Enschede in wartime
Both the First and Second World War had a huge impact on the city of Enschede and its Jewish community.
After the great city fire of 1862, Enschede developed as a major textile city. In the full bloom of the textile industry, Enschede had to contend with the consequences of not one, but two world wars. Both world wars had a huge impact on the city. Read all about Enschede in wartime, the impact on the Jewish community and the liberation.
Photos in cooperation with Stadsarchief Enschede.
World War I
Shelter of prisoners
World War I (1914-1918) largely passes the Netherlands by. Enschede is a border municipality, however, and so the city is declared under martial law. This means that the borders are closely guarded by the army and border crossings are blocked with carts and pointed wire. During the war, allied prisoners of war escaping from Germany are taken into barracks and halls of the large textile factories. In total, more than 75,000 prisoners of war are taken in and sent back home.
In the photo: prisoners of war are housed in the factory of H.J. Menko (1918)
Jews in Enschede
A large community
After World War I, many Jews fled from Germany to the Dutch border region. A large Jewish community arose in Enschede as a result. The number of Jews even doubled. Jewish life flourished enormously. There are dozens of Jewish stores and associations. The Synagogue on the Achterstraat, now Stadsgravenstraat, soon became too small. As a result, a brand new, beautiful synagogue opens on Prinsestraat in 1928.
Pictured: the old synagogue and Jewish school (1924)
World War II
Occupation by the Germans
During World War II (1940-1945), Enschede was taken on May 10, 1940, by German troops who crossed the border near De Lutte and Buurse early in the morning. The German occupation of the city centers mainly on a large number of buildings on Tromplaan and its immediate surroundings. The synagogue is a prison for the German Sicherheitsdienst. This is probably why the building remained virtually intact.
Due to reports from other cities in Germany, Enschede Jews soon hear what awaits them. A group led by the Jewish Council and a resistance group led by Reformed pastor Rev. Leendert Overduin manages to get a large number of Jews into hiding. Because of this cooperation and the warnings of the Enschede police about razzia, a large percentage of Jews manage to survive the war.
Photo: German soldiers marching (1940)
Jewish star
500.000 stars
In May 1942, wearing a Star of David becomes mandatory. The star is mandatory for Jews and must be sewn onto your clothing. Jews must buy them for five cents each, but must also submit a textile coupon for them. The Dutch Jewish stars are made at the Enschede textile factory 'De Nijverheid'. A steam weaving mill owned by the van Gelderen family. However, the factory ends up in German hands due to the occupation. More than half a million Jewish stars are eventually printed in Enschede. For a long time it was thought that the stars were made in Poland. Shortly after World War II, however, Henk van Gelderen found a roll of yellow fabric printed with Jewish stars in the factory. Only years later was van Gelderen able to tell about his find. That roll of fabric can now be found in the Jewish Museum in Amsterdam.
On the photo: roll of fabric Star of David from Synagogue Enschede
Liberation
April 1, 1945
On April 1, 1945, after fierce fighting with the Germans, Enschede is finally liberated by units of a British Allied army. On April 2, the airfield was also recaptured and the city purified. All in all, World War II cost the lives of about 1,250 locals. Half of these were victims of the persecution of Jews. The war leaves the city with many ruined buildings, and a plan for rebuilding is rapidly developing.
