Postwar: Verdoner children playing

The Verdoner Family - Gerrit and Hilde Verdoner, their children Yoka (b.1934), Francisca (b.1937) and Otto (b.1939) - were Jewish. In May 1940, when the Germans overran the Netherlands, Nazi decrees aimed specifically at Jews forced Gerrit out of his business and Yoka out of her second grade class. When the Nazis commandeered their home, the Verdoners went to live with Gerrit's parents in Amsterdam. Shortly thereafter, Gerrit and Hilde decided to place the children in hiding. Their foresight enabled the children to survive and save these family films. Hilde entered Westerbork on December 18, 1942, while Gerrit had a job with the Jewish Council. On September 29, 1943, after the collapse of the Jewish Council and Gerrit's narrow escape from the Germans, Gerrit found refuge in a hideout on a farm. On January 8, 1944 Hilde was sent to Auschwitz. After the war, Gerrit managed to reunite with his children and other surviving family members. The Verdoners emigrated to the US in 1946. Otto Verdoner, now at least 6 years of age, playing in the family yard, postwar with his sister Francisca Verdoner. The three Verdoner children were hidden children during the war. This footage was shot shortly after the children were reunited. Their mother, Hilde, is not present, she was deported to Auschwitz and died during the war. CU, Yoka sitting in a club chair in the house doing schoolwork. The three children are also playing with another young girl, possibly a neighbor or a relative. VS, MS, CUs of the children playing ball in the yard. Francisca and Otto climb up to a roof top and lie down. CU of the two smiling for the camera. They then climb back down to the ground.