Five Brothers and a War

Help for Marie

The inclusion of Lenie Wielinga in the photo shows the degree to which she was a part of the family. Judging by the number of people in the picture, it must have been taken on a weekend, and judging by the white shirts and ties, it was likely on a Sunday, after church. From left, Wim van Rossum (close family friend, and Jan’s best friend), Jan, Leendert, Marie, Bertus (on the ground with his arms on his knees), Lenie Wielinga, Henny Bender (Piet’s girlfriend and future wife), Piet Homburg (nephew of Marie and cousin of the five brothers), Leen and Kees. It would be a reasonable assumption that Piet took the photo as he is not in the group, but his then girlfriend, Henny, is. The photo was probably taken in either May or early June, 1943—because Jan had to go to Germany in June 1943, and it looks like the weather was very nice, which would rule out anything close to the winter. Wim van Rossum was the other person involved in the bar fight on New Year’s Eve/Day 1940/41, and like Jan, was sent to Germany as a slave very shortly after this event. Possession of a camera and film, and actually taking a photograph was in itself a dangerous act during wartime. The fact that this many young males could actually gather together in a single house is noteworthy. The tide of the war had turned against Germany, and more soldiers were needed for actual fighting than for keeping the Dutch population in check. As the war dragged on, the Germans decided to enslave the Dutch in far greater numbers, but when this photo was taken, that decision had not yet been made. Also notice the cat and the chickens.

van Pelt

Five Brothers and a War

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