Born: 1896 (Alkmaar, Netherlands)
Died: 1978 (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Geertruida Wijsmuller-Meijer (21 April 1896, in Alkmaar – 30 August 1978, age 82, in Amsterdam) was a Dutch resistance fighter who brought Jewish children and adults to safety before and during the Second World War. Together with others involved in the pre-war Kindertransport, she saved the lives of more than 10,000 Jewish children fleeing anti-Semitism. Wijsmuller-Meijer was honored as Righteous among the Nations by Yad Vashem for her courageous actions. After the war, she served on the Amsterdam city council.
Born in Alkmaar, Geertruida Wijsmuller-Meijer, known as ‘Truus’ to her family, was the firstborn child of Jacob Meijer, who worked in a drug store, and Hendrika Boer, a self-employed dressmaker. During her early years, she attended the School of Commerce, where her teachers referred to her as a desperate case despite her diligence. However, things started improving for her gradually.
In 1913, Wijsmuller-Meijer’s family moved to Amsterdam, where her parents instilled in her the principle of standing up for others. They set an example by taking in a homeless Austrian boy after World War I. At the age of 17, she got her first job at a bank, where she would meet her future husband, Joop Wijsmuller, a banker. The couple got married in 1922 and settled on the Nassaukade in an apartment on the third floor. Wijsmuller-Meijer decided to leave her job when it became apparent that they would not have children and instead became involved in social work.
Wijsmuller-Meijer took on various unpaid roles as a social worker. She served as a coordinator for an association for home care and as an administrator for a daycare center for the children of working women. From 1939 onwards, she was a board member of Beatrix-Oord, a sanatorium in Amsterdam which she later converted into a general hospital where abortion was also made possible. She also became a member of the Vereeniging voor Vrouwenbelangen en Gelijk Staatsburgerschap (Association for Women’s Interests and for Equal Citizenship) where she collaborated with Mies Boissevain-van Lennep, who would later become a resistance fighter.
In addition to her social and political work, Wijsmuller-Meijer was involved in the Liberal Party. She was nominated as the sixth candidate on the Liberal party list for the Amsterdam city council elections in 1935. Her dedication to helping others continued even as the threat of war loomed over Europe.
With the outbreak of World War II and the rise of the Nazi regime, Wijsmuller-Meijer’s actions took on a new urgency. She played a critical role in rescuing Jewish children and adults from the clutches of the Nazis. Wijsmuller-Meijer was instrumental in organizing transports to bring Jewish children from Austria, Germany, and Czechoslovakia to safety in the Netherlands and England. Her efforts became part of the larger Kindertransport operation, which aimed to save as many Jewish children as possible.
Throughout the war, Wijsmuller-Meijer tirelessly worked to evacuate Jews and bring them into hiding or send them to secure locations. It is estimated that because of her efforts, more than 10,000 lives were saved. Her bravery, determination, and unwavering commitment to protecting others truly made a difference during a time of unimaginable hardship and persecution.
After the war, Wijsmuller-Meijer continued her activism and served on the Amsterdam city council where she advocated for the rights of women and worked to improve social welfare programs. Her selfless actions and tireless dedication to the welfare of others made her an inspiration and role model for future generations.
Geertruida Wijsmuller-Meijer’s courageous rescue efforts and unwavering commitment to protecting Jewish children and adults from the horrors of the Holocaust earned her the honor of being recognized as Righteous among the Nations by Yad Vashem. This title is given to individuals who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Wijsmuller-Meijer’s legacy as a hero and a champion for human rights is a testament to the power of compassion and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Awards:
– Righteous among the Nations by Yad Vashem.