DEPORTATION OF JEWS FROM ALKMAAR

During WW II more than 100 transports of Jews took place from the Netherlands to concentration- and extermination camps in Auschwitz, Sobibor, Bergen-Belsen and Mauthausen.

The greater part of these transports took place after 15 july 1942, by train via the Dutch transitcamp Westerbork, with thousands of jewish victims at the same time like sardines in a can on way to their death!
(At the end of this article more detailed data are given on this subject).

The transports from Alkmaar -three in total- were the very first transports of Jews out of the Netherlands and carried away prisoners of war. These prisoners came from camp Schoorl (close to the city of Alkmaar)  where they were brought to as result of razzia’s in Amsterdam on the 22nd and 23th of february 1941. These razzia’s led some days later to the well known ‘Strikes of Februari’ (the so-called Februaristaking), where in the first real protest against the (jewish) razzia's were made. Those prisoners were brought firstly to camp Schoorl, and later further to camps in Eastern Europe, in particular directly to Mauthausen or via Buchenwald to Mauthausen. (1)
The majority never came back!
Only in 1942, when Westerbork was equipped for becoming a transit camp (PolizeilichesJudendurchgangslager), the massive transportation of Jews began. Ironically Westerbork was established in 1939 as camp for jewish refugees who fled persecution from nazi-Germany to the Netherlands.
In the beginning the transports were for young men, whom were told they would be working in workcamps (so called Arbeitseinsatz). Later on the deportations were meant for women and children as well. In the end all Jews were set up to transport, including Jews from homes for the elderly, orphanages and other care institutions.
A total of about 107.000 persons of Jewish origin living in the Netherlands were deported. Most of them to Auschwitz and Sobibor and within a very short time mainly most being murdered in gas-chambers. Others died because of heavy penal servitude, severe ill-treatment, medical abuse, malnutrition, illnesses and non treated diseases. Only approximating  5.000 of these Dutch Jews survived the war (Shoah).
September the 3rd 1944 Anne Frank was also set on transport to Bergen-Belsen where she met her death. At the end of this article more can be read about Anne Frank.
The last transport out of the Netherlands via Westerbork took place on 13 september 1944.