us-005578-irn47126-irn47134
type: RecordSet
physical characterisitics and technical requirements: a. Equilateral cross shaped, bronze medal attached to a ribbon. Embossed at the center is a uppercase W with a crown above. The arms have an flat raised inset line border anda re overlaid with a laurel leaf wreath. On the back center is the crowned Netherland lion, left facing, with an extended tongue, standing on its rear legs with a sword and arrows in its paws, with Dutch text above and below. At the top of the center arm is a slot looped by the ribbon. The ribbon has 3 vertical stripes: wide blue, orange, wide blue. On the back, a J-hook clasp is sewn between the 2 layers of the ribbon. b. Thin, flexible, silver colored metal bar covered by a grosgrain ribbon with 3 vertical stripes: green, wide orange, green. Two small, 8 point, bronze stars have prongs set into the center stripe. The ribbon ends are sewn together on the back. c. Thin, bronze colored metal bar pin with crimped sides covered by a paper replica of a ribbon with 5 vertical stripes: dark blue, white, red, white, dark blue and covered with plastic. On the back is a looped J hook clasp. d. Shiny, gold colored metal bar pin with beveled edges and a gold colored C clasp pin soldered to the back. e. Rectangular, cardboard box covered in dark blue leather with a hinged lid, front push button clasp, and a gold painted decorative line border on top. A discolored velvet covered cardboard platform with a slit at the top and offwhite ribbon covered edging is adhered to the interior base. The continuous hinge and lid interior are lined with discolored white satin. A maker's mark is stamped inside the lid.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: after 1940 May-1945
has beginning date: 1941-01-01
has end date: 1945-12-31
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has or had identifier: 2
has or had some members with language: nld
has or had some members with language: eng
has or had some members with language: fra
has record set type: Item
history: The Dutch medal was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2002 by Paul Grootkerk, the son of Jack Grootkerk.
history: Jacques Grootkerk was born on July 25, 1913, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Izak (Isaac) and Pauline Servos Grootkerk. Izak was born on October 31, 1882, to Jacob and Sofiah Grootkerk, a middle class Jewish family that had been in the Netherlands for many generations. He was a fabric merchant in Amsterdam. Pauline was born on January 27, 1885, in Germany, to Salomon and Regina Liman Servos. Jacques had one younger brother Erich, born on November 30, 1919, in Amsterdam. The family was not religious. On March 6, 1940, Jacques married Hedwig (Hedi) Justus, a Jewish refugee who had fled to the Netherlands in 1934. Hedi was born on February 27, 1918, in Nieder-Ohmen, Germany, to Juda (1878-1923) and Klara Wertheim (1881-1943) Justus. Hedi had 5 siblings: Julius, Herman (Herbert), Bertha, Rosa (Ruth), and Ludwig. By early 1940, three of Hedi’s siblings, Ludwig, Ruth, and Julius, had emigrated. In May 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. The Nazi occupied government implemented anti-Semitic legislation restricting the rights of Jews and created laws to punish anyone helping Jews hide or escape. By January 1941, all Jews had to register with the authorities. Jacques was summoned by the Jewish committee for a forced work placement in Germany, and he fled. Jacques and Erich left Amsterdam on December 3, 1941. They biked to Antwerp and were caught crossing the French border. They were released and walked to Maubeuge, France. The brothers travelled south, through German patrolled zones, to Paris. Sympathetic family friends there helped Jacques and Erich find people who could get them to Vichy France. They went to Tours and met with men who told them to cross the bridge during the changing of the German guards. They continued to Loches on foot. Once they arrived, a French detective found them and threatened to arrest them. The next day, the detective explained that he was a counter-intelligence officer and wanted to help. He bought them train ti…
identifier: irn47134
is or was included in: us-005578-irn47126
record resource extent: a: Height: 2.875 inches (7.303 cm) | Width: 1.500 inches (3.81 cm) | Depth: 0.375 inches (0.953 cm) b: Height: 0.500 inches (1.27 cm) | Width: 1.625 inches (4.128 cm) | Depth: 0.250 inches (0.635 cm) c: Height: 0.375 inches (0.953 cm) | Width: 1.250 inches (3.175 cm) | Depth: 0.250 inches (0.635 cm) d: Height: 0.375 inches (0.953 cm) | Width: 1.000 inches (2.54 cm) | Depth: 0.250 inches (0.635 cm) e: Height: 0.625 inches (1.588 cm) | Width: 2.625 inches (6.668 cm) | Depth: 4.250 inches (10.795 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Kruis van Verdienste [Cross of Merit] medal, ribbon, and presentation box, two ribbon bars, and a gold bar pin awarded to Jack Grootkerk, a Dutch Jewish soldier in the Prinses Irene Brigade, Dutch Free Forces from September 1942 to September 1945. The Brigade was formed in England in 1941 by the Dutch government in exile and Dutch Army personnel. The unit wore British battledress uniforms with Dutch insignia. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. In December 1941, Jack was told to report for forced labor in Germany. He and his brother Erich fled to France and Spain, and were interned several times. In fall 1942, they reached Great Britain and Jack joined the Brigade. In July 1944, the Brigade entered combat in Normandy. The Netherlands was liberated on May 5, 1945. Most of Jack and his wife Hedi’s family were killed in German concentration camps.
title: Cross of Merit medal, ribbons, and pins awarded to a Dutch Jewish soldier, Prinses Irene Brigade