Camp Westerbork was the main transport camp through which Dutch jews were transported during the Holocaust
Two researchers have analysed historical films of the Westerbork transport camp in Drenthe. During the Second World War the transit camp transported Dutch jews, homosexuals, political prisoners; disabled people, and others to Nazi work and death camps. The researchers have analyzed the old film images that were shot in the camp at the time very intensively, and identified several previously-unknown victims.
Researchers Koert Broersma and Gerard Rossing have uncovered new data from Rudolf Breslauer’s Westerbork film, shot by a German-jewish camp prisoner in 1944, including scenes of incoming and outgoing transport, RTV Drenthe reports.
The researchers findings have been presented in a book, which reconsiders previous conclusions and used new data. This also resulted in the identification of persons unknown until recently in the film images.
The two already conducted extensive research into the film in the period 1994-1997. They discovered that the recordings of the departing transport train were made on May 19, 1944. Partly on the basis of this information, the identity of Settela Steinbach, the ‘girl between the wagon doors’ was uncovered.
Exhibition
Camp Westerbork Memorial Center is opening an exhibition called ‘Caught in Images’ on 19 May, when the museums are allowed to reopen. Breslauer’s film, commissioned by camp commander Albert Gemmeker, and new research on it will take centre stage. The film and production documents were included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2017.
Film images will also be shown on the former camp site. These are shown on screens measuring 1.25 meters wide and 70 centimeters high that are placed where the seven selected pieces in question were recorded. These screens are publicly accessible even if museums cannot re-open, because they are on public land.
The opening date has been specially chosen. On May 19, 1944, the transport left with 245 Sinti and Roma, including Settela Steinbach, bound for Auschwitz.
