MEI 1932	Landsmeer