Leendert was sent to the 'Landweer' labor camp in Appelscha in April 1942. Fortunately, he was not one of the first, because those who were forced to go to the camps in January and February already suffered greatly from the harsh winter that prevailed at that time.
We lived in a very nerve-wracking time then, with inhumane German measures against us every day. That was almost impossible to process. The diabolical and contagious anti-Semitism that always and everywhere breaks out like a disease, made a hellish hunt for us.
On 5 July 1942, separate letters were sent to a number of Jewish people, containing a call-up to report for 'labor deployment' (Abeitseinsatz) in Germany. Lientje (nickname of Sara Santilhano) was one of the first to receive a call to be examined for a labor camp.
Together with Leendert they decided to get the banns published urgently and get married before the “voyage” to the East. Leendert didn't want to let her go alone. In Appelscha, near the camp 'de Landweer', he had met the Bult family, where he occasionally came to their house and could pour out his heart. They also gave him something to eat. Unfortunately, the relationship with these people came too late. Maybe they would have been willing to save one of our lives.
It was very disappointing for all of us. In July 1942 the call came for both: they were now married on 24 July. Of course there was no wedding-party. The Santilhano and De Jong families went on foot to the population register in Plantage Kerklaan.
We entered through the separate entrance for Jews in the Plantage Middellaan and were able to enter an office where an official sat behind a desk who registered the marriage and had the witnesses sign, there was no speaking. The room was almost empty, small and there were only a few chairs. Leendert had been given two days of marriage leave by the camp management of the Landweer - that was on24 and 25 July.
Lientje was only 20 years old and Leendert had turned 25 in the camp on 14 July. Thilda (Mathilda Schippers, the wife of Philip Leendert de Jong), had suggested that we make our home available for their first wedding night. We even made it two nights and went to sleep with Mom and Dad.
Mom was not very happy with that proposal, because she felt that the marriage was not valid without the chupah, the Jewish wedding blessing. Nevertheless, the young couple was happy to accept our proposal and we are still very grateful that we were able to offer this to them. They went on a journey two days after their wedding; each with their backpack with some warm clothes, toothbrush, soap and vitamin tablets……..
Early in the morning he was allowed to leave Amsterdam by train, accompanied by a military police officer. He was brought to Amsterdam Central Station as a criminal! The Dutch authorities did not take the risk that a Jew would escape from the Germans. Besides, if someone was given leave and did not return to the camp, others were punished for it. That meant others could be sent to a concentration camp. This threat was part of the great deception that other camps were only labor camps and we believed it too!
Thilda = Mathilda Schippers, wife of Philip Leendert de Jong
Lientje = Sara Santilhano
On 2 January 2024 placed by the editors of the Joods Monument on behalf of surviving family.