Abraham van Gelder was married to Elisabeth Bakker. (wedding 7-6-1932 in Zwolle). The couple lived at 34 Deventerstraatweg in Zwolle. They were killed while going into hiding.
D. Stibbe and J. Hagedoorn, Herinneringsboek joods Zwolle 1940-1945 (Zwolle 1995) 34-35
The Van Gelder family went into hiding during the war in a small cabin at the Molecaten estate near Hattem. Two other Jewish families had gone into hiding too on the terrain of the estate. They received food aid from the National Organization for Assistance of Hiddn people. The Van Gelder family was there, however, without permission from the owner. (This owner would later become Secretary of Queen Juliana and also served as local head of the Domestic Forces.
Because of the IJssel-line, quite a few German units were stationed in the vicinity of the hiding place. On 4 January 1944 there was a military exercise in the forest, where a tank got stuck. The people in hiding had left their shelter as a precaution, but the clearly inhabited cabin was discovered. By means of mediation of the mayor of Hattem, the danger of a German investigation was defused.
Another problem was less easy to solve. The Van Gelder family was known for their risky behavior. The children struggled to comply with the necessary safety rules and has problems to stay inside. The father would know who was in the resistance and according to stories he would have contact with Germans.
After the incident with the tank, the Van Gelder parents were allowed to return to the cabin, but the children should be accommodated elsewhere. The long-lasting loneliness in the cabin without activities and without the children proved unbearable. The parents wanted to have their children back at any cost. The danger of betrayal by the couple forced a thorough consultation.
On April 22, 1944, the illegal workers who were most involved met. The consultation unavoidably led to the conclusion that liquidation was necessary. The verdict was executed that same night. The bodies were buried in the forest. After the war a re-burial took place at the Jewish cemetery in Hattem.
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