Hidden in Haarlem - Love and Survival in Nazi-Occupied Holland

by S K DeMarinis

In early 1940, Johan was a happy teen in Haarlem, Holland. By May, the Second World War brought oppression, persecution and despair with the Nazi invasion of his homeland. Hitler's regime took control of everything. Choirs, Boy Scouts, radios and Jewish friends all began to disappear.
Hidden in Haarlem is based on the true stories of an ordinary Dutch family who survived five war-torn years of insurmountable odds - showing courage, conviction, ingenuity and resilience while risking their lives to help fellow human beings survive.
For many Dutch families, the war was not just on the front lines . Doing nothing was not an option many chose. Everyday people became unlikely rebels behind the scenes, defying a ruthless enemy by hiding Jewish refugees, Allied pilots, and Dutch work-draft dodgers. The Resistance brought together many unlikely characters and sometimes led to unexpected enduring love.

326 pages, Paperback

Published March 8, 2023

Reviews

[Kimaroo32 Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning of the family’s involvement in the resistance.

[Peter Hendrycks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came about this book when cleaning out my moms apartment, after she died from a stroke at age 91. As it turns out, she lived in the same senior care facility that "Johan" did. Small world. This book intrigued me, because I have read numerous books about the WW2 era, and I was interested to find a new perspective. What was it really like for the inhabitants of the occupied countries? It must have been horrible! The author does a great job of not only weaving a heartwarming story into this world encompassing war, but also spending as much time on how ordinary people found a way to exist during this brutal time! I had no idea the desperation and methods used to try and feed family and friends during periods of duress. I will never look at a tulip bulb again without thinking of this book! If this scenario were to happen in modern times, I can only imagine the chaos! A nicely written book, with a heartwarming ending! I highly recommend it!

[Ashleigh Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected this to be a story about the man who was being interviewed, but it was far more about his sister and his step-mother. Good story, informative, but not what I was thinking it would be in that regard. The events that happened, the way people risked their lives, it’s incredible. It’s horrendous that they had to. But it’s a clear showing that people will rise up for each other when necessary. But why should we have to protect each other from other humans?

[Trev Spaulding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would get five stars but there were typos and grammeric inconsistencies.

This was a great retelling of a Dutch family and the Dutch resistance during World War II.