In 1892 Marcus Polak married Henderjette Engers, the daughter of Freek Simson Engers and Henderiena Polak. The couple had four children: Jansje, Henderina Jansje, Leopold Frederik and Frederik Simson. Their daughter Jansje died at six months of age, and their son Frederik died in 1935.
Marcus Polak ran a textiles shop on Grote Kerkstraat in Meppel for a while, together with his brother Jozef. When Jozef left for Amsterdam, Marcus moved to Eerste Hoofdstraat 22, Meppel, where he ran a shop and wholesaling business in high-quality men’s clothing, together with his son Leopold, until forced to close the business down in 1941. In 1942 his business was permanently liquidated.
By this time, Henderjette Polak-Engers had fallen seriously ill. As a result, the couple were not taken away in the raid that took place in the night of 2-3 October 1942. Their names were added to a special list of Jews who were legally allowed to remain behind in Meppel.
Following Henderjette’s death, Marcus was taken to Westerbork in March 1943. Leopold Frederik (‘Leo’) Polak had attended the state HBS (secondary school) in Meppel from 1908 to 1911, but did not attain a school-leaving certificate. He helped out in his men’s clothing business. On 20 July 1942 Leo had to report for work at Orvelte labour camp. A month later he was taken to Westerbork.
Addition of a visitor of the website
In addition, a Jokos file (number 7259) on this family is at the Amsterdam Municipal Archive. Access is subject to authorization from the Stichting Joods Maatschappelijk Werk.The Jokos file reveals that a claim was lodged for compensation for valuables surrendered to the Lippmann-Rosenthal looting bank (L-claim, number 9491/14803).