R Liesje prepared this short video interview of her father Rudy Wagner about living as a child in Holland during WWII. This was first prepared and presented at the Brighton Legion Nov 11 this year to wonderful reception.
With short clips of WWII footage of Germany's invasion of Holland in May 1940 to the end of the war and Canadian troops liberating Holland R Rudy talks about life and living in Holland as a young child.
The Jews had to wear star of David initially and were later transported to Poland.
Dutch men were recruited to work for the Germans, any with German ancestry were conscripted into the German army. Rudy's dad had a truck and had to drive supplies for the German's. Corries dad tried to hide under the floor of their home for a while. Young boys had to become head of household many times and often girls had to help take up duties of cooking and cleaning, looking after younger siblings. Cooking when there was food. Winter of 1944 / 45 there was no food, dogs and cats disappeared. Some people tried eating grass. Many people died of starvation.
More bikes in Holland than people, but during war no spare parts. Rudy's dad fashioned a fix for tires when no tubes available. He also built generators as there was little coal available.
There was an 8pm curfew.
One day when a German soldier was found dead, the German's rounded up people from the area, lined them up and shot them. Many people suffer from PTSD with horrible memories of the war years.
Then liberation with Canadian troops who were welcomed. They brought food and candy.
Rudy and Corrie met shortly after the war, they married in 1953 and immigrated to Canada in 1957. Corrie often visited graves of Canadian soldiers as many dutch do. She visited graves of Canadians the day before they immigrated to Canada to say goodbye to the Canadians.