The Verdoner Family - Gerrit and Hilde Verdoner, their children Yoka (b.1934), Francisca (b.1937) and Otto (b.1939) - were Jewish. In May 1940, when the Germans overran the Netherlands, Nazi decrees aimed specifically at Jews forced Gerrit out of his business and Yoka out of her second grade class. When the Nazis commandeered their home, the Verdoners went to live with Gerrit's parents in Amsterdam. Shortly thereafter, Gerrit and Hilde decided to place the children in hiding. Their foresight enabled the children to survive and save these family films. Hilde entered Westerbork on December 18, 1942, while Gerrit had a job with the Jewish Council. On September 29, 1943, after the collapse of the Jewish Council and Gerrit's narrow escape from the Germans, Gerrit found refuge in a hideout on a farm. On January 8, 1944 Hilde was sent to Auschwitz. After the war, Gerrit managed to reunite with his children and other surviving family members. The Verdoners emigrated to the US in 1946.
Winter time in Hilversum, Holland, 1940. Yoka and Francisca Verdoner playing out in their yard in the snow. LS, children sledding down a snow covered, tree-lined street. A large, wood frame house is visible in the distance. MCU, two young boys, seated on a sled, laughing and travelling down the snow covered street. VS, Yoka being dragged along on a sled by the young bespectacled man (possibly an uncle or a cousin) who appears often in this collection of family films. VS, Yoka pulling Francisca on the sled.
Verdoner family sledding