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Boonstra, Dirk

    Date of birth:
    February 24th, 1893 (Sint Annaparochie, the Netherlands)
    Date of death:
    September 9th, 1944 (Hersbrück-Flossenbürg, Bavaria, Germany)
    Buried on:
    Dutch War Cemetery Frankfurt am Main
    Plot: A. Row: 3. Grave: 4.
    Nationality:
    Dutch

    Biography

    Dirk Boonstra was Sergeant of Marechaussee at Grootegast in the Netherlands during World War II. After he was arrested on March 10th, 1943 for having refused to obey a direct oder on March 9th, Boonstra ended up in Camp Dachau on May 24th. Boonstra died in the workcamp Hersbruck-Flossenbürg on September 9th, 1944.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Sergeant der Koninklijke Marechaussee
    Unit:
    Grootegast
    Awarded on:
    November 14th, 1988
    Dirk Boonstra was ordered to arrest seven elderly Jewish people in Grijpskerk on March 9th, 1943. Three times Boonstra and his colleagues refused to execute the order. The following day they were arrested and transported to Vught. For his action he was awarded the Yad Vashem.
    Yad Vashem-decoration

    Sources

    Photo