Memorial Stones Zutphensestraat 161

Here two Memorial Stones are placed for:

* ELIAS JOHAN DE LANGE (killed 31-3-1944 Auschwitz, 37 years old).
* SOPHIE DE LANGE-SALOMONS (killed 3-9-1943 Auschwitz, 32 years old).

These Memorial Stones are here for Jewish war victims, deported and murdered in World War II.

When the Apeldoornsche Bosch was ordered by the Nazis to dismiss its non-Jewish staff, there was not only a major staff shortage on the work floor, but also in the support departments. During this period, John was appointed, his position was described on the registration card of the Jewish Council as: ‘Head of the technical service. Supervision and control of work and maintenance on buildings, installations, furniture, etc.’.

During the night of 21 to 22 January 1943, the Apeldoornsche Bosch was brutally evacuated. In the early morning of 22 January 1943, all patients and fifty staff members were deported directly to the Auschwitz extermination camp. During the day, another train left Apeldoorn station. This was a regular passenger train, but the De Lange family was not among the forced passengers.

After the evacuation of the Apeldoornsche Bosch, a group of staff members, together with their families, remained interned there. Among others, the medical director, the head of the accounts department, a cook and a few nurses. The De Lange couple also belong to this group. The staff members must ensure a good and smooth ‘administrative settlement’ of, as the Nazis call it, ‘the takeover of the Apeldoornsche Bosch’.

On 1 February 1943, John and Fietje are deported to Camp Westerbork. The couple is registered the next day. After six months, the couple is put on the transport list and must prepare for the next transport. Transport 74 leaves the camp on 31 August 1943 with the Auschwitz extermination camp as its final destination. In the night of 2 to 3 September 1943, almost all deportees are killed in the gas chambers of Auschwitz. Fietje is one of them, John is selected for forced labour.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Dick de Bruijne
• Photos: Dick de Bruijne
• In Memoriam, Joodsmonument
• Elias Johan de Lange, Joodsmonument
• Sophie de Lange-Salomons, Joodsmonument