Simon Blitz was born on 27-Nov-1905 in Amsterdam as the eldest son of Meijer and Sara Blitz. Simon registered for the military and was incorporated into the infantry on 01-Oct-1925. He was 173 cm tall. He served until at least 1930. Simon married Gerardina Maria Catharina Bracke (b. 28-Sep-1903 in Amsterdam) on 11-Jan-1933 in Amsterdam. The couple had two children. Simon was a buyer, possibly for an export company. The family lived together at Zocherstraat 83 I.
Simon Blitz was arrested on 09-Apr-1942, at which time he was detained for one night with his brother-in-law, the jeweler Johannes Franciscus Bracke (b. 19-Jun-1914 in Amsterdam). During the upheaval happening within the Blitz family throughout that summer, Johannes was brought to trial on 04-Aug-1942 in Utrecht. In the trial, Johannes was accused of creating decorative spoons crafted from coins with the image of the exiled Dutch Queen Wilhelmina. This act was considered subversive to the occupying Nazi government. During the proceedings, Johannes admitted to making the spoons, lending assistance to his Jewish brother-in-law Simon Blitz. Johannes received a prison sentence of one day. It is not entirely clear when Simon Blitz was detained or if he himself was brought to trial, however he was clearly moved by the police from Amsterdam to serve his sentence in Utrecht on 30-Nov-1942.
Most likely due to the fact that she was non-Jewish, Gerardina Maria Catharina Bracke and their two sons Peter Simon and Joseph Max Blitz were never deported. Simon was transferred from the prison in Utrecht to Westerbork on 10-Feb-1943 and was housed in Barrack 66. This was one of the punishment barracks of Westerbork and was encircled by an additional barbed wire fence. Around 20-Feb-1943, Simon issued an appeal to the NAF (Nederlands Arbeidersfront or Dutch Labor Front) to avoid deportation. The appeal was based on the fact that his marriage to Maria Catharina was interfaith, as well as possibly based on his military service. However, the appeal was not successful and Simon was deported on 23-Feb-1943 to Auschwitz on the 51st transport. The train was an old passenger train comprising 25 cars and 1,101 deportees. It arrived on 25-Feb-1943. It is possible that Simon was among the 57 men separated for labor. Simon Blitz died on 30-Apr-1943 in Auschwitz at the age of 37.
Updated 22-Jun-2024
Sources
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Militieregisters (Military Registration) Simon Blitz
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Simon Blitz
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Politierapporten (Police Report) Simon Blitz 09-Apr-1942
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Politierapporten (Police Report) Simon Blitz 01-Dec-1942
Amsterdam Stadsarchief Archive Card Gerardina Maria Catharina Bracke
ITS-Arolsen 130261598: Judenrat Card Simon Blitz
Opa Blitz en de zilveren theelepeltjes - Film by David Blitz
Kamp Westerbork - Strafbarakken
Yad Vashem: Transport from Westerbork to Auschwitz 23-Feb-1943