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Fled Europe

Door: Ella Levie

The greater Groenteman family fled from Europe in 1940 and arrived in the USA (via Lisbon) on 12 September 1940 on the Nea Hellas. They all survived the war.

Elias Groenteman had a passage on the ship as well, but according to his son (who survived Auschwitz, among other camps), the family did not depart because Elias' son-in-law, Abe Logger, was unable to obtain a passage and Elias daughter, Betje, refused to leave without him. As a consequence, Elias' wife also refused to leave without Betje, so Elias and his family remained in Europe.

Elias eventually perished alongside his brother, Jacques, in Auschwitz, while his daughter Betje and her husband Abe perished in Sobibor in 1943.

The remaining members of the Groenteman survived, many eventually returning back to Europe after the war.