My war years 1940-45 and after. Oorlogsjaren

Mijn nicht, Mien Thomassen, en ik lezen in september 1944 het nieuws van de verwachte bevrijding in de Deventer Dagblad, die er toen niet kwam.
I have had the good fortune to be too young to be drafted. Took part in the hunger treks, though. After the war my father (born in 1875!) had aged. I enjoyed the liberties of postwar peace. My uncle , the psychiatrist, returned from Cairo. My brother is seen cycling along an Amsterdam canal without cars or bicycles to be seen. My last anniversary in Holland was spent in the family circle playing roulette with fake money. A year after I left for Hong Kong my father died.
Mijn autobiografie over die jaren staat hier:
www.xs4all.nl/~wichm/1935_39lycos.html

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Netherlands
• Holland
• war
• years
• sailing
• amsterdam
• WW2oorlogsjaren
• deventer
• hunger winter
• hongerwinter
• new year
• oud en nieuw
• ijsbrand rogge
• van lennepkade
• bevrijding
• liberation
• canada
• wwii

[hkjazz1]

1:26 news of D-Day landing. Was it in the newspaper? How were the Allied Forces advances put in the occupied area?

[MichaelRogge]

Yes, it was in the Dutch newspapers, but slanted with propaganda that it was a lost battle for the allied forces. But we knew better listening to radio broadcasts from London.

[MichaelRogge]

In the operation 'Marketgarden' the southern provinces of Holland were liberated first. Only half a year later, after the battle of Arnhem, the rest of Holland was liberated, most by Canadian forces in April '45.

[MichaelRogge]

My family lived in a basement and were supported by family as my father had lost all of his money during the crash of 1929. So much for riches! The Frank's were far wealthier than we were. I must have passed Anne's house a couple of times during the war. We were of the same age. Little did I know of the tragedy behind the facades of the canal houses. Anne lived at the border of a slum district, de Jordaan.

[hkjazz1]

Thanks. That explains it all.

[maespip]

Mooi gemaakt! Groeten uit België, Schilde.

[swordfairyland]

Enjoy watching your videos, whether they are about Hong Kong or Holland.......!!! I remember reading the book about Annie Frank hiding and living behind the wall during the WWII, she said the Dutch kids playing on the street were poor and dirty. (If I remembered it correct!!!) You seems like coming from a great family, well dressed and living in a very comfortable enviornment.

[ooElitaOneoo]

gosh! it looks like a movie! a great big thank from your fan in hong kong =]

[parapluie]

Michael, Thanks for the great videos :)