Simon Blits and Duifje Blits-Engelsman

Experience in the Holocaust

By: Menasheh Fogel

Simon Blits married Duifje Engelsman (b. 22-Aug-1895 in Amsterdam) on 31-Oct-1917 in Amsterdam. The couple lived at Vrolikstraat 36 huis in Amsterdam, where Simon also had a barbershop. Simon and Duifje had two sons, David Blits (b. 10-Jun-1922 in Amsterdam) and Isaäc Blits (b. 28-Oct-1918 in Amsterdam).

Simon, Duifje, David and Isaäc all lived together at the home in Vrolikstraat 36 huis in Amsterdam at the time of deportation. The document included on this page is from August of 1942, where David Blits was asked by the Diamond Industry Guild Head to submit a statement about his address, a current passport photo and his family members that had already been deported. In this questionnaire, David names his father Simon Blits and brother Isaäc Blits, including a description of their location. In the document, both are reported to be in 'R.W.K', presumed to stand for 'Rijks Werk Kamp' or labor camp. Using this form, we can narrow down the dates of deportation for Isaäc and Simon Blits to somewhere between May and August 1942 to labor camps in the eastern Netherlands.

Simon is reported to be located at the Diever B labor camp in the Dutch state of Drenthe near Zorgvliet. Isaäc is reported to be in the Molengoot labor camp near Hardenberg in the Dutch state of Overisjel. Both Diever B and Molengoot were smaller camps in Eastern Holland that were formed towards the beginning of the deportations in the Netherlands. In his book 'Joodenkampen', Niek van der Oord describes these labor camps as the very first camps at the beginning of the Dutch deportations in 1942. Spread throughout the eastern part of the Netherlands, these camps were primarily forced labor, before most prisoners were transferred further into Westerbork and beyond.

There is no further evidence of Simon Blits' stay in Diever. He shows up in the official documentation again from the Jewish Council on 09-Sep-1942 in Westerbork. Also in this documentation, Duifje's deportation is reported on or about 04-Sep-1942 to Westerbork, first in Barrack 56. A possible explanation for this is that Simon was transferred from Diever to Westerbork once Duifje was deported. In any case, it appears that they were soon both moved to Barrack 63, where they spent the rest of the time in Westerbork until being transported east. Given this timing, they both would have not been present for their son’s wedding on 14-Oct-1942 in Amsterdam, although it appears as though they may have tried to make contact through the Jewish Council. There is an indication of 'J kappersaal Lok Z' or a jewish local case based on Simon’s occupation as a hairdresser. The 'J Lok Z' designation was also a form of exemption from deportation. As Simon and Duifje lived together for close to two years in Westerbork, this might be explained by Simon working in the camp as a barber and therefore possibly relevant to the functioning of the camp.

Both Simon Blits and Duifje Engelsman were deported from Westerbork on Transport XXIV/4 to Theresienstadt Ghetto, CZ on 25-Feb-1944. Simon was transported as prisoner 80 and Duifje was transported as prisoner 78, meaning that they were most likely together on the transport. The transport to Theresienstadt was viewed as a preferred destination for the residents of Westerbork, as it was in a regular passenger train operated by the dutch rail service and Theresienstadt was considered a 'model' ghetto. The deportees were allowed to take luggage and food with them on the journey lasting until the following day on 26-Feb-1944. About three months later on the morning of 13-May-1944 they were told to assemble the next day at the Hamburg Barracks in Theresienstadt and were allowed to bring up to 50 kg of luggage. On 16-May-1944, both Simon and Duifje were again transported on Transport Ea from Theresienstadt Ghetto to Auschwitz. Simon was listed as prisoner 2249 and Duifje as prisoner 2248, meaning that they were most likely again transported together. Unlike the transport to Theresienstadt, this train was a cattle car. The transport arrived in Auschwitz on the following day 17-May-1944. Duijfe lived about seven weeks after the arrival until she was killed on 07-Jul-1944. Simon lived another ten months after arrival until he was killed on 28-Feb-1945.

Sources

Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Simon Blits

Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Duifje Engelsman

Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card David Blits

Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Isaäc Blits

WieWasWie and Noord-Hollands Archief: Marriage Certificate Simon Blits and Duifje Engelsman

van der Oord, Niek. Jodenkampen

ITS-Arolsen 130261597: Judenrat Card Simon Blits

ITS-Arolsen 130261224: Judenrat Card Duifje Engelsman

ITS- Arolsen 5020804: Theresienstadt Ghetto Card for Simon Blits

ITS-Arolsen 5020803: Theriesenstadt Ghetto Card for Duifje Engelsman

USHMM: Index to Dutch Married Women (Duifje Engelsman)