Machiel Aäron de Lange, born in Elburg in 1897, was one of the nine children of Joseph de Lange and Matje Hamberg. He was unmarried and lived in Amsterdam at P.C.Hooftstraat 69 2nd floor. His father, born 1847 in Elburg, died in his residence 15 June 1919. His wife Matje Hamberg passed away in Elburg too, on 26 March 1941.
Machiel Aäron de Lange had eight siblings, of whom Hartog, Jannetje and Mietje have survived the Holocaust; his baby-sister Eve died in 1893, only a few months old. But Aaron, Dina, Jacob, Betje and Machiel Aäron himself were killed in the Shoah.
According notes on his registration card of the Jewish Council, Machiel Aäron received a “call” to report for “provision of additional work in Germany” early August 1942 but because of his “function” he was exempted from deportation “until further notice”. He was a cook and nursing-aid in the Rest home De Lange at Muiderschans* 100 in Amsterdam, where his sister Betje was in charge. He had a 4-year university education and he was described as a “civilized and calm” person.
7 September 1943 Machiel Aäron and his sister Betje were deported to Westerbork. Also his brother Aaron arrived that day in Westerbork. That same 7th of September1942, all three of them were put on transport to Auschwitz, together with another 984 deportees. On arrival in Auschwitz 10 September 1943, his sister Betje has been killed immediately. Of his brother Aaron is not known, whether he was selected on arrival for forced labor or that he has been killed immediately too. His date of death and location of death are unknown. Machiel Aaron self has been employed as forced laborer certainly for more than six months and lost his life eventually in Auschwitz 31 March 1944.
City Archive of Amsterdam, archive card of Machiel Aäron de Lange; website www.wiewaswie.nl and the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration card of Machiel Aäron de Lange and the list of “Jew Transports from the Netherlands”.
* Muiderschans: Name for the Sarphatistraat in Amsterdam, during the period August 1942 till May 1945.