Elburg is a historic medieval town in the Netherlands. It is filled with cobblestoned walkways and three-story brick buildings. Behind all of the town's historic beauty is the story of a young girl who survived the Holocaust. Maud Dahme was a hidden child during this time. Elburg was the last town that she was in before she was liberated by the Dutch Resistance, which led the Canadian forces into the town. Maud was hidden away from her family for three years as a little girl, and she was stripped of her identity during this time. Maud took us around this historic town and showed us the house she was in before she was liberated.
*Maud Dahme outside of the home that she was hidden in during the war
The town now, though it is historic, is still functioning. There are Jewish symbols on certain houses that had once been owned by Jews before the war had broken out. Stumbling blocks are also placed around the town. They are small square stones that have the families' names written on them for remembrance.
I find it very interesting that the town is still functioning. I would have definitely enjoyed this visit. For the homes that people live in with the jewish symbols, does it cost extra to live there? It would feel great to live in a town that has such historical meaning behind it. It must have been very hard for Dahme to resit the town that held so much pain. But it is a blessing in disguise seeing that she is able to go back and help others learn about what happened in the town first hand.
ReplyDeleteThe history of the Holocaust was something I never wanted to study, because I was traumatized as a kid when I watched a documentary covering the atrocities that took place. However,I now realize that if we don't learn from history, there is a risk that it may repeat itself. Listening to Maude Dahme's story of survival through a child's eyes must have been powerful.
ReplyDeleteMaud Dahme has such an interesting story and experience since she was a child during the holocaust. I'm so glad the families are remembered in the city through the stones on the streets they all walked on. It's so important to remember them and how they lived before they atrocities of the holocaust.
ReplyDeleteWow! It's great to see the town is back up. It is really unfortunate what they went through and we must remember it to make sure it doesnt happen. However, I feel history is repeating it self on whats going on in middle east. Hope it all stops and we can learn from past.
ReplyDeleteThis was very moving and touching to read. The Holocaust was such a horrific event in our society's history, but it was very interesting and somewhat uplifting hearing that Maud survived and is still living in Elburg. I think it is great that they have stones of remembrance throughout the town in order to pay the respects of the victims.
ReplyDeleteI love that there are so many historic components to this post. Reading about the town and its story during the Holocaust was so interesting to read. This post was also very moving to hear this survivor's story even through such a horrific time in history like the Holocaust.
ReplyDeletei'm glad you guys was able to learn about the holocaust through a survivor its must have been a humbling experience
ReplyDeleteIt must have been such an honor to tour the town with a Holocaust survivor. It was probably hard for her but she was willing to go through it. My minor is Holocaust studies and I learned about hidden children last semester. Heartbreaking stuff but so interesting
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