A vibrant Jewish community existed in Amsterdam from the early 1600's. By 1930, the Jewish population was about 65,000. Hitler's rise to power in 1933 caused an influx of German Jews. By 1941, the Jewish population had risen to to over 80,000. In early 1941, a Jewish Council (Joodsche Raad) was formed. Beginning in late 1941, Jews were mobilized for forced labor, with most going to the Westerbork camp. Deportation to the death camps began in 1943. In addition to the documents in this section, please go to Saga of a Dutch Family for a other documents pertaining to Amsterdam.
Below is the thumbnail of the front of an envelope from the Joodsche Raad (the Jewish Council) of Amsterdam dated November 27, 1942, to the Hague. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Cover" in the left frame to return.
Below is a thumbnail of an urgent notice from the emigration section of the Amsterdam Judenrat dated June 4, 1942. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Ghetto Documents" in the left frame to return.
Below are thumbnails of the complete twelve page issue of the Het Joodssche Weekblad, the official newspaper of the Judenrat, for the week of March 20, 1942. It contains two special announcements: the use of cars for all the Jews is forbidden; and removal of furniture from flats is only by special permit of the Judenrat. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Issue 3/10/1942" in the left frame to return.
Below are thumbnails of the June 11, 1943, issue of the Het Joodssche Weekblad. By this date, the newspaper had been reduced to two pages. The major announcement concerns mailing of luggage to the camps at Westerbork and Vught. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Issue 6/11/1943" in the left frame to return.
Below is a thumbnail of a Red Cross letter from the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem to the Judenrat in Amsterdam with a message regarding Mr. Salomon Muehlbaum and family dated October 19, 1943. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Red Cross Letters" in the left frame to return.
Below is a thumbnail of a wall poster signed by the director of police at Hertogenbosch stating that Jews are forbidden. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Wall Poster" in the left frame to return.
Encyclopedia Judaica, CD-Rom Edition, Keter Publishing
Spector, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust (2001), P. 38-42
Copyright © 2003 Edward Victor