us-005578-irn722916-irn44141
type: RecordSet
archival history: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
biographical history: Judith Bar Kochba (b. 1934) was born Judith (Yehudit) Sophie Kann on July 28, 1934, in Dortrcht, Netherlands, to Jacob Kann (August 22, 1900-1944) and Dora Juliette Kann (June 8, 1906-1944). Jacob Kann, an electrical engineer, married Dora Juliette Spanjaard in 1928. They had four children: Otto Kann (b. November 6, 1929); Elise Kann (b. December 23, 1930); Judith Kann (b. July 28, 1934); and Jacob Izak Hendrik Kann (b. March 7, 1936). Dora Kann contracted tuberculosis soon after giving birth to her son, Jacob, and her condition worsened through the years. The Kann family led a secular Jewish life in the Netherlands and celebrated Dutch Christian holidays with their neighbors. The family had a non-Jewish nanny, Patronella (Nelly) Kwikkers Fortuin. Despite the German orders, Nelly Fortuin continued to work for the Kann family and left after dark to avoid the notice of neighbors. In June 1942, Otto Kann had his Bar Mitzvah. In November 1942, Elise Kann and Judith Kann were taken by a non-Jewish aunt by train to Eindhoven, Netherlands. Elise and Judith Kann remained in hiding with a school friend of their mother’s, Molly (Marie Gertrude) Van Hell and her husband Gerard Louis Van Heel, throughout the war. The girls attended a Dutch public school and for some time were able to keep in touch with their family through their nanny, Nelly Fortuin. The Kann family’s physician, Dr. Eppo Meursing, arranged for a hiding place for Jacob and Dora Kann, along with their oldest son, Otto Kann. When Dora Kann’s health deteriorated, Dr. Meursing arranged for her hospitalization. When it became dangerous for Dora Kann to stay in the hospital, the doctor arranged for her to be treated by a private nurse, Mrs. Struys, while in hiding. In November 1943, Jacob and Otto Kann went to visit Dora. While they were gone, Germans searched the home where Otto Kann was hiding and the landlady revealed his Jewish identity. Otto and Jacob Kann were arrested, sent to Amsterdam, and were later sent by …
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has or had some members with language: nld
has or had some members with language: eng
has or had subject: 701
has or had subject: 843
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn44141
is or was included in: us-005578-irn722916
record resource extent: folder 1
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Photographs (15) and photocopied correspondence related to the experiences of the Kann family, while in hiding in the Netherlands during the German occupation.
title: Kann family papers