The youngest daughter of Machiel Gobes and Regina Fraenkel, Emilie Jeannette Gobes, who was born 13 November 1916, married 8 July 1942 in Amsterdam with Jakob Leezer, who was born in Onstwedde (Groningen) on 25 November 1909 as son of Heiman Leezer and Carlina Kropveld. Since 14 March 1939 was Emilie employed as shop girl with Messrs Van Thijn Bread Supply and was “gesperrt” – exempted from deportation because of function spouse”. He worked from 22 March 1942 on in the N.I.Z. (Dutch Israëlitic Hospital) as an unqualified nurse. His former profession was masseur, remedial gymnastics and foot specialist. Emilie Jeannette fused to work as shorthand typist, invoice clerk and trade correspondent.
Since their marriage, Emilie and Jakob lived at Weesperstraat 19 3rd floor, from where they eventually have been taken away to Westerbork. Before she was wed, she lived at home with her parents at Marnixstraat 370 1st floor. There Emilie’s husband had also his practice as chiropodist for problematic feet. Before his wedding, Jakob lived at Boterdiepstraat 41 in Amsterdam-South.
Emilie Jeannette was taken to Westerbork on 6 July 1943 where she ended up in barrack 57. She was however discharged from the camp on 17 July 1943. On 7 July a note was made on her registration card which reads: The person concerned works in the N.I.Z. Erroneously in Westerbork. Hereby statement from “De Joodsche Invalide” + statement Dr. Kroonenerg about “Ausnahmebescheinigung” to be handed out and notarial copy of I.D. man. And on 8 July follows the following request: Request a return scheme for the person concerned for service in Amsterdam. Possibly arrest in Westerbork because husband’s brother in N.I.Z. with “Ausnahmebescheinigung and also the person concerned on Ausnahmebescheinigungs list. And on 13 July the annotation is: Presented. 11 July addressed to Antragstelle.
However her dismissal from Westerbork has not led that she could stay out of the hands of the nazis; already on 24 July 1943 were both taken again to Westerbork, where they ended up this time in barrack 62. There they had to wait for their deportation to Auschwitz on 7 September. On arrival there on 10 September 1943, they were not sent to the gas chambers immediately, but selected to perform “labor” in- or outside the camp. Jakob Lezer eventually lost his life on 31 March 1944 in Auschwitz and his wife Emilie Jeannette Gobes there too on 30 November 1943.
Sources among others: City Archive of Amsterdam, archive cards of Machiel Gobes, Emilie Jeannette Gobes and Jakob Leezer and the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration cards of Emilie Jeannette Gobes and Jakob Leezer.